Homemade Chicken Wonton Soup is a great way to enjoy Chinese food right at home. It's made with soft wontons stuffed with seasoned chicken, all in a clear broth with the flavors of ginger, soy, sesame, and garlic.
You can make large amounts of wontons in advance and freeze them, so you can have a quick and delicious meal ready in just minutes.
A hot bowl of wonton soup is great to start with or have alongside a main dish like Chicken Lo Mein, Panda Express Chow Mein, or Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken.
What is Wonton Soup?
Wonton soup, a classic Chinese dish, features chicken broth and wontons filled with a spiced meat mixture, similar to ravioli or tortellini. Cooks often add green onions and flavor the soup with spices and condiments like soy sauce and sesame oil. Its comforting and savory qualities make it a favorite in Chinese cuisine.
We use ground chicken as the base for the filling in this recipe. You can substitute it with other meats or proteins like shrimp, ground pork or turkey, or ground beef.
✅ You'll Need
For the Wontons:
- Ground Chicken: We like to use ground chicken. You can substitute it with ground pork, shrimp, or even ground turkey or beef, depending on your preference.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a slight tanginess. If unavailable, use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar as substitutes.
- Soy Sauce: Provides a salty, umami flavor. Tamari or coconut aminos are great as gluten-free alternatives.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Gives a nutty flavor. In case you don't have it, use a mild-flavored oil, but the distinct sesame taste will be missing.
- Garlic: Freshly grated garlic is best for flavor.
- Fresh Ginger: Grated for a zesty kick.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness. You can use white sugar or honey as alternatives.
- Green Onions: For a mild onion flavor. Chives can work as substitutes.
- Wonton Wrappers: They are usually available in most grocery stores, often found in the produce section or near the fresh chow mein noodles. Square-shaped and typically 3½ inches. Round wrappers can also be used, or you can make homemade wrappers.
For the Chicken Wonton Soup Recipe:
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Forms the base of the soup. Regular chicken broth or vegetable broth are great too, but adjust salt accordingly.
- Garlic Cloves: Minced, for flavor.
- Dark Soy Sauce: Richer and less salty than regular soy sauce. If unavailable, mix regular soy sauce with a bit of molasses.
- Sesame Oil: For flavor. If not available, you can omit it, but the unique flavor will be less pronounced.
- Green Onions: For garnish and flavor. Chives or sliced leek will work too.
- Baby Bok Choy: Adds a crunchy, fresh element.
🔪 How to Make Wontons
To make the filling: In a bowl, combine the chicken, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar, and onion.
To Fold the Wontons
Folding wontons is simple but can take some time. We like to make them in large batches and freeze. Here's how to fold them:
Put a teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wonton wrapper. Make sure not to put too much.
Wet the edges with a few drops of water.
Fold the wrapper into a triangle shape and press the edges firmly to seal them.
Bring the two corners of the triangle together and use a little water to seal them.
How to Make Wonton Soup
Heat a large pot over medium heat and put in chicken broth, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions. Bring this mixture to a boil. Then, add the bok choy to the broth and let the soup simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Use another big pot to boil about 4 quarts of water. Add the wontons to the boiling water, stirring gently to keep them from sticking to each other or to the bottom of the pot. When the wontons float to the top, let them simmer for 2 more minutes until the dough looks a bit see-through.
Drain the wontons and then put them into the warm seasoned chicken broth.
Serve the soup in bowls or cups, and top it with chopped green onions or chives for garnish.
🗄️ How to Store
Leftover wonton soup can stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. The noodles might soften a bit, but they'll still taste good. If you want to prepare wontons in advance to freeze, here's what to do:
- Fill the wontons and lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Put the sheet in the freezer without covering it. Once the wontons are frozen, move them to freezer bags.
Can I Reheat Wonton Soup?
Yes! The best way to reheat it is to warm it gently on the stove over medium heat until it's hot. If the wontons are already in the soup, be careful not to boil it vigorously as this might cause the wontons to break apart.
What's the Difference Between Wontons and Dumplings?
Wontons and dumplings differ mainly in their shape, wrapper, and cooking methods. Wontons usually have a thinner wrapper, are often square-shaped, and are commonly boiled or fried. They are typically associated with Chinese cuisine. Dumplings, on the other hand, can have thicker, round wrappers and are made in various ways like boiling, steaming, or pan-frying. Dumplings are found in many cultures around the world, each with its own style and filling.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Ground Turkey Soup with Vegetables
Better Than Take Out
Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Copycat-A savory stir-fry dish featuring tender chicken, fresh mushrooms, and zucchini in a light, flavorful soy-based sauce.
Beef and Onion Stir Fry-A quick and flavorful dish featuring tender slices of beef and sautéed onions.
Shrimp Yaki Udon ( Stir Fry Udon Noodles)-A stir-fried noodles.
Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken-A spicy stir-fry that features chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers in a flavorful, tangy-sweet sauce.
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
PrintWonton Soup
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Enjoy a warm and comforting Wonton Soup! This recipe is easy to make with delicious wontons in a tasty broth. Perfect for a cozy meal or when you need something soothing.
Ingredients
Wontons
- ½ pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 24 wonton wrappers (square-shaped and 3½ inches on each side)
Soup
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 ½ tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2-3 green onions, finely chopped
- 3 baby bok choy, cut lengthwise
Instructions
Wontons
- Prepare Filling: In a bowl, mix together the chicken, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar, and onion until well combined.
- Lay Out Wonton Wrappers: Place the wonton wrappers on a clean surface. They are usually square-shaped.
- Add the Filling: Place about a teaspoon of the filling in the center of each wonton wrapper. Avoid overfilling as it might cause the wontons to burst during cooking.
- Moisten Edges: Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges of the wrapper. This helps to seal the dumplings.
- Fold Wontons: Bring two opposite corners of the wrapper together to form a triangle and press the edges to seal, ensuring there are no air pockets. Then, bring the other two corners together, dabbing a bit of water where they meet, and press to seal, giving it a typical wonton shape.
- Allow the assembled wontons to rest while you prepare the soup.
Soup
- In a large pot set over medium heat, add chicken broth, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions. Bring it to a boil. Add the bok choy to the broth. Let the soup simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate large pot, bring approximately 4 quarts of water to a boil. Drop the wontons into the boiling water, gently stirring to ensure they don’t stick together or to the bottom of the pot. Once the wontons float to the surface, continue simmering for 2 more minutes until the dough appears slightly translucent.
- Strain the wontons and then add them to the warm broth mixture.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Leftover wonton soup can stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. The noodles might soften a bit, but they'll still taste good. If you want to prepare wontons in advance to freeze, here's what to do:
- Fill the wontons and lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Put the sheet in the freezer without covering it. Once the wontons are frozen, move them to freezer bags.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Soup recipes
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Calories: 236 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 1845mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 37 g
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Linda Marie says
Absolutely delicious!! So much better than the carry out we buy, plus less expensive!!
chefjar says
Hi Linda! That's wonderful to hear! It's always so rewarding to find a homemade version of a dish that surpasses the carry-out experience, both in taste and cost-effectiveness. And thank you for sharing your positive feedback!