Roasted Goat Cheese-Stuffed Portobellos
Serve with a mixture of sautéed sliced snap peas, radishes, and hot cooked brown rice. To make this a vegetarian main, simply skip the prosciutto.
Pork Medallions with Red Wine-Cherry Sauce
The pan sauce gets its concentrated fruit flavor, body, and thickness from tart-sweet cherry preserves, a great complement to the pork and red wine. Try a Merlot or Cabernet for the wine, or sub in unsalted chicken stock.
Seared Pork Chops with Poblano Peperonata
A sautéed mix of peppers spiked with vinegar adds instant interest to the pork. Skip the poblano and use just the bell peppers if you like.
Pork Cutlets with Butternut Squash, Apple, and Cranberry Sauté
Steaming squash tenderizes it before you pan-sear it to a caramelized finish.
Pan-Roasted Pork with Baby Vegetable Salad
A mandoline is the best tool for shaving the vegetables into thin, even slices, but the salad would be just as delicious with thinner shaved ribbons (using a vegetable peeler) or slightly thicker slices (using a sharp knife). If you don't have pecorino romano, you can substitute, you can substitute Parmesan cheese.
Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Flatbreads
Naan breads are the secret to instant pizza-style flatbreads (no rolling or baking of dough required). Look for whole-grain naan, such as Stonefire, and treat as you would a prepared pizza crust.
Crispy Chicken, Ham, and Swiss Roll-Ups
Meaty, cheesy, moist, and crunchy: This 5-ingredient dish really delivers. Preheating the pan gets the breading crisp within 20 minutes. If you only have regular breadcrumbs, just add 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano and 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder. The timing and ingredient amounts work for small, 2-ounce cutlets. Split larger ones in half: Place each on a cutting board, and place your hand flat on top. Holding a sharp knife parallel to the cutting board, carefully halve using short, swift strokes. Serve roll-ups with a simple green salad.
Pork Tenderloin with Blue Cheese and Pears
Match the robust flavors of this dish with a hearty endive or radicchio salad to make the meal feel decidedly Italian.
Turmeric Pork Chops with Green Onion Rice
Our turmeric slathered pork chops may look polished, but don't let this quick weeknight supper fool you. It's complex flavor belies it's simple preparation.
Pork Chops and Couscous with Tomato-Caper Sauce
This dish easily works with chicken if you don't have pork on hand. Toasting the turmeric in oil is a simple way to develop savory depth—try this technique with any spices you're cooking with. Couscous makes for a quick, versatile side dish that easily adopts different flavor profiles. Israeli couscous has more of a bite to it and can also be served chilled for picnics and to-go lunches. The tomato-caper sauce pairs well with other proteins beyond pork and poultry such as sole or shrimp simply cooked with garlic and butter. It's an impressive dish that's quickly prepared whenever you're short on time.
Lemon-Garlic Pork and Broccoli Bulgur Bowl
Bulgur is a great go-to grain because of its quick cook time and neutral flavor.
Pork Chops with Sautéed Apples and Brussels Sprouts
Guaranteed to be a fast favorite, this recipe plays on the sweet-savory match made in flavor heaven: pork + apples.
Pork Sliders with Smashed Avocado
For smaller sandwiches like these, we prefer to smash the avocado into a spread before assembling so that no slippery slices are lost on the journey from plate to mouth.
Pork with Chunky Applesauce
The fall family favorite goes lighter with barely sweetened apples. And instead of the typical pork chops, we go for lean, inexpensive pork tenderloin. Complete the meal with a side of Broccolini or broccoli.
Crispy Rice with Ham and Bean Sprouts
Toasting half the rice in this recipe yields warmth and crunch that takes this ultra-comforting 5-ingredient entrée from ordinary to exceptional. For an added kick, serve with a drizzle of Sriracha.
Ham and Veggie Fried Rice
Tossing in frozen green peas at the end of cooking keeps them bright and lively.
Spicy-Sweet Pork Tenderloin
Asian and Mexican flavors collide with excellent results in this seven-minute dish: The pork first cooks in a ginger-soy mixture, then is doused with a sweet cilantro salsa. If you like heat, be sure to use an extra-spicy salsa. If you really like heat, chop a jalapeño or a couple serranos and add to the salsa.
