Having leftovers in the fridge always seems like a good idea, until it’s the final day before they need to be thrown out and you have no idea what to do with them. Trust us, we know this problem well. Especially when it comes to leftover meat such as pork.
Whether you made a wonderful roast for the family that was just a little bit too extravagant, or you overestimated the amount of pulled pork you’d need to cover your nachos, if you’re looking for some inspiration for leftover dishes, we’ve got you covered.
Below, we’ve listed the 27 best leftover pork recipes. From economical weeknight staples to fun and innovative dishes, there is something for everyone! We’ve also included a handy FAQ section to ensure that all of your concerns are addressed.
Roast Pork Spring Rolls
If you have some leftover pork and are craving some indulgent takeout food, you have to try these roast pork spring rolls. Whether you fancy a snack or need a super delicious side dish, this recipe is ideal.
Making your own spring rolls can be a little intimidating if you’ve never done it before. However, this recipe takes you through the process in really simple steps, and the ingredients list is pretty short too. Be sure to add in your favourite veggies.
And of course, once you’ve mastered this dish, you can use your new-found skills to make other types of spring roll.
There are some wonderful pork dishes in Filipino cookery. See our Filipino Food Catering Ideas for some great dishes.
Leftover Pork Nachos
Whether you’re having some friends around for a movie night, or you simply want to have an indulgent Friday night in, these leftover sheet pan pork nachos are perfect. This recipe is economical, super easy, and loaded with mouth-watering ingredients.
The best thing about this recipe is just how customisable it is. You can throw in your favourite beans, cheese, and veggies, and top it with your favourite sauces. We like to make our nachos a little bit spicy by topping them with a little bit of sriracha sauce.
Are you in Melbourne and eager for some good Mexican food? Take a look at our guide to the Best Mexican Restaurants.
Leftover Pork Stroganoff
Who doesn’t love a stroganoff? This brisket and pulled pork stroganoff is absolutely ideal for those cold, winter evenings that make you crave comfort food. As a bonus, you can use this recipe as an opportunity to get rid of any leftover beef, pork, or even veggies you have.
This dish is our go-to when the weather turns. The combination of brisket and pulled pork in an ultra-rich sauce is just to die for. It is worth noting that if you only have access to one meat, that is totally fine.
Do you have a family party coming up? Or maybe you’re planning a get together with friends? Whatever the occasion, perhaps HyVee Catering can help you out?
Leftover Pork Fried Rice
If you’re looking for a tried-and-tested, uber-quick, and super tasty way of using your pork leftovers, look no further than this leftover pork fried rice recipe. You can throw in pretty much anything you fancy, so this is a great opportunity to use up whatever is lying around in the fridge.
The versatility of this dish makes it one of our best leftover pork recipes.
For the best results when it comes to fried rice, using leftover rice is necessary. Or, at the very least, make sure that the rice you use is completely cold. Also, some rice will behave better than others. If you can, opt for long-grain white rice, basmati rice, or Jasmine rice.
Does the thought of fried rice make you hungry for Chinese food? Check out our Sydney Chinese Restaurants recommendations.
Sriracha Pork Sliders
You can never go wrong with sliders. These sriracha pork sliders are so good that you’ll be addicted after the first bite! If you’re looking for a fun and tasty weeknight staple for the family, you need to give this recipe a try.
This recipe suggests that you use radishes, carrots, and cucumber in the sliders for a bit of crunch. However, feel free to add your favourite crunchy veggies or ones that you might have leftover. We enjoy using leftover slaw.
For everything you’ve ever wanted to know about firey sriracha sauce, see here.
Pork Rice Paper Rolls
If you’ve never tried making your own rice paper rolls before, this is your sign to give it a try. They are unbelievably easy to make, you can fill them with your favourite things, and they are super healthy.
This recipe in particular strikes a wonderful balance in texture and flavour. It suggests that you use leftover green beans, cucumber, and capsicum, but you can use any veggie you fancy. It also suggests using a plum sauce to serve, but we also love rice paper rolls with a homemade peanut butter dip.
