Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (2024)

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by Emily Dingmannn 23 Comments

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5 from 9 reviews

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You are going to love this easy ground pork stir-fry recipe! Not only is it delicious and made with nutritious ingredients, but it’s also ready in 20 minutes, making it a dinner winner for busy weeknights! Serve the stir-fried ground pork over rice and you have a meal that’s loaded with protein, flavor, veggies, and carbs. Just like my chicken lettuce wraps, we’re drizzling these bowls with a delicious peanut sauce, you don’t want to miss it. Serve it family style, it’s an excellent meal for the whole family. See my tips below for how to serve this to the entire family.

If you love easy stir-fry recipes like this one, give my healthy orange chicken, shrimp teriyaki stir fry, pan fried noodles, ground turkey stir fry, moo shu shrimp, or pepper steak stir fry next time.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (1)

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Table Of Contents

  1. What You'll Love About Stir-Fried Ground Pork
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to Make Pork Stir-Fry Recipe
  4. FAQs
    • What can I use ground pork for?
    • How do you saute ground pork?
    • Do you need oil to cook ground pork?
    • How do you know when ground pork is done?
    • Is ground pork healthy?
  5. Storage Instructions
    • How to reheat
    • Can you freeze ground pork stir-fry?
  6. How to Feed Stir-Fry Ground Pork to the Whole Family
  7. What to Serve with Stir-Fry Ground Pork
  8. Want More?
    • Prefer to get updates by email?
  9. More Ground Pork Recipes
  10. Let me Meal Plan for you!
    • In a dinner time rut? Overwhelmed with the task of meal planning? It's time to hand over meal planning to a pro!
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (2)

What You’ll Love About Stir-Fried Ground Pork

  • Incredible rich and bright flavors
  • Nutritious and delicious
  • Made with basic ingredients you can find at any grocery store
  • Just 10 minutes prep time
  • Just 20 minutes total time
  • Easy to prep ahead
  • Easy to make gluten-free
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (3)

Ingredients

  • Rice – Use your favorite here! White rice or brown rice. Microwavable or made from scratch, your choice. You can also use any grains or vegetables like quinoa, rice noodles, udon noodles, ramen noodles, or cauliflower rice. Save leftover rice to make onigiri for lunchboxes.
  • Garlic – Use fresh or frozen garlic for a short cut.
  • Fresh ginger – Using plenty of ginger gives this stir fry lots of classic flavor. Use frozen minced ginger for a shortcut.
  • White mushrooms – Can also use any mushroom. sh*take would be delicious!
  • Green onions – Save both the green parts and and the scallion whites.
  • Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter works best for the flavorful sauce . You can also use another nut butter like almond or cashew butter.
  • Soy sauce – You can use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer or coconut aminos or tamari for gluten-free options.
  • Sriracha – Sambal oelek or chili flakes are another great way to add some heat to the healthy pork stir fry. If you don’t want any heat, simply omit this.
  • Honey – Honey works well, but you can also use brown sugar or maple syrup.
  • Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar is a staple in my stir fry recipes, but you could use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or fresh lime juice.
  • Oil – Use any oil with a high smoke point. Vegetable oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, or coconut oil would all work.
  • Ground pork – You can’t make ground pork stir fry without the pork! But you can also use other ground meat options like ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, or even your favorite meatless crumbles. If you wanted to use a different cut of pork, pork loin, pork tenderloin or boneless pork chops are all popular options for stir fry. You’ll need to adjust the cooking time, but they would all be delicious.
  • Sea salt
  • Spinach – The baby spinach doesn’t require much prep and isn’t strong in flavor, making it a good intro veggie! You can also try sliced greens like kale or baby bok choy; green beans or haricots verts; snow peas or snap peas; red bell pepper; air fryer broccoli; or even cauliflower rice.
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (4)
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (5)

How to Make Pork Stir-Fry Recipe

This is an overview on how to make stir-fry pork, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

Make rice. If you’re making rice from scratch, start it right away, if you’re using microwavable rice, you can make that right before eating.

Prep ingredients. Mince garlic. Peel ginger and mince. Chop mushrooms. Thinly slice green onions.