Pork Chops with Ancho Chile Rub and Raspberry Glaze
Spicy and fruity flavors make excellent partners, especially when paired with pork. Raspberry's tangy bite is great here, but almost any kind of fruit preserves, from apple to apricot, will work. Baked or mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes make great sides for this dish―try Smashed Potatoes with Goat Cheese and Chives.
Szechuan Pork
Crunchy bell pepper and spicy chili garlic sauce highlight this surprisingly healthful dish. At 338 calories for a whole-meal serving it's an excellent dinner choice, and it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. For simple variations try rice or another kind of Asian noodles like udon or somen, or sub another favorite vegetable―carrots or broccoli work well―for the bell pepper.
Pork Chops with Country Gravy and Mashed Potatoes
Southern-style white gravy in a light recipe? Yes, it's possible, thanks to a moderate amount of butter and a low-fat milk-flour slurry. Each hearty serving of this dish―a pork chop with a big dollop of potatoes and a generous pour of gravy―has just 322 calories. Refrigerated mashed potatoes are perfectly good, and perfectly fast, but you can also make homemade mashed potatoes if you want.
Cider and Sage Pork
Cider and sage allow the delicious flavor of the pork to shine through. Serve with steamed green beans.
Pork Chops with Caribbean Rub and Mango Salsa
The smoky-spicy rub would also work well with grilled chicken breasts.
Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples
Sweet spices coat the tenderloin, while apples get a savory treatment. Serve with a spinach salad.
Pork Tenderloin with Red and Yellow Peppers
Anchovies melt into the pepper mixture, adding a savory, salty quality. If you don't like anchovies, omit them and add 3 tablespoons minced olives.
Ham and Asparagus Frittata
Leftover Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter ham is a perfect candidate for this recipe―a thick, hearty open-face omelet suitable for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Turn the frittata into a quiche by pouring the mixture into a pie crust before baking.
Pork Fattoush
Traditional fattoush doesn't contain any meat―the salad with crisp pita pieces is delicious, but best as a starter. We add pork tenderloin to turn this Lebanese specialty into a main course without sacrificing nutrition: The dish has just 314 calories per serving. Kick up the flavor by adding chopped red onion, carrot, olives, or feta cheese if you like.
Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Pork with Gingered Soy Sauce
Japanese flavors and ingredients dominate this quick, easy, and healthful take on the deep-fried pork cutlet dish tonkatsu. Pan-fried, panko-dredged pork chops end up nice and crisp, doused in a sweet-hot ginger and wasabi soy sauce. For extra-tender and crispy pork, pound the chops between two pieces of plastic wrap to ¼-inch thickness, or try chicken breasts or tenders instead.
Quick Pork Picadillo Sandwiches
Highly seasoned beef dishes are a staple all over the world―goulash in Hungary, sloppy joes in the United States, and picadillo all over Latin America. With its olives and raisins, our version is closer to the Cuban and Puerto Rican variations on the dish. A picadillo sandwich makes for fun eating with your hands, but you can also serve the meat with black beans and rice or as the filling for tacos.
Prosciutto and Smoked Gouda Panini
This three-ingredient recipe is the ultimate last-minute party dish. It'll make a light meal for 10 or hors d'oeuvres for 15 to 20 in just a few minutes. The strong flavor of smoked cheese (cheddar or mozzarella works as well as Gouda) stands up well to the saltiness of prosciutto. Of course you can also cut the recipe down to make a great quick lunch for just a few―you need a little over half an ounce each of prosciutto and cheese per sandwich.
Orange Pork with Scallions
A dredge in cornstarch before sautéing gives the pork a silky texture, and more cornstarch in the sweet-salty-spicy orange sauce makes it thick and glossy, just like restaurant Chinese, but with only 214 calories and 586 milligrams of sodium per serving. For a complete homemade-Chinese-takeout meal, add an appetizer like pot stickers or shrimp toast, or try Hot and Sour Soup.
Artichoke and Arugula Pizza with Prosciutto
Cured pork products perform culinary magic: A single ounce of salty, meaty prosciutto gives all four servings of this pizza a nice, savory flavor. A base of pesto and toppings of bitter arugula and slightly sweet artichoke hearts complete the picture for a gourmet pie that beats delivery any day and takes only 13 minutes start to finish.
Fresh Tortellini with Mushrooms and Pancetta
Pancetta is an Italian version of bacon that isn't smoked, so it has a slightly more delicate flavor than its American cousin. But it still brings a salty, meaty punch to this dish, which matches well with the earthy, savory flavor of cremini mushrooms. If you have any pancetta left over, use it to make luscious, creamy pasta carbonara for another Italian meal.
