This is fool-proof, light brothy soup packed with classic Asian flavors and ready in as little as 5 minutes. Perfect for those cold days!
I’m not sure what it is about Asian soups and warm weather but I seem to crave them just as much when it’s hot out as I do in the winter! 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.
Where do you buy frozen wontons?
Costco or Trader Joe’s sell them. PF Chang’s also has a line of frozen wontons in some major supermarket chains.
Recipe substitutions for wonton soup:
If you’re looking to substitute kale or spinach baby bok choy would be a nice substitute
📖 Recipe
Easy 5 Minute Wonton Soup (With Video)
Ingredients
- 6 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon chili paste 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 ounces rice noodles prepared according to package instructions
- hoisin sauce optional garnish
- fresh cilantro optional garnish
Instructions
- 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.
Video
Chef's Notes
Where do you buy frozen wontons?
Costco or Trader Joe's sell them. PF Chang's also has a line of frozen wontons in some major supermarket chains.What can be substituted for kale or spinach?
Baby bok choy would be a nice substituteNutrition
Want more easy Asian recipes? Head over to my Pinterest board!
choudia
Oh my, this is was so good. I just made it now and it was really good. The whole family enjoyed it. I had some frozen wontons and came across your website. I am adventurous when it comes to cooking. Thanks, Liz for sharing the recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Laurie
Easy and delicious. This recipe will be on repeat!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh i’m so glad!
KATE EVERETT
Wonderful! I prefer a hearty bok choy for its crunch and heartiness for leftovers. I also used shiitake mushrooms because I had them on hand. Excellent recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh yes I love bok choy!!!
Tanya
Used the Costco chicken gyoza. Since they come with a ginger sauce, I added that to the broth for extra zing and it was great!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes so perfect!
Pat Dougherty
I hate comments by people who haven’t tried the recipe, but I’m also irritated by those who comment on the recipe after they’ve changed nearly every aspect of it. So prepare to be irritated by me.
After making it once per the recipe (minus the optional fish sauce) and being very pleased, I tinkered. Half the greens, half the mushrooms. some green onions. Combination of Trader Joe’s miso/ginger broth and chicken broth. No noodles, I love dumplings and figured they were sufficient pasta.. The TJ’s chicken/cilantro dumplings are genius, Maybe that’s why I simplified by cutting down on other ingredients.
Took me a lot longer than 5 minutes, but I’m not much of a cook. Bottom line: this is a fool-proof, light brothy soup. Perfect for those cold months when you feel too congested to eat anything thick.
Liz DellaCroce
hahaha That’s too funny, Pat. I make this recipe 1000 different ways as well – as you said, it’s super versatile. To be honest, 95% of my recipes are more of a general suggestion that can be modified / adjusted to use whatever you have on hand or to dietary preference. Glad you made this your own and enjoyed! Let me know if you try any of my other recipes!
Pat Dougherty
UPDATE: Dang After I’ve picked out all the wontons(I can’t help myself!), I drink the remaining broth for breakfast.
Liz DellaCroce
hahah so smart!
Alexa
This wonton soup recipe is quite interesting. I can’t wait to try this.
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you love it Alexa!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
This looks so good! Now if only I could find gluten free wontons.
Liz DellaCroce
You can also just skip them :)
Carolyn
I can’t wait to try making this!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you love it Carolyn!!
Jersey Girl Cooks
I make something like this often. Great to have dinner on the table so quick!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes totally!!!
Carolyn
The broth was ingenious. I have a hard time making quick Asian style broth that actually tastes good, usually it’s too bland. I used veg broth and veg wontons and it was perfect.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so so glad you like it!!!
Carrie
Substitute kale for (or just add) sugar snap peas. It was AMAZEBALLS!
Liz DellaCroce
Great idea!!
Sam
Made this tonight and it was so delicious we went back for more and practically licked the bowls clean. :) Thank you!! Adding this to our lineup.
Liz DellaCroce
Yay!!! It’s one of my go-to’s! So glad you liked it Sam!
Lorie M.
