10+ Pork Recipes for Dinner to Delight Your Family Tonight

Pork’s a top pick for dinner—so versatile and quick to cook. You can whip up simple meals that taste fantastic, no fancy ingredients or marathon cooking sessions required.

Whether you’re after something easy or want to try a dish with a little more flair, pork slides right into all kinds of recipes.

You’ll find plenty of pork recipes that work for any night of the week. Different cuts and flavors keep things interesting, but prep stays simple. With the right recipe, pork makes dinner at home feel easy and delicious.

1) Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Honey garlic pork chops? So easy and so good. Sear the chops until golden, then pour on a sauce with honey, garlic, and a splash of vinegar or soy sauce.

Serve them solo or with rice and veggies—either way, you’re set. The sauce comes together in minutes and brings that ideal sweet-savory vibe.

Cook the chops in a skillet or toss them on the grill if you’re feeling it. The honey melts down, coating the pork and keeping it juicy.

Want a little heat? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. Dinner’s ready fast, but it feels special.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high.
3. Sear pork chops 3-4 minutes per side until browned.
4. Mix honey, garlic, vinegar (or soy sauce), and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
5. Pour sauce over chops in skillet and cook 2-3 minutes, turning to coat.
6. Make sure pork is cooked to 145°F (63°C).
7. Serve warm with sauce spooned on top.

More details at Easy Honey Garlic Pork Chops Recipe.

2) Pork Lo Mein

Pork Lo Mein is a speedy, tasty dinner you can actually pull off at home. Mix tender pork, noodles, and fresh veggies.

The sauce is straightforward—soy sauce, ginger, and a hit of sesame oil. Use sliced pork tenderloin or shoulder, whatever you’ve got.

Stir-fry the pork, then add veggies like cabbage, carrots, or bell peppers. Toss everything with cooked noodles and your sauce.

This dish comes together fast, about 25 minutes start to finish. It’s just like takeout, but you made it yourself. Check out a simple recipe for Pork Lo Mein here.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces lo mein noodles or spaghetti
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (cabbage, carrots, bell peppers)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package, drain.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high.
3. Add pork, cook until no longer pink, about 4-5 minutes.
4. Stir in garlic and ginger, cook 1 minute.
5. Add veggies and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
6. Add noodles, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss to combine.
7. Cook another 2 minutes, then serve warm.

3) Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches are just plain fun for dinner. Cook the pork low and slow until it’s fall-apart tender.

A slow cooker or Instant Pot makes the pork juicy and loaded with flavor. Once it’s done, shred the pork and mix it with BBQ sauce.

Pile the meat on toasted buns for an easy, satisfying meal. Toss some coleslaw on top for crunch and a little zing.

There are endless ways to tweak pulled pork sandwiches with different sauces and sides. It’s a crowd-pleaser and makes great leftovers.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Hamburger buns
• Coleslaw (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Place pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
2. Add onion, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until pork is tender.
4. Shred pork with two forks.
5. Stir in BBQ sauce until well coated.
6. Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw if you want.

For more details, see this slow cooker pulled pork sandwich recipe.

4) Garlic Ginger Glazed Sticky Pork

This sticky pork is tender and so full of flavor. Garlic and ginger team up for a sweet, spicy glaze that clings to every bite.

You probably have the ingredients already. Serve it with rice or steamed veggies—either works.

Just cook the pork strips, then toss them in the sticky sauce. The glaze brings garlicky, gingery, slightly sweet notes.

You can whip the glaze together in a flash. It’s a simple way to get big flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

• 1 lb pork strips
• 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 4 green onions, cut into 1-inch slices

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium.
2. Add garlic and ginger, cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add pork strips and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Mix soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar in a bowl.
5. Pour sauce over pork and stir to coat. Cook 2-3 minutes until glaze thickens.
6. Sprinkle green onions on top before serving.

5) Southern Smothered Pork Chops

Southern smothered pork chops are pure comfort food. Start by pan-frying pork chops until golden.

Cook onions in the same pan to make a rich gravy. Simmer the pork chops in onion gravy until they’re tender and juicy.

Serve these with mashed potatoes or rice to soak up all that gravy. This dish feels like something your grandma might make.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil or butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil or butter in a skillet over medium.
2. Season pork chops, brown on both sides, then remove.
3. Add onions, cook until soft.
4. Stir in flour, cook 1 minute, then slowly add chicken broth while stirring.
5. Return pork chops to the pan, cover, and simmer on low for 25 minutes or until tender.
6. Serve with gravy spooned on top.

