34 Perfect Pork Dishes You Need To Try
From pulled pork to ramen, here's every recipe you need.
Pork can make a weeknight dinner feel like a true event, but the other white meat has so much more to offer than just pork chops. These variations, like Vietnamese braised pork belly and our best-ever chorizo, will spice up your holiday spreads and summer BBQs—whenever the mood for pork tenderloin, pulled pork, or roast pork loin strikes.
We know that pork gets a bad rap for being tricky to cook, but we're here to bust that myth. Pork is such a versatile protein no matter how you flavor it or what cooking method you choose. Slow-cook your next pork roast, grill up some pork tenderloin (with plenty of chimichurri!), or even air-fry some pork chops. We love how much rich heartiness pork adds to a wide variety of dishes, like our green chili pork stew, homemade shoyu ramen, and tacos al pastor.
With so many cuts to choose from, there's a pork dish for practically every day of the month. And not just for special occasions either! Our pork fried rice, slow roasted pork and peppers, and sheet-pan pork chops with apples are easy repeat favorites for a reason.
Whether you've got pork chops or baby back ribs on the menu, you've got to have some worthy side dishes to complete your dinner. We've rounded up all our favorite side dishes for pork no matter what flavor-direction you take, from classic mashed potatoes and Instant Pot applesauce to miso roasted carrots and beer braised cabbage.
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Most of the time, we don't get very excited over pork chops. Often overdone, they come out dry, sad, and flavorless. Cooking them in an air fryer changes all that. Due to the intense heat circulation that happens, the outside crisps slightly while the inside stays nice and juicy.
Get the Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe.
Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
The secret to really good pulled pork is cooking it low and slow, and lucky for you, a slow cooker makes the drawn-out process a breeze. This on a potato roll plus pickles and coleslaw (and potato chips, if you're feeling crazy) = absolute perfection.
Get the Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Baked Pork Chops
Pork chops have the potential to be juicy, tender, and flavorful—really! This oven-baked method will ensure your pork has a delicious crust and a perfectly cooked interior.
Get the Baked Pork Chops recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
In its simplest terms, fried rice is exactly what its name implies: cooked rice that's reheated with oil. Today, there are thousands of recipes and countless restaurant variations, regional specialties, and new twists on the old classics. This version of pork fried rice is our go-to when we want to use ground pork.
Get the Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly
Thịt kho tàu is a salty-sweet dish of caramelized pork belly and marinated eggs. Hailing from South Vietnam (as evident by the use of coconut water in cooking), this flavorful dish is one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes.
Get the Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly recipe.
Best-Ever Chorizo
With a little time and a lot of spices, you can make the best chorizo EVER. If you can't eat it all in one go, freeze it in servings so you can have freshly cooked chorizo whenever you please. We used it in tacos, but there's really nothing this spicy chorizo can't improve.
Get the Best-Ever Chorizo recipe.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Thanks to a magical combination of brown sugar, cumin, paprika, and lemon zest, this is honestly one of our all-time favorite pork recipes. Round out the meal with some vegetables like grilled asparagus or grilled zucchini to create a dynamite summer meal. Don't skimp on the chimichurri!
Get the Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe.
Air Fryer Korean-Inspired Pork Tenderloin Lettuce Wraps
Pork tenderloin is the perfect vehicle for the spicy sweet sauce in these lettuce wraps. They’re fun to eat like lettuce tacos, but you could also just transform the whole thing into a rice or grain-based bowl.
Get the Air Fryer Korean-Inspired Pork Tenderloin Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Ribs On The Grill
Few foods are better than perfectly tender ribs, glistening with caramelized BBQ sauce. Now you can have smokehouse-quality ribs from the comfort of your own home. All it takes is a grill, a few hours, and, okay, a lot of patience. While they're cooking is the perfect time to get the rest of your sides ready. We're talking BBQ classics like coleslaw, potato salad, and cornbread.
Get the Ribs On The Grill recipe.
