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    Home » Best Of

    14 Steamed or Baked Asian Bao Recipes to Satisfy Every Craving

    joyce from pups with chopsticks
    by Joyce Lee · Updated Nov 28, 2024
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    May contain affiliate links


    Chinese bao offers a perfect combination of soft, pillowy buns and flavorful fillings, making them a must-try for any Asian food lover.

    Whether steamed or baked, bao are endlessly versatile, filled with savory options like barbecue pork, spicy vegetables, or sweet treats like custard or red bean paste!

    Their cozy texture and rich taste make them a comforting meal or snack that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare at home, and with just a few ingredients and some practice, you can recreate the authentic taste of these delicious Chinese buns in your own kitchen!

    Nikuman (Japanese Steamed Pork Buns)

    ©Photo Credit: Just One Cookbook

    Nikuman are Japanese Steamed Pork Buns made with juicy ground pork, shiitake mushroom, and cabbage inside a soft and fluffy bun. They are delicious and surprisingly very easy to make as well!

    Get the Recipe: Nikuman (Japanese Steamed Pork Buns)

    Chinese Hot Dog Buns

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    These fun and delicious Chinese hot dog buns use an easy milk bread dough for an extra light and fluffy texture, making them a great snack that children and grownups alike will love anytime!

    Get the Recipe: Chinese Hot Dog Buns

    Sheng Jian Bao (Shanghai Pan-Fried Pork Buns)

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Try this recipe for sheng jian bao – super juicy and incredibly flavorful pork stuffed into a fluffy yet crispy pan-fried wrapper that satisfies on every level. 

    Get the Recipe: Sheng Jian Bao (Shanghai Pan-Fried Pork Buns)

    Gua Bao (Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns)

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Gua Bao is a dim sum classic featuring delicious braised pork belly stuffed into fluffy bao buns for a tasty traditional treat!

    Get the Recipe: Gua Bao (Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns)

    Steamed Bao Buns

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Love bao buns? They’re perfect for making sandwiches with an Asian flair, and they’re made with such simple ingredients – it’s even better than getting them at the bakery!

    Get the Recipe: Steamed Bao Buns

    Baked BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Bring authentic dim sum to your home with baked BBQ pork buns made with sweet and sticky char siu just like your favorite Chinese restaurant!

    Get the Recipe: Baked BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)

    Pineapple Buns (Bolo Bao)

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Learn how to make Asian bakery style pineapple buns in your own kitchen. These buns are light, soft, and airy, with an extra crispy, buttery, and sugary crust that cracks perfectly into a pineapple pattern. Detailed step-by-step pictures and video are included to walk you through each detail.

    Get the Recipe: Pineapple Buns (Bolo Bao)

    Char Siu Bao (Steamed BBQ Pork Buns)

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Learn how to make authentic char siu bao (Chinese steamed BBQ pork buns) just like a dim sum restaurant. The buns have very soft, fine, and fluffy bread with a juicy tender pork filling.

    Get the Recipe: Char Siu Bao (Steamed BBQ Pork Buns)

    Chinese Coconut Buns (Cocktail Buns)

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    These Chinese coconut buns use an easy milk bread dough to create an extra light and fluffy texture and are filled with a rich buttery coconut filling that is just like the ones made by Chinese bakeries. 

    Get the Recipe: Chinese Coconut Buns (Cocktail Buns)

    Chinese Pork Belly Bun (Rou Jia Mo)

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    These Chinese pork belly buns are made with melt-in-your-mouth braised pork belly stuffed with peppers and cilantro in a fluffy flatbread.

    Get the Recipe: Chinese Pork Belly Bun (Rou Jia Mo)

    Nutty Steamed Buns

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    These nutty steamed buns are a perfect snack. The buns are stuffed with sesame paste and sugar, then steamed until fluffy and light.

    Get the Recipe: Nutty Steamed Buns

    Steamed Pork Buns with Chive

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    A thorough guide to making authentic Chinese steamed pork buns with chive, from scratch, including step-by-step photos and tips to help you succeed. The buns will come out extra juicy, fluffy, and tender – even better than those you get at a restaurant. 

    Get the Recipe: Steamed Pork Buns with Chive

    Kimchi Pork Steamed Buns

    Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    The steamed buns is fluffy and springy, filled with mouthwatering spicy kimchi and moist pork

    Get the Recipe: Kimchi Pork Steamed Buns

    Corn Mayo Bread

    ©Photo Credit: Omnivore's Cookbook

    Fluffy and tender Chinese corn mayo bread made with a milk bread dough, topped with a gooey corn mayonnaise topping. Make the Chinese bakery style bread in your own kitchen for breakfast, an afternoon snack or picnic!

    Get the Recipe: Corn Mayo Bread

    More From Pups with Chopsticks - 21 Delicious Asian Chicken Recipes You Never Knew You Needed

    ©Provided by Pups with Chopsticks

    If you're tired of having the same chicken dinners every week, then these delicious Asian chicken recipes are worth trying out and could easily become a new favorite in your meal rotation!

    21 Delicious Asian Chicken Recipes You Never Knew You Needed

    17 Must-Try Cantonese Recipes for Anyone Who Loves Chinese Food

    char siu
    ©Photo Credit: Pups with Chopsticks

    If you think Cantonese food is all about dim sum, think again. There are plenty of delicious dishes that you won't find in restaurants. To help you discover the many flavors of Cantonese Chinese food, we've put together a list of Chinese Cantonese dishes that you can easily make at home. Some of these are traditional home-cooked Cantonese recipes that Chinese families love, but there are also a lot of delicious takeout dishes as well!

    17 Must-Try Cantonese Recipes for Anyone Who Loves Chinese Food

    This article originally appeared on Pups with Chopsticks.

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    Welcome to Pups with Chopsticks!

    Hi, I’m Joyce Lee! Welcome to Pups with Chopsticks! This cozy corner of the internet is all about my favorite things: cooking delicious Asian dishes, hanging out with my furry sidekicks, and sharing good eats with friends (that’s you!). Grab a seat and let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Here you’ll find everything from comforting traditional recipes to Asian fusion dishes, all made easy with broken-down, simple step-by-step tutorials.

    More about me

    Tried and True Favorites

    • Thai coconut chicken skewers on a wooden plate
      Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers
    • Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
    • Korean japchae served in a wooden bowl
      Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry)
    • A large bowl of Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi (Jeyuk Bokkeum) with a plate of lettuce with some rice and pork in it for wrapping
      Spicy Pork Bulgogi (Classic Jeyuk Bokkeum Recipe)

    Takeout at Home

    • Super crispy beef tossed with a sweet and sticky sauce
      Sweet and Sticky Crispy Beef
    • Hakka, Indian Chinese chilli chicken made with crispy chicken chunks and lightly tossed in a spicy chilli sauce.
      Chilli Chicken
    • Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) thinly sliced and fanned out on a cutting board.
      Sweet and Sticky Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
    • Sweet and Sour Pork in a bowl on a wooden table
      Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe (咕噜肉)
    • bang bang shrimp on a patterned plate on a wooden table.
      Bang Bang Shrimp
    • Mongolian beef on a white plate with sesame seeds
      Easy Mongolian Beef

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