Make peanut stir fry sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha (add more if you like spice!), honey, and rice wine vinegar.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (6)

Stir-fry pork. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add pork to pan and break up with a wooden spoon, then add mushrooms, garlic, and ginger to pan. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.

Add spinach to pan. Toss spinach with pork and cook until wilted. Remove pork mixture from heat.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (8)

Serve stir-fry. Serve this healthy pork stir-fry over rice and drizzle peanut sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds and add some sriracha or red pepper flakes if you like it spicy.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (9)
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (10)

FAQs

What can I use ground pork for?

Uhhhh, this GROUND PORK STIR-FRY! I also have a delicious recipe for easy udon noodle stir fry or Thai ground pork lettuce wraps that feature ground pork. Or try it in these ground turkey lettuce wraps instead of the turkey.

How do you saute ground pork?

It’s so easy to make ground pork stir-fry, it’s one of the reasons that I love this meal. It cooks up in a matter of minutes, which again, makes it a great weeknight meal.

It has a bit of fat in it (not a lot, but it isn’t fat free) so I’ve found that I usually don’t need to oil the pan. You can add a bit however if you want to ensure that nothing sticks.

Do you need oil to cook ground pork?

If you are using a nonstick skillet, you can probably get away without adding any oil as the ground pork will release some fat while it cooks. I’ve used just a touch for this recipe, but you can omit it if you prefer.

How do you know when ground pork is done?

You’ll want to cook ground pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. With a stir fry recipe like this one, we’re cooking the pork long enough to be safely cooked through. (It takes about 4-6 minutes.)

Is ground pork healthy?

Ahhhh, the old healthy vs. unhealthy battle. If you eat meat, then yes, I think ground pork is healthy. If you don’t eat meat or don’t eat pork, NO. Ground pork isn’t healthy for you. It’s all a matter of personal opinion. Seriously! It is a great source of protein.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (11)

Storage Instructions

Store any leftover easy pork stir-fry recipe in the refrigerator with the components stored in separate containers. It’s delicious the next day. 🙂

How to reheat

Reheat rice and pork stir-fry in the microwave or hot skillet and top with peanut sauce.

Can you freeze ground pork stir-fry?

Yes, you can also freeze the stir-fry for 2-3 months.

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (12)

How to Feed Stir-Fry Ground Pork to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following theDivision of Responsibilityand knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.

I would recommend serving the stir-fried pork in a pinch bowl (taster bowl) if it’s a new or learning-to-like it food and let everyone build their own rice bowl. Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat, like fruit, milk, and/or bread and butter if they don’t do rice.

If they want to pick out the veggies from the pork, let them do it! (I do my best not to pick out veggies for my kids, but they are welcome to do it themselves if they want to, and I am 100% ok with that!

Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (13)

What to Serve with Stir-Fry Ground Pork

This easy pork stir-fry recipe is designed to be a full meal, but if you want to add some more sides or veggies, here are a few ideas:

  • Air Fryer Broccoli
  • Frozen Broccoli
  • Haricot Vert
  • Steamed Edamame
Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (14)

Want More?

Follow Emily on Instagram or TikTok for family dinner recipe videos and tips for feeding kids.

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More Ground Pork Recipes

If you like easy ground pork recipes like this one, give these other ground pork recipes a try:

  • Easy Udon Noodle Stir Fry
  • Thai Lettuce Wraps
  • Egg Roll In A Bow

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Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (16)

Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe

5 from 9 reviews

  • Author: Emily Dingmann from myeverydaytable.com
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stir Fry
  • Cuisine: Asian
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Description

This easy ground pork stir fry recipe is a weeknight dinner that’s both delicious and nutritious. Easy, tasty, and incredibly flavorful!

