I Finally Tried the Viral Trader Joe’s Dumpling Bake

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese reduces fat while maintaining creaminess.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while still melting well.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free option, while pecorino is typically cheaper.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.

Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet, sautéing until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

Stir in marinara sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.

In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and a pinch of salt until smooth.

Spread a layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.

Layer half of the dumplings over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the mozzarella cheese.

Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients, finishing with a layer of meat sauce and mozzarella on top.

Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the top layer.

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Allergens