Slow Cooker Pork Potstickers

These Slow Cooker Pork Potstickers are an easy one-pot meal made with frozen pork dumplings, coleslaw mix, chicken broth, and teriyaki sauce. The potstickers cook gently in the savory sauce while the cabbage and carrots soften and absorb all that sweet, salty flavor.

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or days when you want a warm meal with almost no preparation. Simply layer everything in the slow cooker, cover, and let it cook. There is no need to boil noodles, chop a long list of vegetables, or prepare a separate sauce.

The finished dish has tender dumplings, soft cabbage, and plenty of flavorful broth. Garnish it with green onions, sesame seeds, sriracha, or chili crisp for a simple meal inspired by the flavors of pork potstickers and stir-fried cabbage.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This slow cooker dinner uses only four main ingredients and takes just a few minutes to assemble. Frozen potstickers provide the meat, seasoning, and tender wrapper in one convenient ingredient.

Bagged coleslaw mix eliminates the need to slice cabbage and carrots by hand. As it cooks, the cabbage shrinks and becomes tender while soaking up the chicken broth and teriyaki sauce.

The recipe is also easy to customize. You can add mushrooms, broccoli, snow peas, water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, or extra heat depending on what you have available.

Ingredients

1 bag frozen pork potstickers, 24 to 32 ounces
1 bag coleslaw mix, 14 to 16 ounces
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce

Optional Garnishes

Sliced green onions
Sesame seeds
Sriracha
Chili crisp
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges

Ingredient Notes

Frozen pork potstickers: Use your favorite frozen dumplings or gyoza. Some brands contain raw pork, while others contain fully cooked filling, so check the package and follow its food-safety directions.

Coleslaw mix: A standard bag usually contains shredded green cabbage and carrots. A mix containing red cabbage can also be used, although it may change the color of the sauce.

Chicken broth: Low-sodium broth is recommended because teriyaki sauce and frozen potstickers may already contain plenty of salt.

Teriyaki sauce: Use a pourable bottled teriyaki sauce rather than an extremely thick glaze. A thick sauce can be diluted with a little additional broth.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Potstickers

Lightly coat the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Arrange the frozen pork potstickers across the bottom of the slow cooker.
Pour the low-sodium chicken broth evenly over the potstickers.
Drizzle the teriyaki sauce over the dumplings.
Spread the coleslaw mix across the top.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
Cook on low for three to four hours or on high for one and a half to two hours.
Begin checking near the earliest cooking time because slow cookers and potsticker sizes vary.
Gently fold the cabbage and sauce around the potstickers before serving.
Use a wide spoon or silicone spatula so the softened wrappers do not tear.
Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, sriracha, or chili crisp.

Important Cooking Tip

Do not thaw the potstickers before placing them in the slow cooker unless the package specifically instructs you to do so. Starting with frozen dumplings helps them maintain their shape during the first part of cooking.

If the potstickers contain raw pork, make sure the filling reaches at least 160°F before serving. When the package gives a different preparation or temperature instruction, follow the manufacturer’s directions.

How to Prevent Torn or Mushy Potstickers

Avoid stirring during the first part of cooking. The wrappers become delicate as they absorb the broth and sauce.

Keep the potstickers in a fairly even layer rather than stacking them into a tall pile. Very crowded dumplings may stick together and cook unevenly.

Check the meal early. Leaving the dumplings in the slow cooker much longer than necessary can make the wrappers overly soft.

When serving, lift the potstickers gently with a wide spoon rather than stirring them aggressively.

How to Adjust the Sauce

For more liquid, add another one-half cup of chicken broth. This creates a soupier bowl that is especially good with rice or noodles.

For a stronger teriyaki flavor, add a small drizzle of sauce after cooking instead of adding too much at the beginning.

If the sauce tastes salty, stir in additional unsalted broth or serve the meal over plain rice.

For a thicker sauce, mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with one tablespoon of cold water. Stir the slurry into the hot liquid and cook on high for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Easy Variations

Chicken, vegetable, or shrimp potstickers can replace the pork variety. Cooking times may vary, so check the package directions.

Add sliced mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or thin bell pepper strips for extra texture.

For more fresh flavor, add grated ginger and minced garlic with the broth.

Stir in snow peas, broccoli florets, or baby spinach near the end so they do not become overly soft.

For a spicy version, mix sriracha, sambal, red pepper flakes, or chili garlic sauce into the teriyaki mixture.

What to Serve with Pork Potstickers

The cabbage makes this a complete one-pot meal, but it can also be served over steamed white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles.

For side dishes, try cucumber salad, steamed edamame, roasted broccoli, Asian-style green beans, or a simple vegetable soup.

Storage and Reheating

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The wrappers will continue absorbing liquid and may become softer during storage.

Reheat gently in a covered skillet or microwave. Add a splash of chicken broth when the sauce has become too thick.

Freezing the completed meal is not recommended because the cooked wrappers can become very soft and may tear after thawing.

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