Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2024)

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by Joanne March 3, 2023

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This Ground Pork Stir Fry is an easy and flavorful recipe that comes together in only 15 minutes! It’s absolutely delicious and perfect for weeknights, served with steamed white or brown rice. Leftovers also keep beautifully.

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (1)

This is one of those flavorful recipes that I make again and again and again.

Generally I don’t cook a ton of repeat dishes, just because there’s only so much food I can make and I need to test out new recipes on a regular basis. But this dish is the perfect combination of quick, delicious, and easy, which pretty much guarantees it to be a staple!

This dish has all the same merits that other popular Asian dishes like Fried Rice, Chicken Stir Fry, and Beef and Broccoli have. It’s fast, flavorful, and delicious!

Tips for Best Results

Use fresh ginger, garlic, and scallions – Because much of this dish relies on pantry-stable sauces, it’s essential to use fresh aromatics to brighten up the dish. I don’t recommend ground ginger or jarred ginger. Grate it from a fresh knob!

Use firm tofu – There are many different textures of tofu available for purchase, and I recommend “firm” for this recipe. That way, the tofu will stay intact even with stirring. However, if you prefer the tofu to break up more into the sauce, you may use soft or medium tofu.

Use fatty ground pork – Ground pork is the superior meat to use here, and is absolutely delicious with these flavors. Don’t use a lean ground pork here, as the fat adds essential flavor.

This recipe is a loose riff on mapo tofu, which is a popular Chinese recipe with minced meat and tofu.

I’ve always loved it in restaurants, though it’s not as easy to make at home, as it involves some more obscure ingredients like Sichuan peppercorn and Xiaoxing wine.

This recipe still has tons of flavor, is one of the most easy stir fry recipes out there, and uses relatively accessible ingredients.

Do you have to use tofu?

Even if you think you don’t like tofu, I recommend giving it a try here, because I firmly believe the dish is better with it than without it. It varies up the texture, making it much more interesting.

A lot of people don’t like tofu, but I find that it’s often because people are trying it plain in a salad, which doesn’t taste great. Tofu is a blank canvas ready to take on other flavors, and here it’s more for texture than flavor.

Step by Step Overview:

A note to start: Like any stir fry, everything cooks really quickly, so it’s important to embrace mise en place and have your ingredients relatively ready to go before turning on the heat.

To begin cooking, start by browning ground pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat with some lard, ghee, or other high heat cooking fat. Avoid olive oil, which will have a weird flavor here.

Then add freshly grated ginger and minced garlic cloves:

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2)

Make sure to use the fresh stuff for both here! Using fresh ginger root and fresh garlic is essential for adding a ton of flavor and aroma.

Then add tofu to the hot skillet, plus a few Asian sauces like chili sauce and bean paste. Stir it all around for a few minutes to distribute the flavors of the spicy sauce.

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (3)

Finish the dish with scallions (aka green onions), sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Taste and see if you enjoy the spice level. To make it hotter, add more chili sauce or chili oil.

Then serve the pork mixture with steamed white rice, rice noodles, or Cauliflower Rice.

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (4)

It is also fantastic paired with Green Beans, sauteed bok choy, or steamed broccoli, to round out the dinner table! This easy ground pork recipe is truly one of our family favorites.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days, and reheat in the microwave or in a skillet. This is great for meal prep because leftovers are just as good as the freshly made dish. Enjoy!

Similar Quick Dinner Recipes

If you want to keep in the Asian family of recipes, Korean Chicken Rice Bowls are just as fast as this recipe if you want to try something similar but with different flavors. You can also try Asian Pork Lettuce Wraps or Turkey Lettuce Wraps which have a similar flavor profile, and are just as fast!

You may also prep big batches of Asian Dumplings and keep them in the freezer. Them simply steam however you’d like to serve for dinner.

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops and Chicken Milanese are also quick weeknight recipes made in 15 minutes.

Tips and FAQ

Can you freeze spicy Ground Pork Stir Fry?

Yes, in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. To thaw, I recommend leaving in the fridge overnight.

How do you reheat Pork Stir Fry?

This recipe reheats very well in the microwave, and I prefer that for ease. However, you can also stir fry it in a skillet for about 5 minutes on medium, until warmed through.

Can you use a different meat?

Of all the ground pork recipes out there, this recipe is really well suited for its flavor, and is best here. But you can also try ground turkey or ground chicken as a good alternative. I don’t recommend ground meat in the red meat family, like beef or lamb, as the flavor doesn’t quite work.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (5)

Ground Pork Stir Fry with Tofu

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

This quick and flavorful stir fry comes together in a flash and is wonderful served with steamed white rice.

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Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp neutral cooking oil (lard, ghee, etc)
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tbsp minced garlic)
  • 2 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 lb package firm tofu drained and cut into cubes
  • 1 tbsp Asian chili sauce
  • 1 tbsp bean paste (can also use hoisin sauce)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 3 scallions sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • steamed rice for serving

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, then add the pork. Brown the meat for 5 minutes, until almost fully cooked and mostly no longer pink.

  • Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and stir it around for 60 seconds, until it starts to smell very aromatic.

  • Deglaze the pan with the soy sauce, and scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan.

  • Add the tofu, chili sauce, and bean paste to the pan, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

  • Turn the heat off, then add the sesame oil, scallions, and sesame seeds. Serve hot with rice. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing leftovers: Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 months. To thaw, keep in the fridge overnight.