The Vietnamese are masters of the rice paper roll. For a run-down on some of the best Vietnamese eating spots in Melbourne, see here.
Pork and Potato Hash
If you’re looking for a simple, delicious, carby, and comforting way to use your leftover pork, look no further than this pork and potato hash recipe. Admittedly, it isn’t a pretty dish, but it is still one of the best leftover pork recipes.
We love making this dish when all we fancy is an economical, filling, super tasty meal. This recipe uses simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen and can be on the table in less than an hour.
Pork Taquitos
We love taquitos. However, we often find that they never have quite enough filling. If you feel this way too, you need to give this recipe a try. If you’ve never made taquitos before, it might be a little bit tricky, but it is definitely worth the extra effort.
Despite being bursting with bold Mexican flavours, this recipe doesn’t have quite as many ingredients as you might think. However, we do recommend making your own salsa and guacamole if you have the time – it really makes all the difference.
Do you live in Sydney and love Mexican cuisine? We have a list of great Mexican Restaurants for you to try.
Pulled Pork Rigatoni
If you’re looking for an indulgent pasta dish, look no further than this pulled pork rigatoni recipe. It uses super simple ingredients but the product is just wonderful. What could be better than pulled pork in a rich tomato sauce?
This dish is a weeknight staple in our house, and we’re sure it’s going to become one in yours too! For the best results, be sure to cook the pasta for slightly less time than the packet suggests. Also, serve with a super crusty loaf of fresh bread!
And if you find yourself with Leftover Lamb, see our recipe suggestions here.
Pork Bao Buns
If you’re anything like us, you have a deep love for bao buns, but you’ve always been a little too scared to try and make them yourself. However, this recipe changes everything. These pork bao buns are absolutely delicious and surprisingly easy to put together.
Even if you’ve never made steamed buns before, this recipe will ensure that you make them perfectly every time. It gives you all the tips and tricks necessary to make perfectly well-balanced bao buns that are absolutely exploding with flavour.
Melbourne has some excellent Chinese dining spots. Here are some of our most-loved.
Pork Quesadilla
If you’re a lover of Mexican food but are a little tired of nachos, you need to give this pork quesadilla recipe a try. It is quick, easy, and ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Everyone around the table is certain to love this dish!
If you don’t have one already, maybe it’s time you bought an Air Fryer. You can do so many things with a modern Air Fryer – from frying, to baking, to steaming, to roasting, and more. For prices and info, click here.
We can’t believe that these pork quesadillas only take 20 minutes to cook, especially considering just how flavorful they are. There are also just 7 ingredients! What more could you ask for?
Won Ton Soup with Leftover Pork
My love of won ton soup means I couldn’t put together a list of the best leftover pork recipes and not include one.
If you’re tired of the same old leftover pork recipes and are craving something different, this won-ton soup is perfect for you. This recipe is especially great if you fancy learning some new cooking skills.
Don’t let the ingredients list put you off – we know it’s quite long, but the recipe itself is actually very simple. Also, if you stock up on these wonderful ingredients, you’ll be able to make this soup every week!
Pulled Pork Burritos
If you’re in need of a leftover pork recipe that is suitable for weekday work lunch boxes, why not try these pulled pork burritos? They are sure to fill you up and keep you satisfied all day long.
We love just how customisable these burritos are. Feel free to add your favourite fillings and dips. We really like making some homemade spicy salsa and guacamole. However, if you’re short on time, feel free to buy store-bought versions.
The warm, sunny climate of Brisbane is perfect for the sunny flavours of Mexican food. Click here for some great eateries.
Pulled Pork Fried Noodles
We’ve all been there. There are leftovers in the fridge that you should eat, but you’re craving takeout food from the Chinese restaurant down the street. If you find yourself in this predicament, you have to give this recipe a try. Trust us, it will be on the table way before your takeaway would, and it’s much more delicious.
This recipe suggests adding mushrooms and some green, leafy vegetables to give it a wholesome feel. However, feel free to add whatever you want! If you also have leftover beef or veggies, throw those in too.