Southwestern Pork Soup
This 10-minute recipe is so easy and adaptable that it should be a part of everyone's repertoire. This version flavors pork and beans with the zesty flavors of cumin, jalapeño, and cilantro, but you can add other meats or vegetables and different spices to create a totally unique soup. Add corn and sliced tortillas for tortilla soup, or try chicken and pasta with oregano and black pepper for a minestrone variation.
Vietnamese-Spiced Pork Chops
Scoring the surface of the meat, and then rubbing it with a brown sugar spice mix before searing gives these chops a crisp and caramelized, almost blackened, surface. For authentic flavor, serve over rice with nuoc cham, a mix of fish sauce, garlic, lime, and chiles that's part of almost every Vietnamese meal.
Pork Medallions with Red Currant Sauce
Red currant jelly may sound exotic, but you can find the tart condiment with other jellies and jams in most supermarkets. The spice rub gives the pork deep, smoky fall flavor, and the easy sauce brightens the taste. Serve with a salad and a grain like grits or polenta.
Pierogies with Bacon, Sautéed Onion, and Sour Cream
The delicious Polish dumplings called "pierogies" are often filled with fat-laden ingredients and then loaded down with sour cream. We serve them over a tasty mixture of caramelized onions, peas, and bacon, while keeping a bit of tangy reduced-fat sour cream in the mix (you can use yogurt instead to cut more fat). Frozen pierogies make this easy, but if you want you can make yours from scratch.
Coconut Curried Pork, Snow Pea, and Mango Stir-Fry
Thai cuisine balances big flavors like the spicy curry powder and paste, pungent fish sauce, and creamy coconut milk in this recipe. You'll love the contrast between sweet, tangy mango and savory, tender pork. Though it takes a bit longer to cook than boil-in-bag rice, fragrant jasmine rice is ideal for this dish―try it!
Smoked Paprika Pork Chops with Bell Pepper and Corn Relish
Smoked paprika, called pimentón in its native Spain, brings amazing meaty, savory flavor to any dish without adding any fat, salt, or calories. It should be a critical part of every pantry. If you love that smoky flavor, toss some potato wedges with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and olive oil and roast until crisp for a great side to serve with this dish.
Andouille and Red Beans with Rice
The key to using flavorful but indulgent ingredients like bacon and andouille sausage in a healthful way is to let a small amount shine through in the finished dish. This recipe uses just one ounce of andouille per serving, but it cooks the vegetables in the sausage drippings, so everything acquires some of its spice-and-smoke flavor.
Cinnamon-Spiced Pork and Plums
Traditional dessert spices like cinnamon and cloves add warmth to savory dishes without the heat of ingredients like cayenne. Combine that with the sweet and sour flavor of dried plums and you've got a comforting fall or winter meal. Pair with couscous as shown, or try another grain, like barley, bulgur, or rice pilaf.
Pork and Tomato Skillet Sauté
Use heirloom tomatoes to make this dish extra colorful. A sprinkling of basil before serving gives one last punch of freshness.
Pork Medallions with Whisky-Cumberland Sauce and Haricots Verts
Try serving with roasted new potatoes to round out the meal. This savory and light meal will please every palate.
Curried Pork Salad Wraps
If you can't find lavash, try lower-sodium flatbreads or sandwich wraps.
Grilled Pork with Mango and Rum Sauce
Serve with a simple side salad of mixed baby greens and cherry tomatoes.
Pork Cutlets with Wild Mushroom Marsala
Simple, delicious, and under 230 calories per serving. What more could you ask for?
Spinach, Egg, and Prosciutto Flatbreads
Cooking the eggs in a separate pan, rather than on the flatbreads, gets these pizzas on the table in record time.
Sausage and Kale Sauté with Polenta
Leftovers from this one-dish hit make for an easy, delicious breakfast—simply reheat and top with an over-easy egg.
Pork Chops with Fennel, Orange, and Olive Salad
Tangy, salty, and sweet, this colorful fennel salad is a natural match for succulent pork. It's also a great side dish for seared fish.
Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Blistered Broccoli Rabe
Pork Chops with Tomato Gravy and Squash
So simple to prepare, the gravy is a fantastic recipe to keep on hand for a variety of other proteins. Try it with poached eggs or chicken.
