Trader Joes Dumpling Bake (Printable Version)

Creamy baked dumplings with melted cheese and a savory sauce, perfect for a comforting main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dumplings

01 - 1 (16 oz) bag frozen dumplings, any variety

→ Creamy Sauce

02 - 1 cup heavy cream
03 - 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
06 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Cheese

08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Toppings

10 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
12 - Fresh cilantro, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Arrange frozen dumplings in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together heavy cream, broth, minced garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the dumplings, ensuring even distribution.
05 - Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the sauce layer.
06 - Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
07 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbling, and the top is golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, and cilantro. Serve hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-quality but feels effortless, like you're getting away with something.
  • Those frozen dumplings do all the heavy lifting while you play the hero with creamy sauce and melted cheese.
  • It comes together in under an hour and somehow impresses everyone at the table without stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the foil step or the cheese will brown too fast while the dumplings are still partially frozen, leaving you with a crunchy top and cold center.
  • The 5-minute rest matters more than you'd think because it lets the sauce set enough that you can actually scoop servings without everything sliding onto the plate as soup.
03 -
  • Make this casserole the morning of and refrigerate it before baking, which actually improves the flavors by letting everything meld while you go about your day, then just add five extra minutes to the baking time.
  • If your cheese isn't browning enough in the allotted time, run it under the broiler for the last minute or two, but watch it constantly because it goes from golden to burnt in what feels like seconds.
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