I made this tonight and it was really great! I used spiralized carrots, baby bok choy, Napa cabbage, baby Bella mushrooms, Trader Joe’s low sodium chicken and vegetable broth, TJs chicken cilantro dumplings and pork potstickers, etc. I prefer the Chicken Cilantro dumplings though. Also, liked the added flavors of chopped fresh cilantro and Hoisin sauce as garnish. We have a large Asian supermarket nearby and bought a lot of ingredients there such as the super-sized carrots for spiralizing. This an easy and quick dinner!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I just love what you did with it!! Ironically I had it again for lunch!!
Dave
Well I made it exactly to the instructions and wasn’t impressed. Way too much soya sauce.
Liz DellaCroce
Have you tried it yet Dave? If you’re only familiar with Asian food from restaurants or take-out, you’d be surprised how much sodium they use/add via soy sauce.
Margie
I never thought I could make wonton soup, but this was easy and delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you love it!
Sara
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!
Liz DellaCroce
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!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
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 :)
IndianaAnna
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!
Liz DellaCroce
That sounds amazing!! I love changing mine up as well based on what I have on hand. So glad you enjoyed!
Minnie@thelady8home
I just came upon this through a share, and I knew I had to bookmark as well as share it. Love the dumpling soup.
Liz DellaCroce
Me too! I hope you try it Minnie!
meka
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?
Liz DellaCroce
Oooo I love that you added creole seasoning! Such a great idea!
Kirsten
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes I agree!! Plus I feel like soup is a great way to save dumplings that might have freezer burn! :-)
Wendy | Around My Family Table
Oh yum, I love wonton soup! My friend and I used to share a bowl when we ate Thai.
Liz DellaCroce
Me too!! I want a bowl right now!
Bev @ Bev Cooks
This is perfect “someone make me dinner because I have 14 million babies to take care of” food!
also, WHERE IS THAT BABY.
Liz DellaCroce
LOL! Totally. I’ve been making it several times a week. Umm… he got lost :(
Rachael (Fuji Mama)
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!
Liz DellaCroce
I want to tour YOUR pantry!!! I bet it’s insanely wonderful. :) xo
Liz
Love this recipe. Thank you,
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad Liz!!!
Gaby
I’m going to need to make this and probably eat it all at once! So delicious!
Liz DellaCroce
I pretty much eat 2-3 servings each time I make it. I had it again for dinner last night – can’t quit it!!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
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 :)
Liz DellaCroce
Yes!! I actually just ran out of the Costco ones so I tried PF Chang’s and they are so good!! Enjoy!
Debi
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…
Liz DellaCroce
Bok Choy would be perfect in this!! Enjoy!
Melissa
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!
Liz DellaCroce
There is something about pregnancy and Asian soups, I swear!!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
Frozen chicken wontons, great idea. I love wonton soup. Need to pick up a bag of those from Costco, since I have everything else.
Liz DellaCroce
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. :)
Amy @Very Culinary
I want this. I shared it on my FB page…and that makes you so excitedly happy that you went into labor, right?
Liz DellaCroce
You did?!? Thank you my sweet friend!!
Sarah @ The Chef Next Door
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes I bet they do!!!!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain
Slurrrrrrrrp! I’m going to need another bowl, or three:)
Liz DellaCroce
There’s a *slight* chance I eat about 3 servings worth every time…
Melanie @ Carmel Moments
That looks delicious. I’m loving all the soups to keep me warm and get me through winter!
Liz DellaCroce
Me too!! They are seriously the best part of the cold weather!
Aggie
I can’t wait to hunt these wontons down at Costco!
5 minute soup for the win – this looks amazing!
Liz DellaCroce
YES!! I just finished my bag and need to get more. You will love!!
Rachel Cooks
I need to renew my Costco membership.
Liz DellaCroce
Yes you do!! We are mildly obsessed with Costco…
cassie
Now I have another reason to miss TJ’s. Now I need some frozen dumplings. I love this soup!!
Liz DellaCroce
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!
Cookin Canuck
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!
Liz DellaCroce
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. :)
Christie - Food Done Light
What a wonderful soup. I wish we had a Trader Joe’s close to us. This would be fantastic for a school night dinner.
Liz DellaCroce
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!!
Corina
I am very late to this original post, however, would baby bok choy also work?
Liz DellaCroce
Absolutely it would work!!!