Leftover Pork Recipes

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. 

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You only need three ingredients to whip up this superfast, spicy-sweet tostada.
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As with traditional Cuban sandwiches, pressing these sliders as they cook yields a thin and crisp bite.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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