Air Fryer Frozen Dumplings (Printable)

Crispy dumplings flavored with sesame oil glaze, cooked quickly in an air fryer for easy snacking.

# What you'll need:

→ Dumplings

01 - 20 frozen dumplings (pork, chicken, or vegetable, any preferred variety)

→ Glaze & Garnish

02 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
03 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (optional)
05 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Cooking Spray

07 - Nonstick cooking spray (optional)

# Preparation steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
02 - Place frozen dumplings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spacing them evenly. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray if desired for extra crispiness.
03 - Air fry dumplings for 8 minutes.
04 - Combine sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice vinegar (if using) in a small bowl.
05 - Brush the dumplings generously with the sesame oil mixture after the initial air fry.
06 - Return dumplings to the air fryer and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until edges are golden and crispy.
07 - Transfer dumplings to a serving plate. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot with soy sauce or preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Frozen dumplings become legitimately crispy and gourmet-tasting without any of the oil splatter drama.
  • The whole thing takes 17 minutes from craving to eating, which means this is your answer when you want something impressive but have no time.
  • That sesame oil glaze does the heavy lifting—it's the one detail that makes people ask what restaurant you ordered from.
02 -
  • Don't skip the preheat—an air fryer that isn't hot enough will give you steamed dumplings with soft edges instead of crispy ones, and that's the whole point of using an air fryer.
  • The sesame oil glaze needs to go on during the last 4 minutes or the sesame will burn and taste bitter; I learned this the hard way by brushing them at the start and watching them turn from golden to unappetizing.
03 -
  • A pastry brush is your secret weapon here—it distributes the glaze evenly without letting it pool in one spot where it might burn.
  • If your air fryer basket has a center divider, place the dumplings on opposite sides so hot air can circulate completely around each one instead of them steaming each other.
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