4 Mouthwatering Ground Pork Recipes to Get You Out of Your Dinner Rut

It’s happened to the best of us: We find one meal on Pinterest that’s quick and easy to put together, and soon we find ourselves eating that chicken salad every single night of the week. It’s called a food rut, and we’ve seemingly all been there.

To get out, skip the usual meats like chicken, turkey and ground beef. Instead, how does pork sound? Pretty good? A little scary because it’s unfamiliar territory? Don’t even stress because we have some awesome recipes using ground pork that are not only pretty easy to make, but they will also seriously revolutionize dinnertime for you and your family.

More: How to Save Overcooked Meat So Your Dinner Isn’t Ruined

Try out any (or all) of these meals next time you can’t figure out what to make for dinner.

1. Ground pork egg rolls

These egg rolls are meaty on the inside and light and crispy on the outside.

And for an added bonus, try dipping them into your fave barbecue sauce.

These egg rolls make a nice appetizer, too.

Homemade egg rolls filled with ground pork and spices make for a meaty but light meal. Serve with your favorite barbecue sauce.

Serves 2

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 35 minutes | Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 4 green onions, diced (including the green part)
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 3 dashes ground black pepper
• 6 egg roll skins
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup barbecue sauce, for dipping

Directions:

1. Heat a large, nonstick skillet on medium heat, and add the ground pork. Use a spatula to break apart the meat so that it’s in small pieces rather than in chunks.
2. To the pan, add the onions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and pepper. Stir together.
3. Stir as the pork mixture is cooking until the meat is thoroughly cooked.
4. Remove from the heat, and let cool for about 10 minutes.
5. Spoon the pork mixture onto an egg roll skin, toward the side closest to you.
6. Fold the left and the right sides of the skin toward the center and over the pork mixture.
7. Then roll into an egg roll. Repeat for the remaining egg rolls.
8. Heat a medium-size skillet on medium heat, and add the canola oil.
9. Let the oil heat up just a bit, and then carefully add the egg rolls fold sides down to the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, they might need to be cooked in batches.
10. When the bottom side of the egg roll turns a golden color, turn it over to another side.
11. Once all sides are a golden color, transfer the egg rolls to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain off any excess oil.
12. Serve while warm with barbecue sauce for dipping.

Ground pork meatballs drenched in a marinara sauce with melted cheese are a good thing.

I like to serve these meatballs in individual serving skillets so that the melted cheese stays pretty and covers the top until just before digging in.

The meatballs freeze up nicely, too. Sometimes I’ll make extra meatballs just to put in the freezer, so I can make them for dinner when I’m pressed for time.

Ground pork meatballs topped with a quick marinara sauce and melted cheese hot right out of the oven makes a wonderful meal for any day of the week.

Serves 2

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 35 minutes | Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

For the meatballs

• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/3 cup crushed Ritz crackers (about 7 crackers; substitute with other crackers if desired)
• 3 teaspoons olive oil

For the marinara sauce

• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 dashes salt
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions:

For the meatballs

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. To a large bowl, add the ground pork, oregano, pepper, salt, garlic powder and crackers.
3. Mix together with your hands, and make 6 large meatballs.
4. To a small cookie sheet or shallow pan, add the meatballs.
5. Drizzle olive oil on top of the meatballs, and bake uncovered until thoroughly cooked (about 30 minutes).

For the sauce

1. While the meatballs are cooking, heat a medium-size pan on low to medium heat, and add the tomato sauce, basil, oregano, garlic powder, pepper and salt. Stir.
2. Continue to stir as the sauce simmers for about 20 minutes.
3. To a shallow, ovenproof serving dish, add the meatballs. Top with the sauce and mozzarella cheese.
4. Warm in the oven until the cheese melts, garnish with parsley, and serve while hot.