People get really excited about dumplings.
And they should!
Dumplings are delicious, and they’re perfect for a quick and easy meal.
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But what do you do if you have leftover filling?
There are many ways of using up leftover dumpling filling. Try them out in a soup, casserole or even a pasta dish. You can also use it as a breadcrumb topping, mix it with eggs for dumplings, or even make mini meatballs out of it.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 16 creative ideas for using up your leftover dumpling filling so that it doesn’t go to waste (or get thrown away).
These are all pretty easy to pull off, and none of them require any weird ingredients or complicated techniques.
We’re talking about simple, everyday foods that you already have in your kitchen—and they all taste great!
What to Do with Leftover Dumpling Filling
From savory to sweet, from easy to elaborate, there’s bound to be something to inspire you!
It doesn’t matter if you have tons of leftover filling, or just a few small dumplings.
The possibilities are endless.
What are you waiting for? Grab your leftover dumpling filling and get cooking!
Here are 15 creative ways to use leftover dumpling filling:
1. Make More Dumplings
Make more dumplings! It’s like a never-ending cycle of deliciousness.
Just take your leftover filling and make more dumplings with it.
You’ll be amazed at how easy it is, and how much better they taste than those frozen ones you’ve been using all this time (we won’t tell).
And if you want to get really fancy, try making dumplings with different fillings—it’s all about experimenting with flavors!
Don’t be afraid to try something new!
2. Use the Filling as The Base of A Stir-Fry
Or, if you’re craving something super flavorful, try adding some minced garlic and ginger to your next stir-fry recipe.
See Also: What Vegetables Go in Stir Fry? 21 Best Vegetables
Just sauté them until they’re fragrant before adding any other ingredients to the pan (like onions and bell peppers).
Then add your leftover dumpling filling along with soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar for some sweetness—and voila! You’ve got yourself an easy dinner that’s sure to please everyone at the table.
3. Add It to An Omelet or Frittata
You can also use it to add texture and flavor to an omelet or frittata.
It’s simple: just add the leftover filling to your eggs as they cook, and then fold them into your dish when they’re done. You’ll get a great new texture from the extra dumpling dough, and it’ll taste amazing!
4. Make a Soup
If you have leftover filling that’s dry and crumbly, add it to your favorite soup recipe for added flavor.
You can also make your own soup using the filling as the base; just add some broth or water, salt and pepper, and any other ingredients (like vegetables) that sound good to you.
5. Add It to Fried Rice Instead of Soy Sauce
Here’s another idea: add it to fried rice instead of soy sauce!
That way, you can make your fried rice taste like the dumpling filling without having to eat the actual dumpling.
Plus, it’s less messy than trying to make a sandwich out of those leftover dumpling wrappers (and who has time for that?).
6. Use Them as Toppings for Pizza or Calzones
Or, why not mix it up with some other ingredients like onions, carrots, spinach, tomato paste (or salsa), etc., then use them as toppings for pizza or calzones!
- You can make your own dough or buy premade pizza dough from the store.
- Then spread on some sauce and top it with your new dumpling filling.
- Bake until golden brown, and enjoy!
7. Stuff Peppers or Tomatoes with The Leftover Filling
It’s really easy to do—all you need is some leftover dumpling filling, your favorite veggies (we like red bell peppers), and whatever else you want to add (like cheese or bacon).
Just cut up your veggies, spoon in some of that leftover dumpling filling, then bake them until everything is heated through.
Voila!
A new way to enjoy that filling!
8. Make a Sandwich with It
Just spread some mayo on some bread, add the dumpling filling, and top it with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese.
You can also make this into a wrap by using a tortilla instead of bread.
Or make them into tacos!
Just add some salsa or hot sauce for an extra kick of flavor.
9. Add It to Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are great, but they can be a little boring sometimes.
But adding some dumpling filling will give them a whole new dimension of flavor and texture.
Plus, if you’re running low on eggs or don’t have any leftovers lying around, this is an easy way to get all the goodness of dumpling filling without having to make the dumplings themselves!
