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Leftover Pork Recipes

Leftover Pork Recipes

July 07, 2016

1210 Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

All the recipes you need for making the most of your bounty of pork shoulder, pork tenderloin, and pork chops--cooked or uncooked. Everything from salads to ramen can benefit from the addition of a little pork, which adds immense volumes of flavor in small amounts. Slices of leftover pork chops can be easily tossed into bowls and stir-fries, while the remainder of shredded pork recipes can be magically transformed into delicious sandwiches or tacos.

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Lemon-Garlic Pork and Broccoli Bulgur Bowl

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Pork and Broccoli Bulgur Bowl

Pork isn't always the fastest thing to cook, so using up leftovers can result in quick pork-based dishes for weeknights. Use fattier cuts, such as pork belly, sparingly to add loads of flavor without too many extra calories. Pork tenderloin is an ideal choice for a main dish due its ability to be sliced, shredded, or chopped.

In this filling bowl, bulgur is a great go-to grain because of its quick cook time and neutral flavor. Have for an easy to pack ahead lunch or light dinner.

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Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi

Credit: Photo: Brian Kennedy

View Recipe: Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi

Little bits of crisped pork belly offer chewy bites in the bowl, but easier-to-find ground pork is delicious, too. If you happen to have some leftover cooked pork shoulder, you can toss that in the soup as well.

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Soba Noodle Salad with Pork, Snap Peas, and Radishes

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Soba Noodle Salad with Pork, Snap Peas, and Radishes

Lemon juice, sugar snap peas, and fresh mint bring bright flavor to this main-dish salad.

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Mu Shu Pork Wraps

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Mu Shu Pork Wraps

Chinese restaurants serve mu shu pork with Mandarin pancakes. On a busy weeknight, whole-wheat tortillas are an easy sub. Look for trimmed boneless pork shoulder. If all you see are large cuts, ask your butcher to cut off a 1-pound portion.

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Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw

A half-pound of pork is a gracious plenty for these tacos, which are beefed up with pinto beans, Greek yogurt–amped avocado crema, and a crunchy slaw topped with pumpkinseeds. The plant protein sources make up about half the total amount.

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Ramen Cups with Cabbage and Pork Slaw

Credit: Photo: Teresa Sabga

View Recipe: Ramen Cups with Cabbage and Pork Slaw

Sesame seeds add a nutty little crunch to this tasty appetizer. Toast them easily in just 2 or 3 minutes on the stovetop: Place seeds in a dry pan over medium heat and shake frequently until they are golden.

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Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Cherries and Shallots

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Cherries and Shallots

Easy enough for a busy weeknight and elegant enough for guests—that’s the beauty of this recipe that pairs sweet cherries with roasted pork tenderloin. When fresh cherries are out of season, you can use frozen (you may need to cook the sauce a little longer because frozen cherries tend to release more liquid). The fruity sauce gains incredible richness from a small amount of butter; be sure to stir the butter in at the end to keep its flavor more forward. If you don't have shallots on hand, you can substitute a sliced small yellow onion.

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Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Pulled Pork Sliders

Credit: Photo: Johnny Miller

View Recipe: Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Pulled Pork Sliders

These sliders are a saucy mess, in the best way possible—leaving you sweet-tangy drips to lick off your hands. The recipe demonstrates one tasty way to use our slow cooker pork recipe. Go for a standard, soft bun here—it's best for barbecue.

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Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

Credit: Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

Sweet potatoes and sliced mushrooms add an interesting twist to this familiar comfort food. Although the pork takes a while to cook, the simmering is hands off.

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Italian Braised Pork with Polenta

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Italian Braised Pork with Polenta

Simple flavors and a rustic touch make this family-friendly dish supremely comforting. When ready to serve, just whip up a fresh batch of polenta. Pack any leftover pork in an airtight container and pop into the freezer for a quick and flavorful supper down the road. Pork shoulder is a perfect cut for a slow cooker. Tough cuts like this abound with connective tissues that don't break down when cooked quickly over high, dry heat. Low, moist heat in a slow cooker melts the tissues and makes the meat super tender and buttery. We add a touch of Parmesan cheese to the polenta to season it with salty umami flavor. Cooking uncovered for about half an hour helps tighten up the liquid.

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Baja Pork Stir-Fry

Credit: Photo: Nina Choi

View Recipe: Baja Pork Stir-Fry

This colorful pork stir-fry recipe features pieces of pork tenderloin seasoned with cumin cooked with bell peppers, tomato, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro. Serve over steamed rice for a one-dish meal.

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Tangy Pork and Mango Tostada

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Tangy Pork and Mango Tostada

You only need three ingredients to whip up this superfast, spicy-sweet tostada.

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Cuban Pork Sliders

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Cuban Pork Sliders

As with traditional Cuban sandwiches, pressing these sliders as they cook yields a thin and crisp bite.

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Smoky Pork Stir-Fry

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Smoky Pork Stir-Fry

Smoked paprika and dark sesame oil add depth to this stir-fry. Serve over precooked brown rice or soba noodles.

