23 Best Ground Pork Recipes

Ground pork is a delicious protein ingredient when beef or chicken won’t do. From breakfast burritos to easy pasta dinners, here are the best ways to use ground pork.

ground pork recipes

Ground pork is a versatile and inexpensive meat found in versions of our favorite recipes. From breakfast dishes like egg tacos and bacon burgers to dinner dishes like Korean-style BBQ and Mediterranean pasta, these are all fast and easy meals that will have your family begging for more!

Honey and Ginger Meatballs

asian style honey ginger meatball noodles recipe

These Asian honey and ginger meatballs are ideal for a weeknight meal. This meatball dish, made with ground pork and served over soba noodles, is quick and easy to make and provides a burst of flavor thanks to its herbs, ginger, and soy sauce coating.

Stuffed Peppers

peppers stuffed with rice and minced meat

These pork stuffed peppers are the perfect dinner or lunch dish. Make it with fresh vegetables and lean ground pork, giving you a plateful of nutrients and only a little fat. Its ingredients are easy to find at most grocery stores and perfectly affordable on a budget.

Stuffed peppers are great for people trying to balance between healthy and flavor. This gluten-free meal is one of my favorites because it packs in a mouthful of flavor while still offering a balance of vegetables, protein, carbs.

Steamed Baozi

steamed chinese gluten-free bao buns resting in bamboo baozi steamer showing ground pork filling

There’s a reason why ground pork is one of the most popular meat fillings for Chinese bao buns. It pairs perfectly with the sweet-but-spicy flavors so commonly found in Chinese cuisine, while the meat’s moisture soaks up all those flavors into one mouthful.

Our gluten-free pork baozi recipe is proof of just this. The dough matches the bouncy texture we want in baozi by using store-bought flour blends, while the pork and cabbage filling boasts the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

Stuffed Eggplant

Stuffed eggplant, aubergine, ground pork

Stuffed eggplant is deceptively filling but light enough that I didn’t feel like I needed to take a nap after eating dinner (which is sometimes what happens with meat-heavy dishes).

This recipe couldn’t be more straightforward! It’s made with ground pork seasoned with ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Add a little bit of sesame oil and your favorite vegetables like cabbage or onion to the meat mixture for some added texture. The recipe also calls for gochujang, a Korean chili paste that I had never tried before. This blog post-it’s pretty spicy but in such a good way!

Vincisgrassi

Italian Vincisgrassi or vincesgrassi

This ground pork vincisgrassi recipe is one of the easiest dishes to make but also surprisingly flavorful. The dish is a fresh and light version of vincisgrassi, which was traditionally made with beef; I like this recipe better because you can adjust the seasoning however it suits your tastes even more than usual.

Japanese Gyoza

Japanese Gyoza

This ground pork Japanese gyoza recipe is a favorite because it’s so easy to make, and I love eating these dumplings right out of the pan. The flavor also has excellent depth from soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sake that gets soaked up by gyoza skins.

Stir Fry Mapo Tofu

Chinese traditional stir-fried tofu with hot spicy sauce and pork

This Sichuan classic is one of my favorite traditional Chinese dishes. The dish’s name translates to ‘pockmarked grandmother’s tofu’, referring to the pockmarked appearance of the tofu.

The blend of ground pork and chili gives it an intense flavor with just enough heat so you can still taste all the other ingredients.

Baked Jumbo Shell Pasta Skillet

Skillet of baked jumbo shells pasta pork

This easy skillet dinner recipe is a family favorite. It’s so quick and easy to make. It only has three ingredients: Pasta shells, diced tomatoes with the juice, and ground pork.

The sauce comes together in about ten minutes as you roast cubes of Italian bread on top of your stovetop burner or directly under the oven broiler; they get nice and crunchy without burning.

The pasta and the sauce get tossed together in a skillet with a hefty dose of Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to taste until it’s nice and creamy. It only takes about twenty minutes from start to finish!

Spaghetti Meatballs

pork meatball spaghetti pasta

This ground pork spaghetti meatballs recipe is the perfect way to satisfy a spaghetti and meatballs craving without all of the fuss. With just five ingredients, it’s easy enough for a busy weeknight but delicious enough for special occasions!

