Frozen chicken wontons are the secret to this 5 minute wonton soup packed with classic Asian flavors.
I’m not sure what it is about Asian soups and pregnancy but I have never wanted anything more in my life. From pho to egg drop to sizzling rice to miso, I can’t get enough of these sweet, salty, spicy and sour soups!
Recently, I was in search of a quick and easy meal that I could throw together in minutes with items I already had on hand in my pantry. (And yes, this soup is exactly what inspired me to share my thoughts on Stocking Your Pantry for Asian Cooking!)
Although I have made homemade dumplings before, I also like to keep a store-bought bag in the freezer for last minute Asian cravings. We love the chicken cilantro dumplings sold at Costco and Trader Joe’s but this soup will work with any type of dumpling.
Oh and in case you’re wondering, yes, this soup really is ready in under 5 minutes. In fact, when I timed myself last week I got it on the table in 4 1/2 minutes. What can I say? When a pregnant woman is hungry she doesn’t like waiting for her food. 
Slurping is encouraged, no forks required.
- 6 cups chicken broth - low sodium
- ¼ cup soy sauce - low sodium
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon sambal oelek - optional
- 16 frozen dumplings (such as chicken cilantro sold at Costco and Trader Joe's)
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 4 cups baby kale (or baby spinach)
- 8 oz rice noodles - prepared according to package instructions
- hoisin sauce - optional garnish
- fresh cilantro - optional garnish
- Bring chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil and sambal oelek to a boil in a large soup pot, whisking occasionally.
- Add frozen dumplings, mushrooms and baby kale to the boiling broth and simmer for 3 minutes until dumplings are warmed through and kale is wilted.
- Divide noodles between four bowls and cover with equal parts of the wonton soup.
- Garnish with a drizzle of hoisin sauce and fresh cilantro if you wish.
What a wonderful soup. I wish we had a Trader Joe’s close to us. This would be fantastic for a school night dinner.
We don’t have Trader Joe’s either! They are sold at Costco too! But this recipe works for any dumpling you can find- almost every grocery store sells them!!
I am very late to this original post, however, would baby bok choy also work?
Absolutely it would work!!!
We need to feast together someday, Liz…I think our tastebuds like the same things. This is a soup I could eat all day, everyday. I discovered those chicken cilantro dumplings in Trader Joe’s recently and they would be perfect for this!
I completely agree! I don’t think you’ve ever shared a recipe that I a) didn’t want to eat b) didn’t have to modify.
I’m so glad you know the dumplings I’m talking about! I hope you try this. 
Now I have another reason to miss TJ’s. Now I need some frozen dumplings. I love this soup!!
I don’t have a TJ’s!! Do you have Costco? I found them there. BUT you can honestly use any store bought dumpling. PF Chang’s has a line in most grocery stores now too!
I need to renew my Costco membership.
Yes you do!! We are mildly obsessed with Costco…
I can’t wait to hunt these wontons down at Costco!
5 minute soup for the win – this looks amazing!
YES!! I just finished my bag and need to get more. You will love!!
That looks delicious. I’m loving all the soups to keep me warm and get me through winter!
Me too!! They are seriously the best part of the cold weather!
Slurrrrrrrrp! I’m going to need another bowl, or three:)
There’s a *slight* chance I eat about 3 servings worth every time…
I bet they have these at Sam’s Club….I need to find them because this soup looks delicious and I love how quick it comes together!
Yes I bet they do!!!!
I want this. I shared it on my FB page…and that makes you so excitedly happy that you went into labor, right?
You did?!? Thank you my sweet friend!!
Frozen chicken wontons, great idea. I love wonton soup. Need to pick up a bag of those from Costco, since I have everything else.
It’s always my “back up plan” meal. I’ve been eating it a ton lately since we aren’t sure when baby is arriving.
I have the same pregnancy cravings! I found an awesome wonton soup recipe, but it takes much to long to make the wontons once a craving hits. I will certainly have to try this!
There is something about pregnancy and Asian soups, I swear!!
I think I’ll shall use Baby Bok Choy in place of kale or spinach and TJ’s Thai Shrimp Gyoza dumplings that are in my freezer.
don’t feel comfortable rating until I’ve made it…
Bok Choy would be perfect in this!! Enjoy!
Oh my gosh this looks delicious! And how amazing that it’s ready in 5 minutes. I’m going to have to go look for some frozen wontons this weekend
Yes!! I actually just ran out of the Costco ones so I tried PF Chang’s and they are so good!! Enjoy!
I’m going to need to make this and probably eat it all at once! So delicious!
I pretty much eat 2-3 servings each time I make it. I had it again for dinner last night – can’t quit it!!
Love this recipe. Thank you,
I’m so glad Liz!!!
It’s amazing what having a smartly stocked pantry can do! I’m all for Asian soups, and I’m with you—when I’m pregnant, I crave those flavors even more!
I want to tour YOUR pantry!!! I bet it’s insanely wonderful.
xo
This is perfect “someone make me dinner because I have 14 million babies to take care of” food!
also, WHERE IS THAT BABY.
LOL! Totally. I’ve been making it several times a week. Umm… he got lost
Oh yum, I love wonton soup! My friend and I used to share a bowl when we ate Thai.
Me too!! I want a bowl right now!
Liz,
What a terrific soup! I love steaming the frozen gyoza but I think it’s an even better idea to throw together a fast soup when I don’t want to get out all the equipment to steam.
Thanks!
Yes I agree!! Plus I feel like soup is a great way to save dumplings that might have freezer burn!
I made this last night and it was really good! It took me a little longer to make because I had to wash dishes first AND slice the mushrooms. I added some creole seasoning to give it a little kick. Lol.
Btw, I see scallions pictured above but didn’t see them used in the recipe. Am I imagining things?
Oooo I love that you added creole seasoning! Such a great idea!
I just came upon this through a share, and I knew I had to bookmark as well as share it. Love the dumpling soup.
Me too! I hope you try it Minnie!
I made this soup for dinner tonight using Trader Joes pork potstickers for the dumplings. I added shredded carrots and green onions since I detest mushrooms. Very delicious and easy! My kids and husband enjoyed it too!
That sounds amazing!! I love changing mine up as well based on what I have on hand. So glad you enjoyed!
Hey Liz! No joke, I just bought those chicken and cilantro wontons today at Costco and came home to google wonton soup. And I found you! This looks super easy and delicious, and perfect for tonight since I just did a Costco run with 3 kids and am now exhausted. haha! Normally I would order pizza now
Oooh my gosh was this good! I found a recipe the other day for wonton and bok choy soup, made the wontons (first for me!), and then was on the hunt for a better soup recipe for it since I refuse to use really costly meats just to make a broth (watching the pennies, yo!). So I whipped up your soup here and threw in the wontons I made and it was delicious! My husband has been craving some wonton soup ever since we moved to a MUCH smaller town in the Four Corners of Colorado-used to live near Chinese and Thai places that we loved to order from and now that is just not an option. I’m so thrilled I found your website and I’m going to start reading up and stock some more ingredients so I can cook dishes like this at home a little easier.
Thanks Liz!
Oh I’m so glad you told me Sara!!!! Thank you so much for your kind words – I’m so glad you loved this soup!!! I eat it almost every week at least once or twice! Happy Holidays! Let me know what else you try!
I never thought I could make wonton soup, but this was easy and delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!
I hope you love it!
Everyone loved it! I even wrote a blog post about it: http://www.gottalovethis.com/2015/01/31/5-minute-wonton-soup-recipe/