Crispy on the outside makes these frozen potstickers in the air fryer a super easy dinner or appetizer option!
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I’m about to share the best way to cook frozen potstickers and the best kept secret. Air frying frozen dumplings makes them extra crispy while keeping the insides fresh and hot!
This dumplings in the air fryer recipe uses frozen potstickers (or dumplings as explained below). They get a nice crispy outside while the filling stays juicy and hot.
It can be made with chicken potstickers, vegetarian dumplings, and even pork ones!
Whether you’re using Ling Ling potstickers, Tai Pei, Trader Joe’s Frozen Gyoza, or even Costco dumplings, they turn out perfect every time!
Can You Put Frozen Potstickers in an Air Fryer?
Yes! Frozen potstickers come out nice and crispy on the outside without getting dried out.
Are Potstickers, Dumplings, and Gyoza All The Same?
Dumplings are fillings wrapped in dough and then fried for a crispy bottom. They can have a meat or vegetable filling. Potstickers are a variety of dumplings, which is why the term can sometimes be used interchangeably.
Potstickers are made with a slightly thinner wrapper than other kinds of dumplings. The dough even be almost translucent at times.
While the term gyoza means “pot sticker” in Japanese, they are not identical. Gyoza dumplings tends to be slightly smaller and more delicate than a potsticker with the filling being more finely chopped.
How to Make Frozen Potstickers in the Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Place the frozen potstickers in the air fryer in a single layer and spray with oil using an EVO Oil Mister. The dumplings can touch but should not be stacked.
STEP THREE: Air fry frozen dumplings for 5 minutes, flip the dumplings, then add a little more oil, if needed.
STEP FOUR: Cook the frozen Chinese dumplings for an additional 4-6 minutes until they are golden brown on top. Remove the air fryer dumplings from the basket and let them sit for 2 minutes.
STEP FIVE (optional): Make the dipping sauce by placing the soy sauce, water, maple syrup, garlic powder, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a bowl and whisking together. Add sesame seeds if desired.
Tips For Making the Best AIr Fryer Dumplings
- Cook the frozen dumplings in a single layer. Stacking the potstickers can result in them being unevenly cooked
- Use pre packaged dumplings in the frozen section for the best results
- Completely coat the frozen potstickers with oil. Not coating them will result in them becoming dried out or burnt. I recommend using an EVO Oil Sprayer.
- Flip the potstickers halfway through cooking and spray with more oil if needed to really ensure they don’t dry out
- Make the dipping sauce included with this recipe! It brings out the flavors in the dumplings and matches perfectly. You can also try out this pot sticker dipping sauce recipe too!
What To Serve with Air Fryer Dumplings
- Air Fryer Rice (or made in the Ninja Foodi)
- Air Fryer Roasted Peppers
- Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
- Air Fryer Bok Choy
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Asian Summer Slaw
Can I Cook Homemade Potstickers in the Air Fryer?
If you have any thawed fresh potstickers or not frozen potstickers, you can cook these in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for about 6 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Can You Steam Dumplings in the Air Fryer?
I have not tried making steam dumplings in the air fryer as of yet. If you do try it and succeed, please let me know below!
I have, however, steamed dumplings in the Instant Pot and they come out fantastic! I just miss the crispiness I get using the air fryer.
How Long Do You Cook FROZEN Potstickers For in an Air Fryer?
Frozen dumplings, just one kind of potsticker, are best cooked at 370 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes.
Flip the postickers halfway through cooking and spray more oil halfway through if needed. I recommend using an EVO Oil Sprayer. You can learn more about what oils to use in your air fryer here.
What Temperature Do You Air Fry Frozen Dumplings?
Cooking the air fried frozen dumplings at 370 degrees F ensures they get crispy without burning or drying out.
Why Are My Air Fryer Pot Stickers Dry?
Air frying potstickers can become very dry if you’re not using enough oil.
Since frozen potstickers do not come fully cooked and are raw when purchased, they do not contain oil to keep them from getting dried out. They must be sprayed with oil to get that nice crispy outside coating.
More Air Fryer Frozen Foods You’ll Love:
Frozen Potstickers in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
Dumplings
- 8 ounces frozen dumplings vegetable, pork, or chicken dumplings
Dipping Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/8 cup maple syrup or molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- small pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees for about 4 minutes.
- Place the frozen dumplings inside the air fryer in one layer and spray with oil.
