TREND BITES:
Dumplings
Dumplings Go Mainstream: Chicken-Filled Ideas for Every Operation
When you think of dumplings, do you think of the fluffy balls of dough you'd find in a soup? Or do you imagine a bite-sized casing of dough that surrounds a filling?
While there is no single, universally accepted definition, we know one thing for sure: consumers love both. In fact, dumplings caught the attention of Whole Foods enough to make their ever-popular annual food trend list this year. People can't get enough of these tasty bites, and we're digging into what's driving the trend and how your operation can join in.
Dumplings Bring Comfort and Profits
The rising popularity of dumplings may be due to the comforting experiences of eating either of the dumpling styles. On one hand, when you're biting into a filled dumpling, you're experiencing a time-perfected mixture of protein, vegetables, and spices that has nurtured generations of people all over the globe. On the other hand, slurping a spoonful of hearty dumpling soup fills you with smooth, seasoned broth, tender meat, and soft, chewy dumplings. Both experiences are warm, savory, and extremely satisfying. Eating dumplings can be nostalgic, such as with Southern-style dumpling soup on a cold winter day, or it can be trendy, as a quick lunch eaten with chopsticks in an upscale shopping district.
Dumplings always offer a delightful bite, and no matter what style you're serving, Americans can't get enough. The Seattle Times noted how dumplings' universal appeal is perfectly matched with their profitability, calling them "America's $5 billion obsession" and referencing the multitude of dumpling-centric restaurants and food trucks that are seeing incredible success. Luckily, it's easy to start serving this undeniable hit. Just choose your dumpling format and find the right fillings for your menu!Dumpling Fillings, From Common to Cutting Edge
The line between dumplings and other foods like noodles, pastries, or fritters is often blurry and sometimes contested. The very act of describing a menu item as a dumpling can spark interest and debate. By featuring flavors and ingredients favored by customers, operators can create custom and craveable dumpling options and capitalize on their popularity. As Flavor & The Menu says in their Top 10 Trends for 2025, "Dumplings offer a world of opportunity wrapped in supple, savory pouches."
Putting debate aside, Datassential's Menu Adoption Cycle (MAC) for dumpling fillings shows how they range from familiar to adventurous. On the "Ubiquity" end, you'll find pizza rolls, tortellini, and apple dumplings. Those common foods are filled with everyday ingredients: cheese, pepperoni, and apples.
In the middle of the cycle, a little bit less common, are potstickers, pierogi, and samosas. That's where the global cuisines start making an appearance with fillings like meats, veggies, potatoes, and spices.
Finally, on the very cutting edge of the trend cycle, you'll find items like mandu, and coxinha, which come from global cuisines that are just starting to break into mainstream US food culture. Mandu, from Korea, are often filled with meat, kimchi, and tofu, while coxinha are Brazilian shredded chicken balls that have been covered in dough and fried. Try these chicken and dumpling recipes!
Get started serving dumplings with these simple, delicious recipes using savory chicken.
Dumplings for Different Segments
The dumpling recipes above were created with different aspects of foodservice in mind.
For convenience stores, grocery, and grab-and-go meals, prepare some Chicken Potstickers that will fuel your guests and satisfy their craving for robust flavor and complex texture. They're filled with crunchy mixture of cabbage, scallions, garlic, ginger, and chicken, all contained inside a soft wonton wrapper that pops with flavor when dunked in soy sauce.
If you're serving a "Soup of the Day," definitely try out this Chicken and Dumpling Soup. It combines traditional Southern cuisine with the ease of fully cooked, diced chicken.
And if your guests are hungry for new appetizers with a touch of global flair, serve these Polish-inspired Chicken Pierogi. They're filled with the ultra-comforting combination of diced chicken, mashed potatoes, Monterey Jack cheese, and green onions.Try these chicken products to easily enhance your dumpling applications:
Table of Contents
Want more Trend Bites content? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletters for menu ideas, back-of-house tips, and updates on our latest products!
