Ground pork burgers make a nice change to hamburger night! Make the best pork patties with fresh ground pork, your favorite barbecue sauce, minced onion, and a few other ingredients for a quick and easy dinner everyone will love!
Words really can't describe how good these ground pork burgers taste. My family likes them better on the grill but the oven works great, especially for quick weeknight dinners or when it's too cold to cook outside.
If you've been wondering what to do with ground pork, this recipe really delivers a hit!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Flexible recipe. This recipe can be easily cut in half to make four burgers if that is all you need!
- Perfect for meal prep. They are so easy to make ahead. Make a full batch or double batch and store the extras in the freezer until needed.
- Quick and easy. Only four simple ingredients and fifteen minutes to make the best pork burgers recipe.
- Family favorite. The whole family will love these easy pork patty burgers including the kids!
Pork Burger Patties
I really think you are going to love this recipe and make it part of your regular rotation. My family loves them and I love how easy they are to make. It takes about five minutes to mix them up and then the oven does all the heavy lifting.
Turn it into a fun dinner by loading up the table with lots of fun burger toppings so everyone can make their own signature burger creation.
In my house, we all like our burgers differently and the only ingredient we all agree on is cheese! My son always loves to add more barbecue sauce, My husband, Ken likes it simple with some mustard, relish, and onion! I love them with fresh lettuce and tomato!
Keep the toppings simple or you can go more elaborate with some fancy sauces, cooked mushrooms, or smoked onions.
Don't forget to add on some quick sides such as these air fryer sweet potato fries, smoked barbecue beans, or a salad for easy meals.
If you love pork burgers, you definitely need to try our Perfect Parmesan Double Pork Burgers. This recipe is a little different but definitely delicious!
For more easy recipes, you can make with ground pork, check out these Bacon Cheeseburger Muffins and this Easy Pork Meatloaf.
Ingredients
Most of the ingredients to make this pork burger recipe are likely already in your kitchen. If not, they are easy enough to grab on a quick trip to the grocery store.
- Ground pork: You can find ground pork meat in most grocery stores or you may need to ask the butcher if they have any. I typically find it close to the other cuts of pork with refrigerated meats.
- Barbecue sauce: To make this simple pick up a bottle of your favorite brand at the store or you can use homemade barbecue sauce.
- Seasonings: It's as simple as some fresh chopped onion, salt, and pepper. The onions are optional but I find they add a nice flavor to the meat.
- Burger toppings: The sky is the limit here! Lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, bacon, and cheese are a few ideas.
See the recipe card further down on the page for the full list and the exact quantities of each.
How to Make the Best Pork Burger
The hands-on part of this recipe is quick! This means you can work on other parts of the meal or simply have time to do other things!
If you prefer to cook these burgers outside on the grill, check the recipe card for the instructions for this cooking method!
- Place the ground pork, salt, pepper, barbecue sauce, and onions if you're using them into a medium bowl.
- Mix the meat and seasonings together just until combined. Try not to over-mix.
- Form into 8 burgers about three-quarters of an inch thick and place on a wire rack on top of a foil or parchment-lined baking tray. This makes the cleanup way easier later on.
- Cook the pork burger patties for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Stop every 10 minutes to baste with barbecue sauce and flip them over and rotate the cooking tray.
Hint: I usually divide the burgers into eight balls, as equal as I can get them, and then make the patties. If you want to make sure they are all the same size, use a measuring cup or a scale to measure out the ground pork.
- Serve up freshly cooked pork patties with a fresh bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, and mustard or your favorite burger toppings! Eat and enjoy!
Substitutions
The ingredient list is small but I totally understand if you don't have the correct ingredients on hand or you want to change something up. Here are some helpful tips for you to change this pork burger recipe.
- Ground pork: You can also make burgers with a blend of meats, ground turkey, or chicken too.
- Barbecue sauce: If you don't have any bbq sauce, mix in some Worcestershire sauce and maybe a little liquid smoke for a little flavor.
Variations
Want to personalize this pork burger recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Spicy: Mix in a dash of hot pepper sauce, chili pepper flakes or some sriracha to the ground pork.
- Cheese: Mix in some grated cheese to the pork burger meat and then cook them with more on top for an ultra cheesy burger.
- Seasonings: I like to keep it simple but you can also add dried or fresh herbs, garlic or any other seasonings to flavor up your burgers.
- Cajun burger: Add ½ - 1 teaspoon of blackening spices or cajun seasoning to the burger mixgture.
- Salsa burger: Swap out the barbecue sauce for your favorite salsa.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these double pork burgers.