Ground pork is browned with onions in oil and seasoned generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Then the meat is simmered with tomato sauce and a little water for about 15 minutes to allow it to cook thoroughly.

After adding spaghetti noodles, diced tomatoes, and green peas, it’s all tossed together in one big pot until the pasta is cooked through, usually ten minutes to thicken the spaghetti sauce. One taste of this delicious dish will have you coming back for more!

Asian Basil Pad Kra Pao

Asian basil minced pork pad kra pao

Pad Kra Pao is a traditional Thai dish that is usually made with medium-well cooked ground pork, served over rice, and covered in a spicy chili sauce. The recipe I use substitutes the typical meat for ground turkey or chicken to lighten it up without sacrificing flavor.

Spicy Larb

Spicy minced pork salad or Ground pork salad

Thai larb salad is a traditional dish typically made with minced meat, fish sauce, lime juice, and chili pepper. I use ground pork for this recipe instead of the typical Thai larb salad ingredients to lighten the dish without sacrificing any flavor.

This ground pork spicy larb recipe comprises savory, tangy, and spicy flavors to make this dish the perfect Thai-inspired meal.

This recipe has a lot going on in terms of flavor profile, but it works so well together. From salty, sweet, and spicy to sour from lime juice, there’s plenty to enjoy here. The best part about larb salad is that you can easily customize it and make it your own.

Breakfast Burrito

Breakfast burrito with spicy pork and egg

I love breakfast burritos because they are easy to customize, make for great leftovers, and can be tailored to your liking. Choosing what ingredients go into a breakfast burrito recipe is very personal. Feel free to play around with this recipe or add some of your favorites like potatoes, avocado, or cheese.

These ground pork breakfast burritos are a great way to use up some of that ground pork you cooked in the crockpot, and they are suitable for any meal – breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

What goes well with these burritos has more to do with your own personal taste so that I won’t go into too much detail there, but as far as what’s inside, my favorite ingredients are diced onion, black beans, shredded cheese, and salsa.

Sichuan-Style Dumplings

sichuan dumplings

Sichuan (or Szechuan) style dumplings offer the perfect blend of heat with a touch of sweetness, and no meat better complements these flavors than pork. Better known as jiaozi, this staple combines the meat with classic Chinese ingredients, as well as Sichuan chili oil for that unmistakable spicy finish.

Our Sichuan dumplings are easy to make at home, whether you use premade jiaozi dough or make your own from scratch. Simply roll it out into small circles before adding your ground pork filling. Serve with our homemade dipping sauce and you have the perfect addition to your Chinese feast!

Mini Pork Cheeseburger Sliders

Mini cheeseburgers sliders

This ground pork mini cheeseburger sliders recipe is a great dish to make for your next party.

First, take some ground pork and brown it in the pan, then add some diced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also include chopped bell peppers if you like that sort of thing, or mushrooms would be good too. Next, cook until onions are transparent before adding the cream cheese mixture to the ground pork and everything else.

Once you have mixed this until it’s well-blended, add in some cheddar cheese, bread crumbs, or crushed crackers to help bind the mixture together – I went for a mix of all three because that just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Once your filling is ready, divide into two equal portions and press into the center of each slider bun.

Add a slice of tomato before placing it on top of them. Put your slider buns back in the oven for three to four minutes tops before removing the tin foil or parchment paper you used as a liner. Cut up some lettuce leaves, then place around the burger sliders.

Tortellini

pork tortellini porcini sauce

This ground pork tortellini is perfect for those days when you feel like a bit of pasta but don’t want to cook up an entire pot. For a little added flavor, try adding some ricotta cheese.

Vietnamese Banh Mi

Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwich Pork

This ground pork Vietnamese banh mi is perfect for those days when you want a little bit of spice to keep things interesting.

Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches are popular all over Vietnam, but they also hold a special place in the hearts of Vietnamese-Americans. Banh mi sandwiches traditionally consist of pork or chicken, which are then seasoned with garlic and lemongrass before being slow-cooked on a grill to impart that smoky flavor. The meat is served cold, often thinly sliced to be easily picked up by the bread slices used as sandwich buns (typically there will be two), along with fresh cilantro, cucumber rounds for crunchiness carrots for sweetness, and tangy pickles to go alongside.

Kimchi Fried Rice

Kimchi fried rice with pork and fried egg and gochujang pork

This ground pork kimchi fried rice is the perfect way to use up any leftover rice, and the kimchi gives it a nice kick. The recipe is so easy that we’ll be able to whip this one together in no time flat.

You can’t go wrong with ground pork, eggs, soy sauce, green onion, and kimchi – not too spicy but still flavorful enough for most people’s taste buds. Throw all of your ingredients into an electric skillet or wok over medium-high heat until the meat has browned and cooked through. Stir frequently while cooking (you don’t want those egg bits sticking!). Pour some sesame oil on top before serving for an extra flavor kick.

Taco Soup

ground pork taco soup

Get all the flavors of tacos without needing to prepare toppings or fold tortilla shells with this delicious soup. Soup is also a great way to stretch ground pork as far as it will go and prepare a meal for a crowd. It comes together quickly, making it perfect for a weeknight meal.

To make this soup, start by browning the ground meat in a large Dutch oven or sauce pot. Then, add onions and cook until they soften. Add plenty of seasonings, chopped tomatoes, beans, and broth, and let the soup simmer. For extra fun, you can top with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream and shredded cheese.

Breakfast Sausage Patties

Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patty with Eggs and Toast

Start the day off with a hearty, flavorful breakfast thanks to homemade breakfast sausage patties. Serve them with eggs or replicate your favorite takeout breakfast sandwich with a healthier, homemade alternative.

Besides ground pork, you will need herbs and seasonings such as sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic, and salt. Add a pinch of brown sugar for sweetness to enhance the pork flavor. Mix the pork and the spices together, shape into patties, and cook in a skillet.

Teriyaki Sloppy Joes

teriyaki pork sloppy joes

This twist on an all-American classic uses sweet and savory teriyaki sauce to enhance the flavor of your pork, combining two favorite takeout classics. Pork goes well with a hint of sweetness (just think about the popular combination of pork and applesauce), so teriyaki sauce enhances the flavor.

To make these sloppy joes, cook ground pork with chopped up onion, garlic, and carrot. When it is nearly done, add teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, broth, and cornstarch. You can buy teriyaki sauce at most grocery stores or make your own with soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, ginger, and mirin.

Gingery Ramen

spicy pork ginger ramen

Ground pork is the perfect base to try out different recipes from around the world that come together quickly enough for weeknight dinners. This gingery pork ramen is inspired by Japanese cuisine. The freshness of the ginger cuts through the richness of the pork.

Start by browning the pork in a skillet and draining excess fat. In a soup pot, cook broth, soy sauce, ginger paste, garlic paste, and scallions. Cook ramen noodles and pork in the broth for about a minute, then bring off the heat. You can top with your favorite ramen toppings such as bok choy, mushrooms, or a boiled egg.

Tacos

ground pork mexican tacos

Add a twist to taco night with ground pork. The rich flavors of the meat absorb the spices and salsas well, plus ground meat is easy to separate into individual tacos. This is also much faster to make than traditional pulled pork tacos.

To make ground pork tacos, start by thoroughly cooking the pork with taco seasoning in a skillet. Meanwhile, warm your tortillas and prepare your taco toppings (suggestions include sliced avocados, red onions, sour cream, and shredded cheese). You can even set up a taco assembly station and let each family member make their own.

Loaded Nachos

loaded pork nachos

Loaded nachos are already the perfect game day snack. Adding ground pork adds even more flavor and protein to the dish. This is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser at your next get-together.

To make loaded ground pork nachos, you need to cook the pork separately. Brown the ground pork along with onions, tomatoes, and garlic until cooked through. Then, spread tortilla chips out on a baking tray and top with the pork, other toppings of your choice, and plenty of shredded cheese. Bake in the oven until the cheese melts, which should take 10 to 15 minutes. 

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