Love Asian flavours? See our Easy Vietnamese Recipes.
Loaded Pizza
Following on from the theme of the recipe above, this one is also great if you fancy a takeout but can’t stop thinking about the leftovers in the fridge. Who needs dominos when you can make a super delicious, completely personalized pizza with leftovers in just 30 minutes?
There are some amazing Pizza Ovens on the market these days. From ‘rotating’ ovens that sit on your kitchen work top to wood-fired ovens for the garden. Click here for more information and prices.
This recipe has just four ingredients and comes together very quickly. However, if you have a little bit of extra time, we recommend making your own pizza from scratch. This takes more time, but it’s a super fun way to get the family involved in cooking.
On the search for a crispy, light pizza in Perth? Here are some recommendations.
Pork-Stuffed Cuban Sandwich
Whether you’re looking for best leftover pork recipes for your work lunch box, or you just fancy a hefty sandwich for dinner, you should definitely check out this pork-stuffed Cuban sandwich recipe. It is by far the best sandwich we’ve ever made.
This sandwich is super meaty, creamy, and has a wonderfully satisfying hint of mustard. For the best results, make sure to purchase some top-quality pickles and super crusty French bread.
Leftover Pork Roast Soup
There is nothing better than a super satisfying, heart-warming soup on a cold winter evening. This leftover pork soup recipe isn’t just the most comforting dish we’ve ever tried, but it’s also incredibly economical.
This recipe comes together in just 30 minutes in total, but it tastes as if the broth has been cooking for hours. To make this soup a bit more texturally interesting, we recommend roasting some corn and adding it to the soup towards the end.
Roast Pork Pasta Bake
This pasta bake is an ultra-easy way to transform your leftovers into another delicious and wonderfully filling meal for the whole family. This dish is certain to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
We love how simple this recipe is. It does take around an hour to make, which is a bit longer than some others on this list, but it is definitely worth the extra time. If you love cheese as much as we do, be sure to add a little bit more than the recipe suggests.
See here for some outstanding Italian Restaurants in Brisbane.
Leftover Pulled Pork Breakfast Casserole
Now, you likely associate casseroles with cool winter evenings. However, this breakfast casserole really changes the game. Not convinced? Give this recipe a try, it will win you over in no time.
This breakfast casserole requires just 5 ingredients, and it can be used to prepare a week’s worth of breakfasts. If you fancy making it a little bit more nutritional, feel free to throw some extra veggies into the mix.
No-Fry Thai Curry
If you’re a no-fuss kind of cook, this recipe will become your new best friend. You don’t need to weigh ingredients, it comes together in just one pot, and you can use leftover pork or chicken. What more could you ask for?
This recipe has just 7 ingredients, but it tastes as if there are a lot more. For the best results, be sure to purchase a good quality Thai green curry paste, as this really gives the dish its flavour. Also, feel free to add in any extra veggies you have to make it more nutritional.
And if this recipe has you wondering what to do with leftover chicken, we have some suggestions.
Pork Souvlaki
We are huge fans of Greek food in this house. It is a wonderful cuisine that includes a whole lot of fresh and bright ingredients. If you fancy dipping your toe into greek cuisine (not literally), this leftover pork souvlaki recipe is a perfect place to start.
This recipe is super speedy and can be made for lunch or dinner. It suggests that you serve the pork with flatbreads and yogurt and chili sauces on the side, but we also love eating these with a fresh tomato salad and some tzatziki!
Want a yummy dessert to go with your souva? See our Easy Greek Desserts.
Leftover Pork and Vegetables
If you’re looking for a simple, ‘does what it says on the tin’ recipe, look no further than this leftover pork and vegetable dish. Admittedly, it isn’t the prettiest, so probably shouldn’t be served at a dinner party, but it makes for a super delicious and economical midweek family dinner.
In fact, thanks to the way that the pork is cooked, this dish doesn’t taste like leftovers at all. The recipe suggests serving the pork and vegetables with rice, but we also really enjoy pairing them with some super creamy mashed potatoes.
One of the more tender cuts of pork is pork belly. See here for some tips on how to cook it.
