food
By Alexia Dellner
•
Published Apr 22, 2020
Pork chops, we love you. And we’ll never turn down a pulled pork sandwich. But sometimes, we need to shake things up with something that’s a little more versatile. Hello, quick and easy ground pork recipes. From meatballs and dumplings to soups and tacos, here are 26 ways to transform that pound of meat in the fridge.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Pork Dumplings
These little parcels look impressive, but they’re actually a cinch to make. The trick is to use store-bought wrappers and keep the assembly simple (just fold each dumpling into a triangle). Don’t forget the spicy-sweet dipping sauce on the side.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Sticky Asian Meatballs With Udon Noodles
We love spaghetti and meatballs, but sometimes you need to take things up a notch. Voilà, a flavor-packed recipe with sliced scallions, sesame seeds and carrot furls. (We won’t judge if you post it to the ’Gram before eating.)
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3. Egg Roll Soup
We’ll eat this egg roll soup any day of the week, especially when it's this easy to make. (Oh, and did we mention that it makes great leftovers?)
4. Szechuan Noodles With Sesame Chili Oil
These sticky and spicy noodles can be made with ground chicken or pork. And the best part? You can whip up this Chinese-inspired dish faster than you can order takeout.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
5. Lasagna Soup
Two of our favorite things in one delicious bowl. Made with ground beef, pork or Italian sausage and a lot of cheese.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. 20-minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls
There’s no need to skimp on flavor (or spend hours slaving away over the stove) just because you’re following a special diet. Case in point: This bowl of saucy, savory deliciousness.
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7. Sheet Pan Stuffing With Delicata Squash, Fennel And Rosemary Sausage
Don’t wait for a holiday or celebration to whip up this crispy stuffing recipe, courtesy of Coterie member Phoebe Lapine.
8. Swedish Meatballs With Mashed Potatoes
These tasty bites are made the traditional way with a mixture of ground pork and beef. The cream sauce on top is also customary—and totally delicious.
9. Wonton Soup
Stuffing these flavorful parcels with pork, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, green onions and mushrooms is a little tricky, but so worth it. And once they’re assembled, you can freeze them for later or plop them straight into the aromatic broth.
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10. Perfect Meatballs With Cherry Tomato Sauce
These guys freeze well, so make a double batch and you’ll never have to worry about what to serve unexpected dinner guests again. Just keep a box of pasta or polenta in the cupboard for serving and you’re good to go.
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11. Larb Moo (isaan-style Minced Pork Salad)
Larb is a ground meat salad from Thailand that somehow manages to be sweet, sour, spicy and salty, all at the same time. Coterie member Aida Mollenkamp stuffs her version in a lettuce leaf for an easy, portable dish.
12. Pork Banh Mi Burger
The popular Vietnamese sandwich, in burger form. Don’t skimp on the Sriracha mayo (or the pickled vegetables).
13. Gluten-free Pork Patty Waffle Sandwich
Shh, the waffles are store-bought. All you have to do in order to enjoy this decadent sandwich is make the pork patties and fry an egg.
14. Pork And Kimchi Potstickers
The fermented vegetables give every bite a refreshing crunch and are a great accompaniment to the spicy pork filling. Tip: Make a double batch and freeze any extras.
15. Queso Fundido
This Mexican dish means “melted cheese” in Spanish, aka our favorite thing. Two different types of cheese are mixed with spicy pork chorizo and green chiles before going into the oven until bubbly, then topped with fresh pico de gallo. Pass the chips.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
16. 15-minute Cheater’s Pad Thai
Just as good as your favorite Thai takeout, but on your table in half the time it takes to order delivery. And before you ask, there are no special trips to the international grocery store required.
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17. Pork Fried Rice
If you thought you could only make this dish with chicken, think again. Feel free to add in whatever veggies you have lying around—and don’t forget the scrambled egg.
18. Breakfast Casserole With Sausage And Cheese
A gluten-free and keto diet-friendly way to start the day that’s made with just six ingredients. (But feel free to bulk it out with some extra vegetables.)
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19. Low-carb Keto-friendly Piri Piri Pork Meatballs
Beautiful, easy to make and bursting with flavor, pork meatballs should definitely be your new dinner-party hack.
20. Lemongrass Thai Ground Pork Stir-fry
Tip: Stashing a pack of ground pork in your freezer is a great move for quick weeknight keto meals.
21. Pork And Shrimp Dumplings
Not only are these guys delicious, but they also freeze fabulously—so you can have dumplings ready to go for last-minute meals.
22. Lasagna Bolognese With Béchamel
Layer and layers of cheesy goodness. What more could you ask for? (This is a rhetorical question.)
23. Thai Pork Salad
The textures! The fresh herbs! We're having seconds. (And maybe thirds.)
24. Pumpkin And Pork Cheesy Stuffed Shells
This cheese-filled dish has all of the warm, comforting flavors of fall—but we recommend making it all year round.
25. Whole30 Breakfast Casserole
Looking for a hearty and healthy brunch dish? This casserole is gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo and Whole30-approved, but won't leave you feeling hungry afterwards.
26. Pork Burgers
Add balsamic vinegar and a handful of spices to ground pork and you've got yourself a ridiculously easy (and incredibly flavorful) burger recipe.
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Alexia Dellner
Executive Editor
Alexia Dellner is an executive editor at PureWow who has over ten years of experience covering a broad range of topics including health, wellness, travel, family, culture and...
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