Picture this: you’ve got a house full of people to feed and a week’s supply of ground pork in the freezer. Instead of fretting over your stash, put it to good use. You may prepare several simple ground pork recipes for dinner every night. Your loved ones may not even notice they’ve been eating pork all week because they won’t be able to tell one pork dish from the next.
However, if you’re looking for instant meals, you won’t find them here. Remember that hearty and delicious dishes need effort and a loving touch. Fortunately, your weekday dinners don’t have to take forever to make. Here are some easy-to-cook ground pork recipes that take only minutes to prepare and serve.
1. Classic Italian Meatballs
You can never go wrong with a crowd favorite. There’s a reason why many Italian family-owned restaurants have this dish on their menus. It’s flavorful, easy to cook, and requires little effort. You can top the meatballs on pasta or serve them as they are.
Traditional Italian meatballs typically use ground beef. But ground pork is an excellent alternative. It’s impossible to resist the mouthwatering aroma of fresh basil leaves, minced garlic, and other herbs blended together. To prevent the balls from falling apart while cooking, you should include eggs and bread crumbs. Then pour some homemade marinara sauce, and you’re good to go.
Are you out of ground pork from making too many meatballs? But you want to make more. To find the finest pork products without traveling too far, try searching online for ‘prime meats near me.’ You can also make the next set more exciting by mixing red pepper flakes and spices for an extra kick.
2. Sausage Patties
Who says you can only have sausage patties for breakfast? This delicious recipe requires minimal effort to make and is perfect for dinner, too. You only need five ingredients: lean ground pork, salt, black pepper, mixed spices, and olive oil.
All you need to do is mix all the ingredients in a bowl and shape them. Except this time, you have to flatten them into even-sized patties. When frying them, the patties can be as thick or thin as you prefer. Then, simmer them in a tangy Italian tomato sauce to turn your sausage patties into an excellent dinner meal.
If you have burger buns, cheese, and extra time, you can create sausage patty burgers for your next dinner at home. Add in some hot spices to make them more exciting. Your loved ones will appreciate a hearty meal like this at the end of the day.
3. Chinese Pork Fried Rice
You don’t have to ignore your leftover rice in the fridge. You can give it new life by turning it into fried rice with ground pork. It has protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients, which makes it a filling, all-in-one meal for dinner. The best part about making pork fried rice is that you can cook it all in one skillet or wok for better results.
Fried rice usually needs day-old white rice, ground pork, scrambled eggs, and mixed veggies. Toss in enough aromatics, oyster sauce, and soy sauce mixture to make each bite explode with flavors. Keep the heat high when cooking this dish, and stir-fry the ingredients continuously. Then garnish each serving with chopped scallions to turn this simple dish into a restaurant-worthy meal.
4. Filipino-Style Spaghetti
If you’re not Italian and are willing to try unique pasta dishes, this recipe is for you. Filipino-style spaghetti is a staple in most Filipino parties because cooking and prep time is a breeze. It’s also a mouthwatering, heavy meal. Expect people to ask for seconds after they’ve finished one plate.
Unlike classic tomato-based spaghetti, this dish uses banana ketchup and a few teaspoons of sugar for the sauce. Aside from seasoned ground pork, some people add chopped hotdogs, ham, or bacon for more volume.
The sauce is generally both sweet and savory. If it’s too sweet to your liking or you don’t have banana ketchup, you can use regular Italian pasta sauce instead. Tomato ketchup is fine, too. Don’t forget to top it with any cheese you prefer.
5. Pork And Broccoli Stir-Fry
Pork isn’t exactly the healthiest food. However, adding as many vegetables as possible could make your dinners extra nutritious. Take the pork and broccoli stir-fry, for example. It’s a healthy, savory meal that typically uses pork tenderloins cut into strips. But there’s no stopping you from using ground pork instead.
Like most stir-fry dishes, you can make this meal in a single wok or skillet. So, there’s less for you to wash after dinner. Stir-fry your marinated ground pork, spices, and aromatics over high heat. After four minutes, set the meat aside before putting the broccoli and other veggies in the wok and set to a boil. Next, add your sauce, typically oyster or soy sauce mixture.
When the broccoli is all crisp, toss in the meat and adjust the seasoning as needed as you cook it through. You may serve it with steamed rice and top it with a sprinkle of sesame seeds for aesthetics and flavor.
6. Ground Pork Tacos
A taco is one of the best options for people who like to dig into their food with their bare hands. It’s quick to make, too. When you have ground pork, stock up on ready-made tacos or tortillas to cut your prep time short. Gather your seasonings and cooking utensils, and you’re all set.
Brown the ground pork in a skillet, then add all the necessary ingredients. Once the liquid has evaporated, you can spoon the meat mixture and stuff it into your tortillas or taco shells. Garnish with cheese or a squeeze of lime, then serve.
Making ground pork tacos is so effortless you might think you’re cheating. Don’t worry about it. As long as it’s fast and you’re cooking something fantastic for dinner, it’s all worth it.
7. Pork Casserole
Lastly, here’s a dish you can cook using ground pork and mostly any ingredient. Casseroles are versatile, filling meals that anyone can make on the fly. They’re perfect for impromptu dinners and potluck parties.
You can make anything from baked ziti to mac and cheese and any pork casserole you can imagine. There’s no shortage of ideas if you check what’s in your pantry and can think on your feet. Got leftovers? Package the food properly and store them in the fridge for tomorrow’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Have A Delicious, Meaty Dinner Every Night
Ground pork is an ingredient you can easily buy from the local butcher and cook at home. You can make hundreds of delicious and simple recipes with it. So, if you’re in a pinch and have no clue what to cook for dinner, go back to this article again for some savory ideas.