My Kids Love This 4-Ingredient Dinner (and So Do I)

It's ready in 20 minutes or less.

By
Coco Morante
Coco Morante
Coco Morante
Coco began developing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2016 and is the author of five cookbooks. She is an industry expert on Instant Pot cooking.
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Published January 27, 2026
Coco Morante
Gyoza with cabbage and green onions served in a bowl with chopsticks

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

I don’t remember a time before Trader Joe’s carried its delicious, affordable gyoza. Currently priced at $3.99 per 16-ounce bag, they’re one of my favorite items to have on hand for a fast and simple meal. Whatever your preferred brand of frozen gyoza, potstickers, or other dumplings, I’m happy to share with you my favorite way to enjoy them.

Despite what my five-year-old might tell you, a pile of dumplings does not make for a balanced meal. Cabbage is my green vegetable of choice to pair with gyoza—when it’s sautéed with splashes of soy sauce and oyster sauce, it makes a flavorful and delicious base for a bowl. I halve, core, and cut the cabbage into 1/4-inch-thick ribbons. My kids have so much fun trying to pick up the “cabbage noodles” with their training chopsticks that they aren’t even thinking about having to eat their vegetables.

Once you’ve sliced your cabbage, it only takes about 15 minutes to cook this meal. It’s a bit of a balancing act, since you’ll be sautéeing the cabbage while the gyoza steam-fry in another pan. Set a timer so you don’t burn the bottoms of the gyoza. And when you add the water to the gyoza, have your lid ready in your other hand to cover the skillet immediately to avoid any oil splatters.

Gyoza served over a bed of shredded cabbage garnished with chopped green onions

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Easy Tweaks

Vegetables plus dumplings is a great formula and easy to vary based on what you have on hand. Bite-sized broccoli florets, cauliflower rice, green beans, or sliced asparagus can take the place of the cabbage. While I usually go for pork or chicken gyoza, just about any Asian-style dumpling can top your vegetables. Vegetable gyoza, potstickers, soup dumplings, and shumai are all good options.

Gyoza Cabbage Bowls

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 3 to 4
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 1 pound frozen gyoza dumplings

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1 medium head (about 2 pounds) green cabbage, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch-wide ribbons

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • Optional, for serving: sliced green onions, cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, chili crisp, and/or Sriracha

Method

  1. Steam the gyoza:

    Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the gyoza to the skillet, seam side up. Let them sear until lightly golden on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Add the water and quickly cover the skillet with a lid. Let the gyoza steam, covered, until they’re cooked through and the water has evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Uncover the skillet and remove from the heat.

  2. Sauté the cabbage:

    While the gyoza are steaming, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the cabbage and sauté until it has wilted and become translucent but still has some bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the oyster sauce and soy sauce and sauté for another minute or so, stirring to evenly coat the cabbage in the sauce.

  3. Serve:

    Transfer the cabbage to serving bowls or plates. Add the gyoza on top of the cabbage, then serve right away, with toppings at the table if you like.

    Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, add a serving of cabbage to a microwave-safe bowl, microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir up the cabbage a bit and add the gyoza on top. Microwave until the gyoza are heated through, about 1 minute more.

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    A bowl of gyoza dumplings over cabbage and garnished with green onions and chili sauces

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
388 Calories
24g Fat
33g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 388
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 30%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 781mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 79mg 396%
Calcium 128mg 10%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 566mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.