Deconstructed Pork Dumpling Skillet

This deconstructed pork dumpling skillet—sometimes called inside out pork dumplings—has all the savory flavors of homemade dumplings without any of the folding.

Jump to:

• 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients you need
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
• Deconstructed Pork Dumpling Skillet
• Variations on this recipe
• Other pork recipes we love
• ⭐️ We want to know what you think!
• 🥣 Come on into our kitchen!

If you’ve ever found yourself craving homemade pork dumplings but not quite craving an hour of filling and folding, this recipe is here to save the day.

It has all the savory, cozy flavors of your favorite dumplings—juicy pork, tender vegetables, fresh ginger and garlic—but instead of wrapping everything up, we toss it all together in one skillet with strips of wonton wrappers that cook into wonderfully tender, dumpling-like noodles.

It’s easy, satisfying and just the thing for a busy weeknight!

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

Why this recipe works

• 🥟 All the flavor of pork dumplings without the folding. Everything cooks together in one skillet, so you get the same delicious savory flavors in a fraction of the time.
• 🥬 Fresh bok choy adds crunch and color. It softens just enough while keeping a little bite, making every forkful fresh and satisfying.
• 🥢 A simple soy-ginger sauce ties everything together. Soy sauce, ginger and garlic create a rich, umami-packed sauce that coats every ingredient.
• 🍜 Wonton wrappers become tender, dumpling-like noodles. They soak up the flavorful sauce and give you all the cozy comfort of homemade dumplings without the extra work.
• ⏱️ It’s an easy weeknight dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients, it’s perfect for busy evenings when you want something homemade and comforting.

So if regular dumplings are good, what if we turned them inside out?   The basic concept is that the filling that is usually INSIDE the dumpling cooks OUTSIDE the dumpling (you probably figured that out already), and the whole thing cooks together…the filling and the dumpling wrapper…all in one delicious mess of dumplingness. 

Thus saving you the time of sealing all the dumpling filling inside the wrappers!

As an extra added bonus, you get to cook with baby bok choy.  I was a little worried that it was going to be hard to find, but lo and behold, there it was right there in my regular supermarket.

Ingredients you need

📝 Ingredient notes

• 🥬 Baby bok choy: This tender variety of bok choy cooks quickly and adds a fresh, slightly sweet crunch. If your leaves are large, cut them into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
• 🥟 Fresh wonton wrappers: You’ll usually find these in the refrigerated produce section or near the tofu. They cook right in the skillet and become wonderfully tender, giving you all the cozy texture of dumplings without any folding.
• 🐖 Ground pork: Ground pork has a rich flavor that’s traditional in many dumpling fillings. If needed, ground chicken or turkey can be substituted for a lighter version.
• 🫚 Fresh ginger: Freshly minced ginger adds a bright, warm flavor that powdered ginger just can’t match. Peel it easily with the edge of a spoon before mincing.
• 🌶️ Red pepper flakes: Just a pinch adds gentle warmth without making the dish spicy. Feel free to add a little more if you like extra heat.
• 🫛 Frozen peas (optional): They add a pop of sweetness and color, but the recipe is just as delicious without them if you prefer to keep things simple.

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

So here we go.  Heat up some oil in a skillet with some red pepper flakes to give it some zing.  Toss in some garlic, some ginger and some chopped scallion…more zing!  Now add ground pork, cook it through for a few minutes, and then in goes the chopped up baby bok choy…I also had some peas hanging around so I tossed them in too.  Cover your skillet so the bok choy can steam up nice and tender.  Now toss in some grated carrot and a little vinegar and salt.

Meanwhile, boil up a nice big pot of water, and add wonton wrappers (do this one at a time so they don’t stick to each other.  You can usually find these in the veggie section of your supermarket in the refrigerated section.  They are basically squares of fresh pasta, and they are going to cook up in no time.  After about a minute they will be tender and perfect, so drain them, add them to the skillet with everything else and toss it all around.  Voila!  Deconstructed Pork Dumplings!

🥟 Let’s make all the cozy comfort of pork dumplings…without folding a single one.

Variations on this recipe

• 🦃 Swap the pork. Ground chicken, turkey or even ground beef all work well if that’s what you have on hand.
• 🍄 Add more veggies. Mushrooms, shredded cabbage, bell peppers or snap peas are all delicious additions to the skillet.
• 🌶️ Turn up the heat. Stir in a spoonful of chili crisp or a drizzle of sriracha for a spicy version.
• 🍄 Make it vegetarian. Skip the pork and use crumbled tofu or your favorite plant-based ground meat instead.
• 🥟 Try a different wrapper. Fresh egg noodles or ramen noodles can stand in for the wonton wrappers if needed. The texture will be a little different, but still delicious.
• 🥜 Add a crunchy topping. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds or crispy fried onions just before serving for extra crunch.
• 🌿 Finish with fresh herbs. A handful of chopped cilantro or Thai basil adds a bright, fresh finish.

Other pork recipes we love

⭐️ We want to know what you think!

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below.

Looking for more quick dinner inspiration? We’ve got you covered! 🥳 Here is our complete collection of speedy dinner recipes.

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