If you need a quick lunch or cozy weeknight dinner that tastes way more impressive than the effort required, this is the one. My Trader Joe’s dumpling soup has been on repeat for years because it’s warm, comforting, flavorful, and literally takes five minutes. FIVE. Not to mention my 2 and 5 year old LOVE dumplings.

And this week? It came in major clutch when I was sick and absolutely did not have it in me to cook for the family (why is adulting so hard?). Luckily, these are all fridge/freezer staples I always have on hand, which makes this recipe easy to throw together any day of the week.

This single-serve bowl is perfect when you want something nourishing without lifting more than… a microwave-safe bowl. It’s also dairy-free, which we love And if you’re making it for the whole family, the stovetop version is just as simple.

Ingredients (Single Serving)

1 box Trader Joe’s Chicken Soup Dumplings
½ baby bok choy, roughly chopped (optional)
1 cup chicken broth
Drizzle of Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce
Chili crisp or crunchy chili onion (TJ’s or your fave)
Sesame seeds
Furikake or Japanese multipurpose seasoning

Instructions (Microwave Version – Single Serve)

Place dumplings and chopped bok choy in a microwave-safe bowl.
Pour 1 cup of chicken broth over the top.
Microwave for 5 minutes (until the dumplings are steaming hot).
Remove and drizzle with Bachan’s, chili crisp, sesame seeds, and furikake.
Mix gently, grab a spoon, done.

Can I Make This for the Whole Family?

Yep — this recipe scales beautifully, and honestly it’s even easier when you’re cooking for a crowd. Instead of microwaving individual bowls (which i’ve definitely done), just bring a pot of broth to a gentle simmer (4 cups broth for 4 people, etc) and drop in as many frozen dumplings as you need (4 servings is usually my go-to for our family of 4). Let them cook for 5–8 minutes until heated through, then ladle the dumplings and broth into bowls. Add steamed or sautéed veggies like bok choy to the boiling broth RIGHT before serving, drizzle with Bachan’s, and let everyone finish their own bowls with chili crisp, sesame seeds, and furikake “ramen-bar style.” It’s fast, cozy, and totally customizable.