You can find more details on how to make Southern smothered pork chops in this Southern Smothered Pork Chops recipe.

6) Braised Pork in Sweet Soy Sauce

Braised pork in sweet soy sauce is a go-to for a cozy night in. The pork gets so tender as it simmers in a sauce of soy and a little sugar or molasses.

You get that salty-sweet thing going on. If you like heat, add a spoon of chili garlic sauce.

The sauce thickens and clings to the pork as it cooks. Serve it with rice or some steamed veggies for a solid meal.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork loin, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar or molasses
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (optional)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, sliced

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high.
2. Brown the pork cubes on all sides.
3. Add garlic and onion, sauté until soft.
4. Mix in soy sauce, sugar, and chili sauce.
5. Turn heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until tender.
6. Stir now and then to keep it from sticking and help the sauce thicken.
7. Garnish with green onions before serving.

For a full recipe, check this braised pork in sweet soy sauce recipe.

7) Pork Tenderloin Diane

Pork Tenderloin Diane is a surprisingly easy dinner. Cook up tenderloin medallions and serve them with a creamy mushroom sauce.

The sauce gets its kick from lemon juice, Worcestershire, and mustard. It’s got a little tang that keeps things interesting.

Season the pork with lemon pepper and cook it in butter for extra flavor. Make the sauce in the same pan, using chicken broth and fresh parsley to finish.

This dish comes together quickly, so it’s perfect for a weeknight.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pork tenderloin, sliced into medallions
• 1 tablespoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

Cooking Instructions

1. Season pork with lemon-pepper.
2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium.
3. Cook pork for 3-4 minutes per side until browned.
4. Remove pork and keep warm.
5. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and mustard to the skillet.
6. Simmer until it thickens a bit.
7. Stir in parsley, then return pork to the pan.
8. Cook another minute, then serve.

8) Smoked Pork Butt

Smoked pork butt hits that sweet spot when you want something bold, juicy, and not too fussy for dinner. Start by grabbing a pork shoulder and rubbing it down with your favorite spices or just a classic salt-and-pepper blend.

Set your smoker to about 250°F (120°C) and let the pork cook low and slow for several hours. This gives the meat time to break down and get super tender.

Once it’s nearly done, crank the smoker up to 275°F (135°C) if you want a crispy crust on the outside. That extra texture? Totally worth it.

After smoking, pull the pork apart for sandwiches or slice it up for a main dish. It’s honestly easier than it sounds once you try it, and it’s a crowd-pleaser for family dinners.

Ingredients

• 1 pork butt (5-7 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, and garlic powder for your rub.
2. Coat the pork butt all over with the rub.
3. Preheat your smoker to 250°F (120°C).
4. Smoke the pork butt for around 6 hours.
5. Bump the smoker up to 275°F (135°C) and keep cooking until the meat feels tender.
6. Take the pork out and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
7. Pull the pork apart with forks or just slice it up.

9) Pork and Asparagus Sheet-Pan Dinner

This pork and asparagus sheet-pan dinner is a weeknight lifesaver. Everything cooks together on one pan—cleanup’s a breeze.

The pork chops stay juicy while the asparagus roasts until it’s just right. If you’re feeling it, toss in some potatoes or apples for extra flavor.

A quick garlicky mayo-mustard sauce brings everything together. The whole thing’s done in about half an hour, so you’re not stuck in the kitchen all night.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Mix garlic, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Brush the pork chops with the sauce.
4. Arrange pork and asparagus on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil.
5. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the pork is cooked through and asparagus is tender.

More details at the Baked Pork Chop and Asparagus Sheet Pan Dinner.

10) Glazed Boneless Pork Chops

Glazed boneless pork chops are one of those easy wins for dinner. The glaze mixes sweet and salty, giving the pork a shiny, caramelized crust.

Try brown sugar, soy sauce, and maybe a splash of vinegar or mustard for the glaze. Just don’t overcook them—juicy chops beat dry ones every time.

Perfect for those nights when you want something fast but still crave good flavor.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless pork chops
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, and water in a bowl.

2. Grab a skillet, set it over medium heat, and toss in the pork chops.

3. Let the chops cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Wait until they turn a nice golden brown.

4. Pour the glaze over the chops. Let everything simmer for 3-4 minutes, just until the sauce thickens up a bit.

5. Double-check that the pork hits 145°F (63°C) inside before you call it done.

Need more tips or want to see how glazed pork chops turn out? Check out Budget Bytes.