- Cook for 5 minutes, shake the basket, then spray with a little more oil.
- Cook dumplings for another 4-6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the dipping sauce by mixing ingredients together.
- Remove the air fryer dumplings from the basket and let sit for another 2 minutes before enjoying.
I’m so glad you loved them, Donna. Potstickers in the air fryer are a favorite of mine and we always have them in the freezer!
I used your method for cooking some frozen dumplings in my air fryer yesterday and it worked out great! I didn’t need to make sauce (mine came with some) but will definitely try this out another time. Thanks for the tips!
I’m so glad to hear Ashley! They’re my personal favorite way to make them. I even bought some more to make for our stir fry night this week!
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I used my Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid from Williams Sanmoa , timing was perfect, way less time than in the instant pot for steaming , plus more like the buffet when you go to the restauraunt! Thank you so much! I used canola oil spray, worked wonders!
So glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca! I love my Instant Pot, but you’re right. It’s so much more time. I love how quickly these dumplings cook up in the air fryer. I actually just bought some more to make this weekend too.
This looks really good and I’d like to make it but how do I make the dumpling itself if I don’t want to use frozen ones? Do I use egg roll wrappers or croissant dough?
Hi Renee, the texture of a dumpling is different than a croissant or egg wrapper (although air fryer wontons are delicious in their own right). If you’re making them fresh, I would make the dough from scratch or find a premade dough at an Asian grocery store.
I tried this and nearly broke my teeth. It just did not work with what I got bc the wrapper got very hard and crunchy. I had to do it the traditional way (oil in a pan and then cover to steam) and then crisp them up in the air fryer.
I’m so sorry this didn’t work for you, Chris. The outside is supposed to get crunchy, but not tough enough to break your teeth! Did you spray oil on them when cooking? This makes a huge difference to make sure they don’t get too hard to eat.
Sorry, I followed the directions entirely and we thought they were awful. They turned out dry like cardboard.
In my opinion, they need to be made with directions on the pot sticker instructions.
So sorry you were not a fan, Judy. These are one of my favorites in the air fryer and we make them all the time. They can become dry if enough oil is not added when cooking.
Love them! I steam in the foodie first for 3 min then air fry for 5 min. Just right for us. Love the sauce!!!
I have Air fryer feature in my new gas stove, and no book how to use it . can I use it the same way as portable air fry?
Hi Vivian, great question! Yes, you can! Since it’s a lot larger than a normal air fryer, things may take slightly longer to cook, but I would keep the same temperature and check on the food as it cooks.
I followed recipe exactly as written and found the results disappointing. Way too crispy in a bad way as they were more like cardboard texture than dumpling. Sorry, but would never use this method again.
Hi Mike, I’m sorry they didn’t work out for you. I just remade these this week with no issues. The use of oil is crucial to keep them crispy, but not too tough. I hope that helps!
Is this recipe for pre-cooked frozen potstickers? Wondering if it will work on home made from scratch with raw ingredients.
These directions are for frozen potstickers. I have not made homemade ones from scratch in there as of yet, but if you do, let us know how they turn out!
Whether the dumplings are frozen or not, if you want them to come out crisp but not so dry, you can put some water into the air fryer basket. It’s better to spray the oil directly onto both sides of the potstickers instead of the basket. That helps them to not dry out as much. It still is more healthy than submerging them in oil like in a deep fryer.
As far as using fresh instead of frozen potstickers, it will definitely work, but may not take as long. Check on them after a few minutes and flip them. Then cook for a few more minutes and then check to see if the center is hot and the outside is crispy. If not, cook for however much longer you feel they might need at the point. The time will also depend on whether they have been refrigerated or they are room temperature because you just made them. Once you have the time nailed down, you’ll know how long to cook them next time.
I appreciate your input, your comment is filled with valuable insights and useful tips.
Oh and I forgot to say that it’s ideal to preheat the air fryer for a full 10 minutes so that they sizzle when you put them in. It will get them crisp and brown and center hot in less time so they won’t get as dry, especially combined with the other tips in my other reply. That probably won’t be as much of a problem if the potstickers are fresh and not frozen.
Absolutely fantastic recipe! Thanks, Samantha. 😊
We attempted these with potstickers from Costco. They did not turn out that well, but I’ll try to make the myself next time as I don’t think the Mister listened to my instructions very well. We did really enjoy the sauce though.