Equipment
You just need a few simple kitchen tools to make this easy recipe.
- Medium bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Wire rack
- Baking sheet
- Grill (optional)
Storage
- Refrigerator: If you have leftovers following dinner, store them in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Freezer: Cooked pork burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Uncooked burgers can also be stored in the freezer as long as the ground pork wasn't previously frozen. I recommend cooking them within one month though.
- Reheat: Cooked burgers can be reheated in the microwave, oven, air fryer or in a skillet on the stove. Use a lower temperature or heat (325° F or medium) and cook just until heated through.
What to Serve With Pork Burgers
Here are my favorite toppings and sides to serve up with cooked ground pork patties for an entire meal!
- Sauces: You can go wrong with the basics, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. But sometimes I like to jazz things up a bit when it comes to sauces. Spicy mayo, buffalo sauce, or ketchup with onions.
- Copycat toppings: Want to make your pork burger recipe taste like some of your fave takeout? Enjoy this copycat Big Mac sauce, Burger King's creamy buffalo sauce, or some Taco Bell spicy verde salsa.
- French fries: Nothing is better with a pork burger than some fresh cooked french fries! Try these nacho fries, asparagus fries, or french-fried sweet potatoes.
- Salads: For something cold you can make ahead, try a traditional cole slaw, spicy slaw, or potato salad.
Expert Tips
Pork burgers are easy to make and you can't really go wrong but here are a few tips to help you get the best possible results!
- Burger size. Make them big or small, just make sure each pork patty is all similar in size so they cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
- Don't overmix. Just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing may toughen up the meat.
- Avoid overcooking. You want to cook the burgers just until done otherwise they may end up kind of dry. For best results, check the temperature with a digital thermometer and cook to 160° F.
- Add some toppings. They make the burgers even better!
FAQ
Do you have questions about how to make ground pork burgers? Here's a couple questions most commonly asked.
Ground pork, like ground beef, needs to cook until the internal temperature measures 160° F according to the USDA. This temperature makes sure that any bacteria present in the ground meat is destroyed while cooking.
Yes, they are a delicious and healthy alternative to beef burgers. Plus, ground pork is often less expensive than ground beef making it appealing when you need more budget-friendly meals.
What to Make with Ground Pork
Do you like trying cooking up ground pork? Here are some of my favorite ground pork recipes you may also like to try.
That being said, I can't wait to hear what toppings you include on your pork burger for dinner and I would love to hear what you think of them!
Please take a moment to check out our video below!
Our Favorite Pork Burger Video
Best Ground Pork Burger
Equipment
- rack
Ingredients
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce divided,
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 2 pounds ground pork
- 8 buns
- ½ medium onion chopped, (optional)
Optional Toppings
- cheese
- tomatoes
- cooked bacon
- lettuce
- sliced onions
- pickles
- ketchup, mustard, or mayo
Instructions
Prep the Ground Pork
- Mix together ground pork, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon pepper, and ¼ cup barbecue sauce until combined (try not to overmix).
- Form into 8 burger patties about ¾ of an inch thick.
- I usually divide the burgers into 8 balls, as equal as I can get them, and then make the patties.
Bake in the Oven
- Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Cook for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Stop every 10 minutes to baste with barbecue sauce and flip the burgers over. Rotate the tray halfway through for more even cooking.
Cook on the Grill
- Prepare grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal or medium heat for gas.
- Oil grill rack, and then add the patties.
- Turn the burgers over occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes per side. While cooking brush top of each patty with additional barbecue sauce.
Assembling the Pork Burgers
- To melt the cheese, add slices in the last few minutes of cooking time and cook until melted.
- Serve up freshly cooked ground pork burgers with cheese, lettuce, tomato, more barbecue sauce, and anything else you can think of! Enjoy!
Notes
- Burger size. Make them big or small, just make sure each pork patty is all similar in size so they cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
- Don't overmix. Just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing may toughen up the meat.
- Avoid overcooking. You want to cook the burgers just until done otherwise they may end up kind of dry. For best results, check the temperature with a digital thermometer and cook to 160° F.
- Add some toppings. They make pork burgers even better!
Kim
Delicious and so easy. Thank you
Karin and Ken
You are definitely welcome! You made my day! I’m always so happy to hear when someone enjoys one of our recipes! Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! Take care and all the best. Karin
Marsha
These burgers were so easy and such a hit Will make these again. Thank you for sharing this recipe Love your site!
Karin and Ken
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know that you enjoyed them! Sometimes I wonder if anyone else enjoys these recipes as much as we do! Take care and enjoy the rest of your day! Karin