Roast Pork and Garlic Sauce
If you’re a fan of Chinese-style garlic pork, we cannot recommend this dish enough. It is absolutely delicious, super versatile, and can be made in just 20 minutes total. This is our go-to leftover pork dish.
The ingredients list is fairly extensive, as you will need to make a marinade and a garlic sauce. However, it is so worth the extra effort! Although not all of the ingredients will be familiar, we promise you, this dish is so good that you’ll want to make it every week.
Pulled Pork Gnocchi
As much as we love pasta, we can sometimes overdo it. If our diet has been pasta-heavy, we sometimes like to break up the week with a gnocchi dish. This one, in particular, provides the perfect opportunity to use up some leftover pulled pork.
The best thing about this recipe is that it can be as easy or challenging as you’d like it to be. If you don’t have much time, you can use store-bought gnocchi, whereas, if you have some more time and fancy challenging your culinary skills, you can try and make some yourself.
Gnocchi, pasta, pizza – Italian cuisine has so much to offer. Here are some of the best places to try it in Perth.
Leftover Roast Pork Ragu
You can never go wrong with a pork ragu. We’ve always been a little wary of trying to make a ragu with leftover pork, in fear that it may be dry, however, this recipe quelled all of our concerns. It makes a super-rich ragu every single time!
A Slow-Cooker (or Crock-Pot) is a fantastic things to have in your kitchen. all you have to do is fill it up and turn it on in the morning and you’ll come home to a delicious tasting meal. For more information and prices, see here.
Ok, so the cooking time is technically 8 hours, which might put a few of you off. However, you should keep in mind that it requires only 15 minutes of prep. As such, it is a very low-maintenance dish. We love making it on lazy Sunday mornings.
Leftover Pork Posole Verde
If you’ve never tried pozole Verde (Mexican stew), you need to give this recipe a try. It is a wonderfully flavorful stew that is certain to give you the midweek pick-me-up that you need! It is also the perfect recipe if you want to incorporate leftover foods.
With such a flavoursome broth, you might assume that this dish takes a few hours to make. However, it can come together in under 30 minutes. The ingredients list is fairly simple, but just be sure to not hold back on the spices.
Leftover Pork Shoulder Stew
Finally, we couldn’t finish this list without including this leftover pork shoulder stew. Not to sound dramatic, but this stew saves my life every winter. It is hearty, warming, filling, economical, delicious, and full of goodness. What more could you want? It’s absolutely one of the best leftover pork recipes.
We also love the flexibility of this recipe. It suggests that you use carrots, peppers, potatoes, and butter beans, but feel free to add any veggies or pulses that you like! We love adding lentils if we feel as if we need a little more substance.
So you’ve got the main course sorted. How about a luscious chocolate dessert to go with it?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe To Eat Leftover Pork?
Absolutely!
However, there are two things that you need to remember. First, you need to make sure that the pork was cooked to perfection when you initially made it. Second, you need to ensure that the pork is adequately reheated before consuming (if you plan on eating it hot).
How Long Is Cooked Pork Good For In The Fridge?
Once cooked, pork is ok in the fridge for three to four days. After this time, it is necessary to throw away any leftover pork you might have. You should also throw it out if it has turned a grey color or omits a horrible smell, even if it hasn’t been four days.
How Do You Moisten Dry Pulled Pork?
Sometimes, if pork is overcooked or if it isn’t stored correctly, the leftover pork can lose some of its moisture and feel quite dry. If this has happened to you, not to worry. There is a solution.
Simply place the shredded pork in an oven-suitable dish with some liquid. This can be broth, a sauce, apple juice, or even cider vinegar. Then, cover the dish in two layers of foil, and place it in the middle of the oven.
This process will reheat your leftover pork and provide it with the moisture necessary to make it delicious again.
Conclusion
As avid cooks, we know all-too-well the pain of wasting food. Recently, we’ve tried our very best to be more environmentally friendly (and budget-friendly!) by minimizing our food waste. We hope that this article inspires you to use up your leftovers and get innovative in the kitchen.
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