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Roasted Pork Tenderloin Tacos

Credit: Photo: Andrew Purcell

View Recipe: Roasted Pork Tenderloin Tacos

Thick and slightly tangy Mexican crema adds a cooling finish to these tacos. If you can't find it at the grocery store, substitute sour cream thinned with a little bit of lime juice. Make the tortillas extra-delicious by lightly charring them over a gas burner. No gas? Quickly sear directly on an electric coil (work fast) or in a hot cast-iron skillet. Look for mojo marinade—a combination of orange and lemon juices, garlic, and spices—with the Latin/Mexican foods in your supermarket. It’s a great shortcut ingredient that will save you prep time and effort.

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Vietnamese Caramel Pork

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Vietnamese Caramel Pork

Instead of making caramel from scratch, we use brown sugar, which is much quicker.

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Orange-Sesame Pork with Napa Slaw

Credit: Photo: Brian Kennedy

View Recipe: Orange-Sesame Pork with Napa Slaw

Mix the slaw for this dish up to a day in advance, if you wish. The cabbage will absorb the flavors and still retain a satisfying crunch.

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Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

Lean, thinly sliced pork tenderloin benefits from the richness of the creamy avocado-mango salsa in these tacos. Crunchy sliced cabbage and radish are a nice touch as well.

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Almost Classic Pork Fried Rice

Credit: Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Almost Classic Pork Fried Rice

Why go out to a restaurant when you can make this Asian favorite at home? Almost Classic Pork-Fried Rice, with its fresh bean sprouts and diced water chesnuts, is a fresh and healthy alternative to the original.

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Curried Pork Salad Wraps

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Curried Pork Salad Wraps

If you can't find lavash, try lower-sodium flatbreads or sandwich wraps.

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Pork Carnitas Gorditas

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Pork Carnitas Gorditas

Gordita is a term of endearment meaning "little fat one" in Spanish. It also refers to a thick, fried tortilla. Here, we use masa harina (available in the Latin foods aisle at large supermarkets) to make fresh gorditas. In a pinch, you can use store-bought corn tortillas as a base for this delicious dish.

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Mu Shu Pork Wraps

Credit: Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

View Recipe: Mu Shu Pork Wraps

If your butcher is unable to cut an 8-ounce piece of pork loin, buy 1 pound and freeze the remainder for another use. Save your mushroom stems for stocks or broths.

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Rosemary Pork Sliders with Horseradish Aioli

Credit: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Rosemary Pork Sliders with Horseradish Aioli

Make these popular pork sliders into appetizers by putting them on dinner rolls.

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Five-Spice Pork Lo Mein

Credit: Photo: Jan Smith

View Recipe: Five-Spice Pork Lo Mein

Chinese five-spice powder is a common spice blend that can be found in most supermarkets. Its five assertive components are cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns. Cutting the cooked noodles makes them easier to combine with the other ingredients and serve.

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Pork and Edamame Fried Rice

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Pork and Edamame Fried Rice

Thai chili sauce, cilantro, and roasted peanuts add zip to this easy dish. For the best texture and flavor, use leftover rice, which has less moisture than fresh-cooked grains.

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Snow Pea-and-Pork Fried Rice

Credit: Photo: Howard L. Puckett

View Recipe: Snow Pea-and-Pork Fried Rice

This easy stir-fry is filled with lean pork, fresh vegetables, and leftover rice and makes a great one-dish meal for busy weeknights.

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Spicy Green and Red Pork Loin Tostadas

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Spicy Green and Red Pork Loin Tostadas

If you like your pork nice and spicy, look no further. These tastebud-sizzling tostadas can easily be prepared in advance and topped however your family prefers.

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New England Pork Bowl

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: New England Pork Bowl

Perciatelli is thick spaghetti with a hole in the center. It's heartier and stands up to the other ingredients in this dish, but you can substitute spaghetti, if desired.

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Thai-Style Pork Stew

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Thai-Style Pork Stew

Peanut butter melds with classic Asian flavors to lend this one-dish meal a Thai flair. Lime makes a perfect accent.

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Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce

These pulled pork sandwiches, topped with Alabama-style white barbecue sauce and served on homemade biscuits, are perfect for entertaining.

Replay gallery

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Leftover Pork Recipes

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Lemon-Garlic Pork and Broccoli Bulgur Bowl

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Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi

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Soba Noodle Salad with Pork, Snap Peas, and Radishes

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Mu Shu Pork Wraps

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Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw

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Ramen Cups with Cabbage and Pork Slaw

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Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Cherries and Shallots

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Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Pulled Pork Sliders

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Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

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Italian Braised Pork with Polenta

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Baja Pork Stir-Fry

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Tangy Pork and Mango Tostada

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Cuban Pork Sliders

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Smoky Pork Stir-Fry

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Roasted Pork Tenderloin Tacos

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Vietnamese Caramel Pork

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Orange-Sesame Pork with Napa Slaw

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Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

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Almost Classic Pork Fried Rice

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Curried Pork Salad Wraps

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Pork Carnitas Gorditas

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Mu Shu Pork Wraps

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Rosemary Pork Sliders with Horseradish Aioli

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Five-Spice Pork Lo Mein

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Pork and Edamame Fried Rice

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Snow Pea-and-Pork Fried Rice

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