What to Serve with Dumplings [11 Best Side Dish Ideas]

Easy Chinese dumpling and jiaozi serving and side dish ideas. From egg drop soup to Thai peanut salad, and chicken noodles to Sichuan green beans, discover what to serve with dumplings today.

Chinese dumplings (or jiaozi) are the perfect Asian comfort food. Often made with a pork or beef filling, dumplings have an unmistakable hearty flavor that borders just the right side of salty-but-spicy.

And while we’re not unfamiliar with buying 20 jiaozi, guo tie, or Sichuan dumplings to devour for dinner, dumplings are best enjoyed alongside a number of Chinese and Asian classic dishes.

From Sichuan green beans to fried chicken noodles, these dumpling side dishes bring out the best the classic food has to offer.

Sesame Ginger Noodles

Sesame ginger noodles are the perfect complement to dumplings. Their sharp taste and soft texture pair perfectly with almost any kind of Chinese dumpling. Additionally, they often include crunchy veggies, which creates an even more dynamic consistency.

Pan-fried noodle dishes are always a safe bet for fuss-free weeknight dinners, and these sesame ginger noodles are no different.

Try This Recipe: These 15-minute sesame ginger noodles are quick, easy, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly, so it’s a convenient meal for many different diets and tastes.

Thai Peanut & Quinoa Salad

Dumplings can be a bit heavy, especially if they contain meats and sauces, so pairing them with a fresh and tasty salad is always a good idea. Thai peanut and quinoa salad is a delicious option packed with nutrients and flavor.

The salad’s slightly sweet and nutty taste goes well with the savory dumplings. The salad is fresh and light, while the accompanying peanut sauce brings umami into the mix with sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce.

Try This Recipe: This Thai peanut and quinoa salad calls for not only peanuts, but cabbage, carrots, and snap peas for a delightful and consistent crunchiness.

Vegetable Rice Pilaf

Vegetable rice pilaf is another fantastic option to serve with dumplings. It is a flavorful and healthy dish that includes veggies like carrots and peas. Due to the mouthwatering seasonings and chicken broth, this dish is anything but bland.

The veggies in the pilaf add color and texture, while the rice soaks up all of the flavors, making it the perfect vessel for dumplings, especially steamed or boiled dumpling meals that could use a bit more complex textures.

Try This Recipe: This vegetable rice pilaf is straightforward and incorporates ground turmeric for a delightful, bright yellow finishing color.

Chicken Stir Fry Noodles

Stir-fried noodles, chicken, and eggs are a hard combination to beat. This meal is hearty and filling, yet still light enough that you won’t feel weighed down after eating it alongside dumplings.

The versatility of chicken stir fry is what makes it great. You can use any type of noodles and any vegetables you have on hand. You can also pre-marinate to ensure a quick weekend meal that still tastes exquisite.

Try This Recipe: These chicken stir fry noodles use shredded chicken thighs mixed with cabbage and carrots, while Shaoxing wine creates the recipe’s unique marinade.

Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup is a tasty and easy soup that takes only minutes. This soup is perfect if you want something light to serve with dumplings.

The soup has a smooth texture and contains egg, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Adding chopped chicken gives it even more flavor, and incorporating corn gives it a touch of sweetness.

Try This Recipe: Not only does this chicken corn egg drop soup include both real chicken and corn, but it also has turmeric powder for a yellow color and delightful flavor. It chucks in oyster sauce, sesame oil, and even cilantro for added punch.

Chinese Sausage Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of the most well-loved side dishes for dumplings, and Chinese sausage fried rice is a delicious and easy option that takes standard fried rice to new heights.

This dish — which you can serve as a side or main meal — is made with white rice, Chinese sausage, eggs, and veggies like peas, carrots, and onion. The sausage adds tons of flavor, and the rice soaks up all the juices, making it extra savory.

Try This Recipe: This Chinese sausage fried rice makes vibrant and flavorful Cantonese-style fried rice. It’s also beginner-friendly with detailed instructions.

Fruit & Shrimp Salad

Fruit and shrimp salad is a juicy and bright side dish or appetizer that’s perfect for when you’re eating dumplings in the warmer months.

Fruit, shrimp, and mayonnaise may seem like a strange combination to some people, but the sweetness of the fruit pairs swimmingly with the savory shrimp and mayo. The result is a colorful and flavorful salad that’s refreshing, light, and perfect for daytime dinners and events.

Try This Recipe: This Cantonese fruit and shrimp salad uses just the right mix of ingredients for the perfect blend of flavor.

Vegetable Stir Fry

While chicken stir fry is a great compliment to dumplings, a vegetable stir fry may be a better option if you’re making meat dumplings or otherwise prefer less meat in your overall meal.

No meat does not mean less flavor. This dish contains various tasty veggies like mushrooms, carrots, snap peas, and more. The key to making a great vegetable stir fry is using fresh ingredients and not overcooking the vegetables to retain their crunch.

Try This Recipe: This easy vegetable stir fry is one of the quickest solutions for dinner with a time-crunch, as it only takes 25 minutes for prep and cooking. It also explains all the variations you can try and stir fry add-ons, so you’ll never get tired of this dish!

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is a classic, heart-warming dish regardless of the specific style, but Asian-styled chicken noodle soup tends to have Asian-inspired flavors and seasonings like ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic, which make it excellent to eat alongside dumplings.

You can use various Asian-style noodles for this dish, but the easiest and most convenient way to make it is by using ramen packets.

Try This Recipe: This Asian chicken noodle soup incorporates the tastiest Asian flavors and scrumptious veggies like mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, and green onions.

Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce

Chinese broccoli is a leafy green vegetable that’s common in Chinese cuisine. It has a slightly bitter taste and is tasty blanched or stir-fried.

When Chinese broccoli is stir-fried with oyster sauce, it makes for a rich and savory side dish that’s perfect for dumplings, especially dumplings that also have oyster sauce. The oyster sauce gives the broccoli a deep umami flavor that takes it to new heights.

Try This Recipe: This Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce provides detailed instructions, including how to properly steam and trim the broccoli, for a simple and elegant result.

Szechuan Green Beans

Szechuan-style green beans are among the best veggie sides for dumplings, especially savory, meaty ones like pork, chicken, or shrimp dumplings.

Cook the green beans until they’re slightly crispy but tender on the inside. They’re then stir-fried with a mouthwatering mixture of garlic, ginger, Szechuan peppercorn, and chili pepper flakes.

Try This Recipe: These Szechuan green beans are simple but ensure maximum flavor and Szechuan-level spice.