There are nights when you crave something warm, savory, and satisfying but have neither the time nor the energy for complicated cooking. This Slow Cooker Potsticker Supper is the answer. Frozen pork potstickers simmer gently in a flavorful broth with teriyaki sauce and frozen vegetables, transforming into a hearty, Asian-inspired meal with almost no work at all.
The beauty of this dish is in its simplicity. Frozen potstickers go straight into the slow cooker—no thawing, no pan-frying, no fuss. Broth and teriyaki sauce create a savory cooking liquid that infuses the dumplings with flavor as they steam and simmer. Frozen stir-fry vegetables add color, texture, and nutrition. Everything cooks together in one pot, emerging tender, juicy, and delicious.
This is the perfect meal for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or any time you need a comforting dinner without a lot of effort. Serve it as a soup in bowls with the broth, or use a slotted spoon to serve the potstickers and vegetables as a main dish with rice on the side. Either way, it is fast, flavorful, and foolproof.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Only 4 simple ingredients
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Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker convenience
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No thawing or pre-cooking required
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Savory, umami-rich broth
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A complete one-pot meal
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Great for meal prep and leftovers
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Potsticker Supper
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 3-4 hours on LOW or 1.5-2 hours on HIGH | Total Time:Approximately 3-4 hours
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
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1 (24-32 ounce) bag frozen pork potstickers (about 18-24 pieces, unthawed)
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3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
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2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetable blend
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⅓ cup bottled teriyaki sauce (or soy-ginger stir-fry sauce)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Slow Cooker:
Place the frozen pork potstickers in an even layer on the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. It is fine if they touch, but try not to stack them more than two layers deep so they cook evenly.
2. Add the Broth:
Pour the chicken or vegetable broth over the potstickers, making sure most of them are at least partially submerged. Gently nudge them with a spoon if needed so the broth can circulate.
3. Add the Vegetables:
Sprinkle the frozen stir-fry vegetables evenly over the top of the potstickers. There is no need to thaw the vegetables first; they will release moisture and help create more flavorful cooking liquid.
4. Add the Teriyaki Sauce:
Drizzle the teriyaki sauce over the vegetables and potstickers. Do not stir; leaving everything mostly undisturbed helps the potstickers hold their shape instead of falling apart.
5. Cook:
Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or on HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours. The potstickers are done when they are piping hot in the center (at least 165°F / 74°C) and the vegetables are tender.
6. Serve:
Once cooked, taste the broth and add a splash more teriyaki sauce or a pinch of salt if you would like a stronger flavor. Gently lift the potstickers out with a slotted spoon to keep them intact, then spoon the vegetables and broth over the top for serving.
Recipe Notes & Pro Tips
Choosing Potstickers: Any brand of frozen pork potstickers (also called gyoza or dumplings) works beautifully. Look for them in the frozen section of your grocery store, often near the egg rolls and wontons. Chicken, vegetable, or shrimp potstickers are excellent substitutes if you prefer.
Do Not Thaw First: Adding the potstickers frozen is intentional. They will thaw and cook evenly in the slow cooker. Thawed potstickers may become too soft and fall apart during cooking.
Do Not Stir: Resist the urge to stir the potstickers during cooking. They are delicate and can break apart. Keeping them mostly undisturbed helps them hold their shape.
Broth Choices: Low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth is recommended to control the salt level. Regular broth combined with teriyaki sauce can become overly salty. If using regular broth, reduce the teriyaki sauce slightly or add a splash of water.
Vegetable Blend: Any frozen stir-fry vegetable blend works well. Look for blends containing broccoli, carrots, snap peas, bell peppers, and water chestnuts. You can also use a single vegetable like frozen broccoli florets or edamame.
Teriyaki Sauce Variations: Use your favorite bottled teriyaki sauce. For a different flavor profile, try soy-ginger sauce, hoisin sauce, or a mixture of soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.
Variations
Spicy Potsticker Supper: Add 1 tablespoon of sriracha, 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or 2 tablespoons of chili-garlic sauce to the broth along with the teriyaki sauce.
Ginger Sesame Potsticker Supper: Add 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to the broth. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
Coconut Curry Potsticker Supper: Substitute 1 cup of the broth with 1 cup of coconut milk. Add 1 tablespoon of red curry paste. The coconut adds richness and a subtle sweetness.
Potsticker Soup: After cooking, add 2 cups of fresh spinach or bok choy and let wilt for 5 minutes. Serve as a soup with extra broth.
Crispy Potsticker Finish: After cooking, remove the potstickers with a slotted spoon and quickly pan-fry them in a hot skillet with a little oil for 1-2 minutes per side to crisp the bottoms before serving.
Rice Noodle Addition: Add 4 ounces of dried rice noodles to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking. The noodles will soften and absorb the flavorful broth.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile dish can be served in multiple ways:
As a Soup:
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Ladle the potstickers, vegetables, and broth into bowls
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Garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, or cilantro
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Serve with a side of steamed rice
As a Main Dish:
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Use a slotted spoon to remove the potstickers and vegetables
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Serve over steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice
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Drizzle with extra teriyaki sauce
As an Appetizer or Party Food:
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Cook as directed
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Remove the potstickers with a slotted spoon and arrange on a platter
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Serve the broth on the side as a dipping sauce
Garnish Ideas:
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Sliced green onions
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Toasted sesame seeds
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Fresh cilantro or basil
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A drizzle of sesame oil
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Sriracha or chili oil for heat
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The potstickers will soften as they sit, but the flavor remains delicious.
To reheat, warm gently in a covered skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of broth or water to prevent drying out. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave in 60-second bursts.
This dish does not freeze well, as the texture of the potstickers becomes mushy upon thawing.
Why This Recipe Works
The slow cooker is the perfect vessel for this dish because it provides gentle, even heat that cooks the frozen potstickers without scorching or breaking them. The sealed environment traps steam and moisture, allowing the dumplings to cook through while staying tender and juicy.
The combination of broth and teriyaki sauce creates a savory, umami-rich cooking liquid. The broth provides depth and body; the teriyaki adds sweetness, saltiness, and a subtle tang. As the potstickers cook, they absorb this flavorful liquid, becoming infused with taste from the inside out.
The frozen vegetables are added on top, where they steam rather than boil. This preserves their color, texture, and nutrients. They release a small amount of moisture as they thaw, contributing to the broth without making it watery.
This recipe is proof that you do not need a long list of ingredients or complicated techniques to create a delicious, satisfying meal. With just four ingredients and a slow cooker, you can transform humble frozen potstickers into a dinner that feels special. It is fast, it is flavorful, and it is foolproof—perfect for busy weeknights when you need something warm and comforting without a lot of effort.