10. Add It to Your Ramen
You can make this at home with just two ingredients—ramen noodles and the leftover dumpling filling from last night’s dinner.
If you want to make the whole process even simpler, use pre-made frozen dumpling filling instead of making your own (just thaw it out first).
Just add a few spoonfuls of dumpling filling to your ramen noodles and cook in boiling water for three minutes or until the ramen is soft enough for your liking.
It’s that simple! You can dress it up with veggies or meat if you want to make things even more exciting, but honestly we think that just having some ramen with a little bit of leftover dumpling filling is pretty perfect all on its own.
11. Use It as A Dipping for Veggies/Chips/etc.
Dipping veggies in leftover filling is one of our favorite ways to use up leftovers.
It’s simple, delicious, and makes the most of the food we have on hand—especially if you’re trying to cut back on meat consumption.
The best part is that there are so many ways to prepare this dish: You can serve it with just about anything you like!
- If you want something spicy, add some hot sauce or chili powder to your dipping mixture.
- If you want something sweet, add honey or jam.
- And if you want something salty, try sprinkling some crushed peanuts or seaweed flakes over top!
12. Mix It Into Ground Beef or Turkey and Make Meatballs
You could also mix it into ground beef or turkey and make meatballs.
It’s a great way to use up your leftover dumpling filling, and it gives you a new way to enjoy those little morsels.
Just mix in some eggs and breadcrumbs, form the mixture into balls, then fry them in oil for about five minutes until they’re golden brown on all sides.
Now that you’ve got these meatballs ready to go, what should you serve them with?
How about spaghetti?
You can cook up your favorite tomato sauce recipe or use store-bought sauce (spaghetti sauces come in so many different flavors!), then cook your meatballs right in there with the noodles until they’re cooked through.
Serve with Parmesan cheese on top!
13. Make a Quick Mac ‘n’ Cheese Dinner
It’s also the perfect addition to mac ‘n’ cheese.
- Simply take your dumpling filling, toss it with some pasta noodles and grated cheese, and then pour in some milk until everything is coated.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown on top.
You can serve this as an entree or side dish!
14. Add the Filling to A Quesadilla or Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Another option is to make a quesadilla or grilled cheese sandwich with the filling. The flavors will blend well together and give you an entirely new experience from your original meal.
15. Eat it cold
It’s just like eating leftover pizza crust—except these are even more delicious than leftover pizza crust because dumplings are delicious and you love them, right?
Right?
16. Make a Dumpling Salad
If you want something cold, try making a dumpling salad.
Just dice up the leftover dumpling filling and mix it into your favorite salad greens.
Add some dressing and toss until everything is coated in dressing—you might want to use two dressings here: one that’s sweet (like honey mustard) and one that’s more savory (like ranch).
You could also add some hot sauce and make a spicy version of this same salad by mixing in some hot sauce instead of honey mustard or ranch dressing.
The hot sauce will give it some nice spice without being too overwhelming for those who aren’t big fans of spicy food!
Conclusion
Leftover dumpling filling can be used for a simple soup, with rice, pasta or vegetables, or even as a filling for pizza. Dumpling filling can be cooked with other types of fillings, such as cabbage, peas, potatoes, eggs or fish.
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What to Do with Leftover Dumpling Filling (16 Ideas)
Ingredients
- Make More Dumplings
- Use the Filling as The Base of A Stir-Fry
- Add It to An Omelet or Frittata
- Make a Soup
- Add It to Fried Rice Instead of Soy Sauce
- Use Them as Toppings for Pizza or Calzones
- Stuff Peppers or Tomatoes with The Leftover Filling
- Make a Sandwich with It
- Add It to Scrambled Eggs
- Add It to Your Ramen
- Use It as A Dipping for Veggies/Chips/etc
- Mix It Into Ground Beef or Turkey and Make Meatballs
- Make a Quick Mac ‘n’ Cheese Dinner
- Add the Filling to A Quesadilla or Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Eat it cold
- Make a Dumpling Salad
Instructions
- Pick one of the ideas from this list to use up your dumpling filling.
- Prepare the rest of your tasty meal.
- Be ready to munch in no time!
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.