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • rice for serving
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. minced ginger
  • 5 oz. white mushrooms
  • 4 green onions
  • 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (creamy works best)
  • 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar or lemon/lime juice
  • 1 tsp. sriracha (or more)
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 16 oz. ground pork
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 6 oz. spinach

Instructions

  1. Prepare ingredients:
    Cook rice as directed on package.
    Mince garlic. Peel ginger and mince.
    Chop mushrooms.
    Thinly slice green onions.
  2. Make peanut sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha (add more if you like spice!), honey, and rice wine vinegar until smooth.
  3. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add pork to pan. Break up with a wooden spoon for about 1 minute, then add mushrooms, garlic, and ginger to pan. Season with sea salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes, until cooked through.
  4. Add spinach to pan, toss with pork and cook for about 1 minute, until wilted.
  5. Serve stir fried pork over rice and top with peanut sauce, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and sriracha to taste.

Notes

  • Get your kids involved! They can: mix together peanut sauce, add sesame seeds and green onions to their rice bowls.
  • SHORTCUT: Use microwavable or instant rice to make things really quick.

Keywords: ground pork stir fry, stir fried ground pork, pork stir fry recipe

Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.

This post may contain affiliate links. They do not add any charge to you, but I will make a very small commission from them. I only link to products I use and recommend. Thank you for your support!

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Did you like this recipe? Please leave a review and let me know what you thought! I appreciate it so much.

Comments

  1. Karen

    Great healthy recipe for busy weeknights. I usually use tahini instead of peanut butter, just a personal preference. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Oooh, love that swap, Karen! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  2. Sharon

    Amazing recipe! My husband and I loved it.

    Reply

    • Emily

      Hi Sharon, so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  3. Maria

    Was so sad when my leftovers were gone!!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Haha, I know how that goes!

      Reply

  4. Jude

    This recipe was delicious. I made a few minor changes due to what I had on hand and to increase vegetables vs. the recipe, but didn’t change the taste profile. I used half of a chopped onion cooked with the pork instead of the green onions, added half a bag of frozen peas I’ve wanted to get rid of, increased the spinach, increased the amount of sauce, and mixed rice into the pork mixture at the end, as I will be taking this to work for the next few lunches. I’ve never used ground pork in a stir fry before, and I really like it. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And I’m going to be trying it with peas next time, great idea. Thanks for sharing the changes, I know others will find this helpful as well.

      Reply

  5. Patricia

    Yummy!
    I used small breakfast sausage links because I had them and browned them a a first step, added chopped onion to the stir fry and used crushed peanuts as a garnish instead of including them in the sauce. It was quick , easy and delicious. Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Oooh, what a great twist! Thanks for sharing, Patricia!

      Reply

  6. NorseArcher

    Hi, this was delicious! And so simple to make. My daughter (9) who doesn’t like mushrooms or spinach announced that she now likes both! Easy to add other veggies like shredded carrots. The PB sauce is so yummy- it pushes the dish over the top! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Best review ever! Thank you! Glad you all enjoyed it.

      Reply

      • S Grugan

        Hello, I’m excited to try this recipe this evening. However, even after choosing print ‘options’, when I printed it, it also printed all the ads making it 4 pages! Of course I did front to back, but ads so distracting as well as flipping pages. But most of all, could not print to include the entire Nutritional Facts and NF gave info as 4 servings and not 1. Can I his brother fixed, or any suggestions?

        Reply

        • Emily

          Oh I’m so sorry! I’ll check with my network to get this fixed. Thanks for letting me know.

          Reply

  7. SGrugan

    Made this wo the ginger bc included my father who doesn’t care for ginger. Me time though will include the ginger for myself and husband.

    Reply

    • Emily

      So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

      Reply

  8. NorseArcher

    Just made this again tonight, it’s in regular rotation in our family. Very quick to make and healthy. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Yay! Love hearing this, thanks for letting me know.

      Reply

  9. Sasha

    Love it! Takes a bit of time to prep but well worth it.the peanut sauce adds a great addition of flavor.yum yummy yummy..

    Reply

    • Emily Dingmannn

      Hi Sasha, so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment. 🙂

      Reply

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  3. […] quick and easy meals for busy weeknights are your jam, be sure to try my ground pork stir fry, pepper steak stir fry, taco soup, or big mac salad next […]

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Healthy Ground Pork Stir-Fry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What meals can be made from ground pork? ›

Ground pork can be used in a multitude of ways, like making meatballs, burgers, stuffing for vegetables and dumplings, and as an ingredient in sauces, stir-fries, and casseroles.

