35 Pork Recipes to Cook When You’re in Desperate Need of Dinner Inspiration
Tonight, you have two choices: You could make that same old chicken and rice that you’ve eaten a million times, or you could shake things up with one of these 35 exciting pork recipes. Our list includes everything from Crockpot gems, like slow cooker pulled pork, to unconventional chops (you need to try the cacao-spiced rub recipe), to grilled favorites that are destined for your next barbecue, like sweet-and-sour pork skewers with pineapple. If you ask us, we’d try the road less traveled: It’s way tastier.
RELATED: What to Make with Leftover Pork Chops: 21 Recipes That Taste Totally Gourmet
1. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Time Commitment: 7 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, gluten free, dairy free
2. Herb-Crusted Pork Cutlets
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, kid-friendly
3. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, low carb, dairy free
4. Honey-Lime Glazed Pork Tenderloin
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: dairy free, high protein, low carb, crowd-pleaser
5. Pork Dumplings
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
6. One-Pan Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, one pan, high protein
7. Pork Meatballs with Tomato Farrisotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
8. Warm Ginger-Scallion Pork and Kale Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: dairy free, gluten free, high protein, Paleo-friendly
9. Crispy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza with Fennel, Sausage and Garlic
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, one pan
10. Pork Milanese with Cucumber Yogurt
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
11. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
12. Keto Instant Pot Sausage-Kale Soup
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, dairy free, Instant Pot recipe
13. Lemongrass Pork Chops with Carb-Free Yakisoba
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
14. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, dairy free, high protein, crowd-pleaser
15. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage, Peppers and Onions
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, high protein
16. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, one pan
17. Sausage and Fennel Pasta
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
18. Cast Iron Pork Chops with Cacao-Spiced Rub
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: low carb, keto-friendly, high protein
19. Sausage, Corn and Poblano Chowder
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot
20. Spicy Sausage Pizza with Burrata
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, crowd-pleaser
21. Sticky Asian Meatballs with Udon Noodles
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: dairy free, high protein, kid-friendly
22. Spicy Orange-Honey Glazed Ham
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
23. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, Paleo-friendly, low carb, keto-friendly
24. Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
25. 30-Minute Pork Scallopini with Lemon and Capers
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
26. 20-Minute Moo Shu Pork
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, dairy free
27. Maple Peach Pork Chops
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
28. Slow Cooker Honey-Lime Ginger Pork
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, high protein, crowd-pleaser
29. Cuban Sandwich
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
30. Easy Pulled Pork Pizza
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, high protein
31. Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Time Commitment: 6 hours
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly, dairy free
32. Ranch Pork Chops and Veggies
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, high protein
33. Slow Cooker Lo Mein
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, dairy free, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
34. Balsamic-Fig Glazed Pork with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes and Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser
35. Pancetta-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, special occasion-worthy
RELATED: 26 Delicious Ground Pork Recipes
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.