This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure.
If you’re cooking without a kitchen and only have access to a microwave, you’ll be amazed at the soup you can whip up with just a few pantry ingredients and frozen dumplings or potstickers. Way more delicious than takeout, this soup packs a whopping 38 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber with just over 500 calories per serving. Thank you to Naked Nutrition for sponsoring this post; to my readers, I hope you enjoy this soup as much as I do!
This may be surprising given the fact that I cook for a living, but most nights after work the last thing I feel like doing is cooking dinner. Instead of ordering takeout or constantly turning to my meal prepped freezer stash, it helps to have a few ridiculously easy recipes up my sleeve! Some days, even better if aforementioned meals taste like takeaway, like this one.
Have you tried the viral dumpling bake that was all over social media a while ago? I struggled finding the original version, but as far as I know, Danielle Brown (Healthy Girl Kitchen) was the creator on TikTok. That dish contains frozen dumplings (frequently potstickers) swimming in a creamy, aromatic coconut milk-based sauce inside a baking pan. Once it’s assembled, all that’s left to do is toss it into the oven for a delicious meal that tastes like it took way more effort than it did.
Same thing with this potsticker soup recipe! We start with pantry staples (chicken broth, soy sauce, Thai red curry paste, and sesame oil) for a flavorful base. To get in some veggies, I like to add bell pepper and onion. And frozen potstickers are the star of the show! Microwave it for a few minutes, and then add in fresh, aromatic garlic and ginger, as well as coconut milk and beef protein powder, and microwave it just a tad longer. Lime juice and zest added at the end brighten everything. Lastly, serve it garnished with fresh herbs and chili crisp for a soup that tastes like something that you’ll be shocked came out of your microwave.
The best part is that this recipe takes just 12 minutes to make, including microwave time. And that’s another bonus, it’s made entirely in one bowl in the microwave, no stovetop needed and no extra dishes to wash! This recipe is perfect if you’re renovating your kitchen, traveling with access to just a microwave, van-lifing, or living in a dorm room.
What Makes This Soup a Winner
- Lightning-fast. Dinner (or lunch) is done in just 12 minutes, including the time it “cooks” in the microwave!
- No stovetop needed. This recipe is made entirely in the microwave.
- Minimal cleanup. A cutting board, knife, and your soup bowl and spoon are the only cleanup from this recipe.
- Filling and nutritious. For being so quick and easy, you might be surprised at how satisfying this soup is with 38 grams of protein!
Potsticker Soup Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- Low-sodium chicken stock – Use good quality homemade or store-bought stock for a rich flavor base.
- Low-sodium soy sauce – Or tamari sauce or coconut aminos.
- Thai red curry paste – If you’re cooking without a kitchen and are looking for single ingredients that pack a ton of flavor, Thai red curry paste will become a go-to.
- Toasted sesame oil – A little goes a long way with toasted sesame oil; it lends a rich, toasted nutty flavor.
- Red bell pepper and onion – Slice them very thinly. Feel free to swap out the red bell pepper for any color bell pepper you like, and if onion isn’t your thing, you can add more bell pepper.
- Frozen chicken potstickers – Not thawed; or any kind of frozen dumplings you like.
- Fresh garlic and ginger – These ingredients add depth of flavor and aroma to the soup. In a real pinch, if you don’t have fresh, you can use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon dried ginger.
- Naked Nutrition Naked Beef Protein Powder – This protein powder packs 21 grams of protein and 17 grams of collagen per serving, and is perfect for adding to soups. It blends beautifully into the broth, and you can’t taste it in this soup recipe. If you’re not familiar with Naked Nutrition, it’s a brand I believe in. They source their Naked Beef Protein from European beef bones in Sweden, and it’s naturally rich in glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. It’s free of growth hormones, and has no rBGH or rBST. The only ingredients are beef protein isolate and sunflower lecithin.
- Full-fat canned coconut milk – For rich, creamy texture.
- Fresh lime juice and fresh lime zest – Adds tart, citrusy flavor at the end to wake up everything else. In a pinch, you can substitute rice vinegar for the lime juice and omit the zest.
Instructions: How to Make Microwave Soup With Frozen Dumplings
- Microwave period 1. Add the stock, soy sauce, red curry paste, and sesame oil to a 30-ounce microwave-safe soup bowl, and stir to combine. Add the bell pepper, onion, and dumplings, and give it a quick stir. Cover the top with a paper towel and microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes.
- Microwave period 2. Stir in the garlic, ginger, protein powder, and coconut milk. Cover the top with a paper towel and microwave on HIGH until the dumplings are warm throughout, about 2 minutes more.
- Finishing touches. Stir in the lime juice and zest. Serve garnished with anything you like.
Storage
In the unlikely event that you want to store this soup, let it cool to room temperature and then store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Tips For the Best Microwave Potsticker Soup Recipe
- Make sure to slice the bell pepper and especially the onion very thinly. They soften enough to become tender, but we’re not sautéing them, so they’ll be a bit al dente.
- Bump up the veggies. Like some versions of the viral baked dumplings recipe, here you can add a handful of coleslaw mix or baby spinach as an easy way to get in more vegetables.
- The bowl is important; make sure it has a 30-ounce (3.75 cups) capacity and is microwave-safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! I developed this soup recipe to be cooked entirely in the microwave. And it’s a nutritious, filling meal!
This recipe cooks for 7 minutes total in the microwave, divided into two cooking periods. Make sure to follow the recipe as written for best results.
If You Need More Quick Meal Ideas, These Recipes Take Less Than 10 Minutes
- Curried Chicken Salad (aka Coronation Chicken)
- Garlic Butter Salmon
- Creamy Chipotle Pulled Chicken Tacos
Let’s Connect
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Easy Microwave Potsticker Soup Recipe (Inspired by TikTok’s Viral Dumpling Bake)
Email This Recipe
Get this recipe link emailed straight to your inbox!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper (or any color bell pepper you like)
- 1/4 cup very thinly sliced onion (optional; or more bell pepper)
- 4 frozen chicken potstickers (not thawed; or any kind of frozen dumplings you like; you can use up to 8 potstickers in this recipe without making any other changes)
- 1 large clove garlic (crushed)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly-grated ginger
- 1 scoop Naked Nutrition Beef Protein Powder
- 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice (or rice vinegar)
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh lime zest
Optional Topping Ideas:
- Chili crisp
- Lime wedges
- Cilantro
- Chives (or scallion)
Instructions
- Microwave period 1. Add the stock, soy sauce, red curry paste, and sesame oil to a 30-ounce microwave-safe soup bowl, and stir to combine. Add the bell pepper, onion, and dumplings, and give it a quick stir. Cover the top with a paper towel and microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes.
- Microwave period 2. Stir in the garlic, ginger, protein powder, and coconut milk. Cover the top with a paper towel and microwave on HIGH until the dumplings are warm throughout, about 2 minutes more.
- Finishing touches. Stir in the lime juice and zest. Serve garnished with anything you like.
Notes
- Storage: In the unlikely event that you want to store this soup, let it cool to room temperature and then store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
Share it with me on Instagram and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