Reheating: This dish reheats well in the microwave. You may also stir fry it in a skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, until warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 34g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 372mg, Potassium: 393mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 115IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 190mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: asian

Author: Fifteen Spatulas

Recipe updated August 2019. Originally published September 2013.

posted in: All Recent Posts, Asian Dishes, Dairy-free, Pork, Quick Weeknight Meals 14 comments

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    14 Comments on “Ground Pork Stir Fry”

  1. Alice Reply

    Hello Joanne,
    This sounds easy and delicious.
    I’d like to also stir fry veggies into this.
    When would I do that in the process, please?
    Would I remove the cooked meat, stir fry the veggies, then add the meat back in?
    Or stir fry the veggies first, remove, cook the meat, and then add the veggies back in?

    Thanks for your many simple, clear recipes on this site. I’m looking forward to trying them.

    I wish more recipe authors made their recipes as quick and simple as yours, to help people get a nutritious and tasty dinner on the table fast!

    • Joanne Reply

      Hi Alice, yes I would recommend cooking the vegetables separately from the meat. It doesn’t matter much which order you do it in. Enjoy!

  2. Karen Reply

    My family and I love this dish. I make it often and now my toddler is obsessed with tofu! Thanks for the great recipe!

  3. Mil Reply

    is it possible to use tomyam paste instead of bean paste or hoisin sauce for a spicy flavour?

    • Joanne Ozug Reply

      I haven’t tried it but it’s worth a shot!

  4. Jeanette Reply

    This is my go-to dish on busy nights except I use ground turkey these days. It comes together so quickly and my kids love it.

  5. anne Reply

    Joanne , I love this kind of simple yet very appetizing dish ! I made nearly the same dish last time ( gonna cook it again soon ) but I steamed the tofu instead and just add some sauteed minced pork on top 😀

  6. AF Reply

    Yum! This sounds kind of like mapo tofu, but I can never find a good recipe for it. Thanks!

    • Joanne Ozug Reply

      Yes, this is very similar to Ma Po Tofu!

  7. Jasline @ Foodie Baker Reply

    I love tofu, and yours look delicious and healthy! I definitely wouldn’t mind repeating it again and again!

  8. Platanos Reply

    Great healthy dish…

  9. Jaqie Reply

    Why do I torture myself and come to your site at 1AM?! hahah This looks sooo good my body is craving asian flavors lol

    • Joanne Ozug Reply

      HAHA!!! I know that one too well.

  10. Kalyn Reply

    Looks like an amazing dinner; I can see why this is worth repeating.

Ground Pork Stir Fry (Easy 15-minute Recipe) - Fifteen Spatulas (2024)

FAQs

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 fat ratio for ground pork? ›

The fat percentage can range - generally about 15-20% due to small batch quantities. This level is the same as the USDA minimum guidelines. "There is no standard regulating the amount of fat that ground pork may contain.

Do you need oil for ground pork? ›

How to Cook Ground Pork. Ground pork is super easy to work with, but here's my favorite method: Place the ground pork into a hot skillet or wok, with or without oil. Let cook over relatively high heat for about 3-5 minutes, or until it is starting to get brown and slightly crisp on the bottom.

What is the difference between lean ground pork and regular 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.

What makes pork taste better? ›

Consider Brining

While a simple brine of water and salt will do the trick, you can also use the brining stage to impart extra flavor with sugar and seasonings. Just be careful not to brine too long (two to four hours should do the trick) and rinse the pork before cooking.

What makes pork taste so good? ›

Pork in general is a fatty meat, the most flavorful cuts are rich in fat, the cheaper cuts as a rule, the shoulder, the “butt” the picnic are all good to slow cook and they taste oily or fatty and rich. The loin and tender loin are very lean and will be dry if not cooked properly.

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's the difference between ground pork and pork? ›

Ground pork is fresh pork that has been pre-ground and packaged for easy preparation in a variety of dishes — including patties, meatballs, or crumbles. Ground pork sausage looks almost identical to ground pork. But it's been pre-seasoned prior to packaging.

Is ground pork better than hamburger? ›

In beef, there is 14% iron per 100g when compared to the 4% in pork meat. Another big difference is that beef has a high amount of vitamin B12 and B6 when compared to pork. Although pork has far more thiamin than beef, beef is highly more valuable in vitamin structure.

How do you know if ground pork is cooked enough? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture recommends cooking ground pork patties and ground pork mixtures such as meat loaf to 160 °F (71.1 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. Cook all organ and variety meats (such as heart, kidney, liver, tongue, and chitterlings) to 160 °F (71.1 °C).

How much is 3 oz of ground pork? ›

Palm = 3 oz.of meat

Measure the right amount with your palm. One palm size portion equals 3 oz., or one serving.

What is a serving size of ground pork? ›

Pork is a high-protein food and contains varying amounts of fat. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of cooked, ground pork provides the following nutrients ( 1 ):

What kind of pork do you use to make ground pork? ›

Ground pork is made from pork butt — which is the term for the shoulder — plus trimmings from the loin and other cuts. Ground pork tends to be a bit lower in fat than pork sausage, which usually includes a bit of extra loin fat.

Can you make ground pork with pork shoulder? ›

But humble ground pork is a star ingredient in its own right—and it can do more than you probably think. Anything ground beef or turkey can do, ground pork can do better. Generally made of ground pork shoulder and trimmings from other parts of the pig, it's often less expensive than beef, too.

What is the best substitute for ground pork? ›

Textured Soy Protein

TSP or soy crumbles often come in ground-like meat form. They are perfect substitutes for ground pork. Since they also have the same dark meaty color, there won't be so much of a difference with the appearance of the dish.

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