Classic Banh Mi
Banh mi is the PERFECT sandwich. Rich, savory meat combined with bright and crunchy homemade pickles stuffed into fluffy French bread; what's not to love?! We love this version because it requires minimal ingredients but still packs a powerful punch of flavor.
Get the Classic Banh Mi recipe.
Pork Loin Roast
Pork loin may seem intimidating, but if you cook it right, it can be extremely good. Plus, you can flavor it in so many ways; woody herbs like thyme and rosemary infuse a lot of fragrant flavor. Mustard is also always classic (we love grainy Dijon-style!) and pairs nicely with brown sugar. Also, butter. Always butter. Switch it up with chimichurri, a fig jam, or even with sauerkraut.
Get the Pork Loin Roast recipe.
Green Chili Pork Stew
If you like our chicken chile verde—a classic Mexican stew made with a variety of green peppers and tomatillos—you're going to love this rendition. This version features pork shoulder, which you'll cut into cubes before braising until meltingly tender. It's easy enough for a weeknight meal (put your feet up on the couch while the pork braises) but impressive enough to serve company.
Get the Green Chili Pork Stew recipe.
Sheet-Pan Pork Chops With Apples
Not all sheet-pan dinners are created equal. Sheet-pan pork chops with apples fall into the camp of excellence, packing in tons of caramelized flavor with a short-ingredient list onto one pan. Looking for more ways to put your sheet pans to use? Try sheet-pan panzanella and sheet-pan quesadillas next!
Get the Sheet-Pan Pork Chops With Apples recipe.
Tacos Al Pastor
Traditional tacos al pastor are made on a vertical rotisserie just like chicken shawarma. The method was used by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico and the tacos adapted to fit the culinary scene of Mexico with their spices and quickly became a popular street food. Serve these up with some queso and call it a fiesta.
Get the Tacos Al Pastor recipe.
Slow-Roasted Pork And Peppers
There's very little prep for this simple dinner—it's just a matter of halving bell peppers and cutting onions into wedges, then the oven does the rest of the work, transforming the boneless pork shoulder into meltingly tender meat. If you are thinking of serving this for company, paired with creamy Parmesan polenta, a roasted beet goat cheese salad, and citrus olive oil cake.
Get the Slow-Roasted Pork And Peppers recipe.
Chile Verde
Chile verde is a traditional dish from Northern Mexico that can be made with several types of meat. Pork is classic, and here, you'll transform a pork shoulder into meltingly tender nuggets through a long braise. This recipe makes a big batch, perfect for serving at a dinner party or a Cinco de Mayo celebration. No matter the occasion, chile verde pairs well with margaritas and Mexican rice.
Get the Chile Verde recipe.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Juicy pork tenderloin seriously deserves its own spotlight. We keep the seasoning simple here: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder. If you want another flavor profile, the world is your oyster: oregano and Italian seasoning, ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, or even just salt and black pepper will do.
Get the Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe.
Homemade Shoyu Ramen
Braised pork belly, aka a little slice of heaven, is the star in this amazing homemade ramen. Making ramen from scratch is pretty darn elaborate, but we promise your patience will be more than rewarded.
Get the Homemade Shoyu Ramen recipe.
Cuban Sandwich
Our Cuban sandwich is of the South Floridian variety, but without the salami. We don't need it in this case: Along with layers of ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard, there's also the super-juicy slow-roasted pork loin that we marinate for 2 hours in a citrus blend. The acidity and spices in the marinade help to balance out the richness of the meat, giving you that perfect marriage of light and heavy flavors.
Get the Cuban Sandwich recipe.
Crockpot Pork Roast
You may not normally think to turn to your slow-cooker for a large, lean piece of meat, but this dish will definitely change your mind. Pork loin becomes super-tender and juicy as it cooks, and the sweet and tangy glaze on the outside seals the deal.
Get the Crockpot Pork Roast recipe.
Dora Villarosa is a contributing recipe editor at Delish. She covers food trends, specialty ingredients, and extraordinary experiences centered around food. She likes the classics but loves the fringe, seeking out food adventures, and enjoying the spiciest foods from around the world.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.