Dumpling Lasagna (Printable)

A fun fusion twist layering juicy dumplings with rich tomato sauce and melted cheeses for a hearty, comforting bake.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dumplings

01 - 24 frozen or fresh pork, chicken, or vegetable dumplings

→ Sauce

02 - 2 cups marinara or tomato basil pasta sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce
07 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Cheese Mixture

09 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
12 - 1 large egg
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

→ To Assemble

14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
03 - Stir in marinara sauce, soy sauce, and chili flakes. Simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
04 - In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, basil or parsley, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmesan until combined.
05 - In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Arrange 12 dumplings over the sauce.
06 - Dollop half the ricotta mixture over dumplings, then sprinkle with one-third of remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
07 - Repeat layers: sauce, remaining dumplings, remaining ricotta mixture, another third of the cheeses.
08 - Top with remaining sauce and all the remaining cheeses.
09 - Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
10 - Uncover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbling.
11 - Let rest 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crispy dumpling bottoms soak up sauce in ways pasta never could
  • Its faster than traditional lasagna but feels just as comforting
  • People get genuinely excited about the concept before even taking a bite
02 -
  • The resting period is non negotiable. Cutting too early creates a messy slide instead of neat layers.
  • Dumplings expand slightly as they cook so do not overcrowd your layers.
  • The bottom layer gets the most sauce contact and becomes incredibly tender.
03 -
  • Use a fork to test that dumplings in the center are fully cooked before removing foil
  • Let your ricotta come to room temperature before mixing for easier blending

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