How to make my own ground pork? ›

How Do You Grind Pork at Home?
  1. Cut pork meat into 1.5-2” pieces, disposing any blood vessels or little unnecessary things and place pieces into large sieve. ...
  2. Grind cut meat pieces, and weigh out ground meat into plastic freezer bags. ...
  3. Press bagged ground meat down to about 1” thick so it thaws faster when you need it.
Jun 27, 2022

What is the difference between lean ground pork and ground pork? ›

Regular ground pork has a 70/30 meat to fat ratio while lean ground pork has a 90/10 meat to fat ratio.

How to cook ground pork safely? ›

  1. Cook to an internal temperature of 160°F to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
  2. Use a non-stick skillet or add a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.
  3. Season liberally with spices and herbs to enhance the flavor.
  4. Drain off any excess fat before serving to reduce the calorie and fat content.
May 11, 2023

Is ground pork good for diet? ›

Pork is a rich source of certain vitamins and minerals your body needs to function, like iron and zinc. It's also an excellent source of high-quality protein. Minimally processed, lean, fully-cooked pork eaten in moderation can provide certain benefits when added to your diet.

What is ground pork good for? ›

Typically, ground pork is added to lean ground beef, which has less fat (and flavor) than regular ground beef. This works especially well for meatloaf, meatballs, and casseroles. The next time you're at the grocery store, reach for the ground pork.

Is lean ground pork healthy? ›

Nutritionally, pork possesses a wide range of essential nutrients like energizing B vitamins, choline for developing babies, and iron for healthy red blood cells. A 3-ounce serving of lean pork is loaded with protein and low in fat. Eating lean pork daily can be a part of a well-balanced, high-nutrient diet.

How do you make ground pork taste like beef? ›

Add some Impossible Beef. It has hemes that give a red meat flavor. Or you can add ground walnuts, soy sauce, some tomato paste, nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, sh*take mushroom paste and maybe carmelized onions paste. I once created a beef substitute using something similar to that mix.

What is the best meat for ground pork? ›

Fresh ground pork is also best from the shoulder. The loin is the animal's back muscle from the hip to the shoulder. The loin includes some of the most tender and popular cuts. Center cut chops are from the middle of the loin and include rib and loin cuts.

What is the healthiest ground meat? ›

Ground beef and turkey are both nutritious meats that provide protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss.

Which is healthier ground turkey or ground pork? ›

As you can see, the most significant difference between these two meat sources is their fat content. Otherwise, they contain many of the same vitamins and minerals in comparable quantities. The main exception is that turkey usually has a much higher concentration of B vitamins.

What is healthier ground beef or pork? ›

Both pork and beef are high in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, beef tends to have more calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than pork. Pork may be a better choice, then, if you're trying to manage your blood cholesterol levels.

Do you add oil when cooking ground pork? ›

Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over high heat. Place patty in pan and cook for approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until the meat thermometer inserted in the centre reads 70 °C (160 °F). Turn regularly.

How long should ground pork be cooked? ›

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of oil. Add the seasoned ground pork to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully cooked and nicely browned. Use the cooked ground pork in various dishes or enjoy it on its own!

What is a meat product commonly made from ground pork? ›

Branded as well as generic types of bratwurst, Italian sausage, hot links, ground breakfast sausage and numerous other fresh ground pork products are recognizable to consumers by their bright, reddish-pink lean and white fat particles that result from a fresh ground hot-boned meat block.

Can you use ground pork instead of hamburger? ›

Why use ground pork instead of ground beef? Ground pork is extremely versatile and very cost effective. It is the perfect protein swap and can be easily interchanged in a lot of your favorite recipes. Pork is flavorful and pairs well with many different ingredients.

Why is ground pork so cheap? ›

Pigs reproduce quickly and have large litters of piglets. Since they eat like pigs they gain weight fast. So once the profit is taken from the bacon and other prime pork cuts, the ground pork also needs to be sold so the price is lowered.

Can you use ground pork like ground beef? ›

Ground pork is a great alternative to ground beef if you're looking to mix it up for any reason.

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