35 minutes Easy
by Tania Faysalon
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Weeknights call for fast, flavorful meals, and these Spicy Chicken Wontons deliver. The ground chicken filling comes together in minutes, and the wonton assembly is surprisingly straightforward.
Plus, the versatility of cooking methods (soup, pan-fried, steamed) keeps this recipe exciting. They’re a surefire weeknight win!
Table of Contents Show
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe is ideal for anyone who loves dumplings, a touch of heat, and doesn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Plus, it’s fun to fold the wontons yourself, making it a great activity for a date night or a get-together with friends.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground Chicken:This is the easiest to work with, but for a slightly chunkier texture, you can definitelypulse boneless, skinless chicken breasts a few times in the food processor. I’ve done both, and both are delicious!
- Sriracha:I loved using sriracha for the filling, but if you prefer a drier heat, you can substitute with a finely ground chilli spice. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more to taste according to your heat preference. Some good options include cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, or a pre-made chili powder blend.
- Soy Sauce:Low-sodium soy sauce is a good option here, especially if you plan on using a saltier sauce like chili crisp. But honestly, I usually just use regular soy sauce and haven’t found it to be overly salty in the final dish.
- Ginger:Freshly minced ginger is best for the most flavor, but in a pinch, you could use½ teaspoon ground ginger. Just remember, ground ginger has a stronger flavor than fresh, so start with a little less and adjust to your taste.
- Scallions:The scallions add a nice freshness to the filling, but you could also use chopped green onions if that’s what you have on hand.
- Sesame Oil:Toasted sesame oil adds a lovely nutty aroma, but if you don’t have any, you can use vegetable oil instead. However, the toasted sesame oil really elevates the flavor, so I recommend trying it if you can.
- Cornstarch:This helps bind the filling together and prevents it from being too watery. You could substitute with arrowroot powder in a pinch, but I find cornstarch works best here.
- Wonton Wrappers:Look for square wonton wrappers, but if you can only find gyoza wrappers, those work too. Gyoza wrappers are just a bit larger, so you might end up with bigger wontons, but they’ll still be delicious.
Note: Find the full printable recipe with ingredient quantity and directions at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Spicy Chicken Wontons
Here’s how to make these spicy chicken wontons:
1. Make the Filling
In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, garlic, ginger, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha (be mindful of spice!), and white pepper. I throw in a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh cilantro for an extra layer of flavor. It’s amazing! Mix everything really well until it’s evenly incorporated.
2. Assemble the Wontons
Now comes the fun part, but it can be a little tricky. Wet a clean kitchen towel and drape it over your wonton wrappers. This will keep the wonton wrappers from drying out.
Place a wrapper flat on your hand. Add a rounded teaspoon of the filling in the center. Dip your finger in a small bowl of water and lightly brush the edges of the wrapper where you’ll be folding it. This creates a “glue” that helps seal the wonton and prevent leaks during cooking.
Now, fold the wrapper diagonally over the filling to form a triangle. Press the edges together firmly to seal and prevent any leaks during cooking. You can get fancy with folds, but a simple seal works just fine. If you’re a folding newbie, there are great video tutorials online that can help!
3. Cook the Wontons
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Here’s a lesson I learned the hard way: don’t overcrowd the pot! Gently drop the wontons in batches and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they float to the surface and the filling is cooked through. I like to use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water – it helps prevent any tearing.
4. Make the Dipping Sauce (Because Everything Needs a Good Dip!)
While the wontons are cooking, whip up this easy sauce for an extra flavor explosion. Heat vegetable and sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili pepper (wear gloves if you’re chopping one as hot as I do!).
Saute for a minute until fragrant. Then, stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chicken broth. Bring it to a simmer and reduce heat. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry until the sauce thickens slightly. You want it to coat the back of a spoon but still be pourable.
5. Serve Up
Drain the cooked wontons and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle with the spicy chili sauce (if using) and garnish with some sliced scallions. Now comes the best part – digging in! I love serving these with a side of steamed veggies or fried rice for a complete meal.
How to Freeze & Reheat Spicy Chicken Wontons
These delicious wontons can be made ahead of time and frozen for a quick and easy meal later! Here’s how to freeze and reheat them:
Freeze for Later:
- Flash Freeze First: After assembling the wontons, don’t cook them yet. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This prevents them from sticking together during freezing. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until the wontons are firm and frozen solid.
- Transfer to Freezer Bags: Once frozen solid, gently transfer the wontons to a freezer-safe zip-lock bag. Press out any excess air to prevent freezer burn.
- Label and Freeze: Label the bag with the date and contents (Spicy Chicken Wontons) for easy identification. They’ll stay good in the freezer for up to 2 months
Prepare from Frozen:
There are two ways to reheat your frozen wontons:
- Boil from Frozen: This is the simplest method. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the frozen wontons directly to the boiling water. Increase the cooking time by a minute or two compared to fresh wontons (around 5-6 minutes). They’re done when they float to the surface and the filling is cooked through.
- Steam from Frozen: For a slightly more delicate texture, you can steam your frozen wontons. Fill a steamer basket with water and bring it to a boil. Place the frozen wontons in the steamer basket and steam for 6-8 minutes, or until cooked through.
How to Serve These Spicy Chicken Wontons
These homemade Spicy Chicken Wontons are a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to inspire your serving:
The Classic Appetizer:
- Arrange the cooked and drained wontons on a platter or steamer basket.
- Drizzle with your homemade spicy chili sauce (recipe included) or offer a selection of dipping sauces like soy sauce with chili oil, a simple sesame oil and vinegar mixture, or even a sweet and sour sauce.
- Garnish with chopped scallions and sesame seeds for a beautiful presentation.
A Hearty Meal:
- Serve the wontons in a steaming bowl of flavorful chicken broth. This is a fantastic option for a light and satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Add some leafy greens like baby bok choy or spinach to the broth for extra nutrients and a pop of color.
- Cooked noodles like ramen or rice noodles can also be added to the broth for a more substantial meal.
Dinner Party:
- Wontons make a great addition to a dim sum spread. Serve them alongside other classic dim sum dishes like steamed buns (bao), dumplings (siu mai), and spring rolls.
- Arrange the wontons in steamer baskets or small bowls for easy sharing.
- Offer a variety of dipping sauces to cater to different palates.
Leftovers Get a Second Life:
- Don’t toss leftover wontons! They can be easily reheated for another meal (see Freezing and Reheating instructions above).
- Repurpose leftover cooked wontons in lettuce wraps, stir-fries, or even add them to a pot of soup for an extra boost of flavor.
Pro Tip:
Wontons are best enjoyed hot or warm. If serving them as part of a larger spread, prepare them just before serving or keep them warm in a steamer basket over simmering water.
More Related Recipes You’ll Love!
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Zucchini
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Baked Spring Rolls
Herby Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Did you make this?Click a photo and tag me on social@freezenfire and be sure toleave a comment!
Spicy Chicken Wontons with Chili Sauce
Recipe by Tania Faysal
Yeilds
36
wontons
Prep time
20
minutes
Cooking time
15
minutes
Servings
4-6
servings
These homemade wontons are packed with juicy chicken filling and a kick of spice. They’re perfect as an appetizer, light meal, or addition to a dim sum feast.
Ingredients
- For the Filling:
1 pound ground chicken
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/3 cup chopped scallions
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
½ teaspoon sriracha (adjust for more spice)
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 package wonton wrappers (around 36)
- For the Spicy Chili Sauce (Optional):
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red chili pepper, finely chopped (adjust for spice level)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
½ cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Scallions, sliced (for garnish)
Directions
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic, ginger, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, and white pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Assemble the Wontons: Lay a wonton wrapper flat on a work surface. Place a rounded teaspoon of the chicken filling in the center. Brush the edges of the wrapper with water. Fold the wrapper over the filling to form a triangle. Press the edges together to seal, creating a small pouch. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
- Cook the Wontons: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Gently drop the wontons into the boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they float to the surface and the filling is cooked through.
- Make the Spicy Chili Sauce (Optional): While the wontons are cooking, heat vegetable and sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and chili pepper, cook for a minute until fragrant. Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Serve: Drain the cooked wontons and spoon them into bowls. Drizzle with spicy chili sauce (if using) and garnish with scallions. Enjoy hot!
- Freezing & Reheating:
- Flash freeze wontons on a baking sheet for 2-3 hours. Transfer to a freezer bag, label, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen by boiling for 1-2 extra minutes or steaming for 6-8 minutes.
Tips & Notes
- Filling Flexibility:This recipe makes a generous amount of filling. Leftovers can be used for lettuce wraps, mini chicken pot pies, or even stuffed peppers! Get creative and avoid food waste.
- Wonton Wrapper:Keep your wonton wrappers covered with a damp cloth while assembling to prevent them from drying out. Dry wrappers will crack and be difficult to seal.
- Leftovers:Reheat leftover cooked wontons in boiling water or broth for a quick and satisfying snack.
