Grilled Pork Burgers (with ground pork)

These grilled pork burgers are easy to make, mouthwateringly juicy, and full of awesome flavor punched up with smoky bacon. Topped off with tangy coleslaw, they’re the perfect dinner for busy weeknights and lazy weekends. Summer barbecuing never tasted so good!

Tasty Alternatives to Beef Burgers

Tired of the same old beef burger? No problem! Up your burger game with a range of alternatives that offer rich, savory flavors and are just as easy to make as your favorite hamburger.

These juicy pork burgers are just one example of a perfect burger alternative that is full of flavor and pairs well with many of your favorite burger toppings. Just think outside the box, from lean bison burgers, to spicy chorizo burgers, to lighter offerings like chicken burgers or turkey burgers, they all offer deliciously unique twists on the classic burger.

Why You'll Love This Pork Burger Recipe

Easy to Make: Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl, form into patties and grill.

Quick weeknight dinner: Just 20 minutes and dinner can be on the table! Perfect for summer BBQs and keeping the heat out of the kitchen.

Change of pace: These pork patties are just what you need when you want something different from the classic burger patty.

Cheaper than Beef: Ground pork is just as full of flavor as your classic hamburger but costs less than ground beef.

Mouthwatering & Juicy: These juicy ground pork burgers cook up perfectly juicy and tender every time!

Flavorful topping:  Coleslaw adds a refreshing tanginess while its crunchy texture adds another dimension to these grilled burgers.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make perfect pork burgers your whole family will love. The exact measurements are in the printable recipe card below.

• Ground pork
• Bacon
• Seasoned panko bread crumbs
• Eggs
• Garlic cloves
• Sea salt
• Ground black pepper
• Oregano
• Pepper Jack cheese
• Hamburger buns
• Coleslaw for topping (your favorite, either homemade or store-bought)

How to Make Pork Burgers

Cooking ground pork patties is easy to do on a gas grill. Here's how to prepare the pork burger patties and grill them:

1. Place the ground pork mixture in a medium bowl with bacon, panko crumbs, eggs, garlic, and seasonings.
2. Gently form into 6 equal-sized patties. Make a slight depression in the center of each burger.

Preheat your gas grill to medium-high heat.

3. Place burgers on the grill.
4. Grill burgers for approximately 5 minutes on one side then flip and grill another 5 minutes or until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 160°F. In the last minute top with a slice of cheese.

Let the burgers rest 10 minutes then place on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings and serve with additional sides. These will be some of the most flavorful burgers you've ever had and are guaranteed to become a family favorite. What are you waiting for? Cook up some delicious pork burgers tonight!

Recipe Tips

• The right kind of pork is crucial for flavorful and juicy burgers. Use ground pork that's not too lean – ideally, it should have a fat content of around 20%. This will ensure your burgers remain moist and juicy.
• Be gentle when you mix the meat. Overworking the meat can make your burgers tough.
• Divide the meat mixture into equal portions so all the burgers will be the same size.
• When shaping the large burgers, don't make them too compact or they'll be tough. Make an indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent it from puffing up during cooking.
• Make sure your grill or pan is hot before you add the burgers. This will help to sear the outside and keep the juices inside.
• Be careful not to overcook the burgers. Pork burgers need to be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F for safety. A instant-read meat thermometer is a useful tool for checking the temperature. Remember, the burgers will continue to cook a little after they're removed from the heat (carryover cooking), so take them off just before they reach the desired temperature.
• After you remove the burgers from the heat, let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicier burger.

Recipe Variations

• Cheese - Add ½ cup of shredded cheese to the mixture for cheesy pork burgers.
• Keto - Use crushed pork rinds instead of panko. Serve the burgers without buns. This makes a great low-carb dinner too!
• Meat Combo - Substitute up to half of the ground pork with ground beef, ground turkey, venison, lamb, or chorizo (the raw Mexican chorizo).
• Seasoning - Use your favorite seasoning mix or make spicy pork burgers with cajun or creole seasoning.

Alternate Cooking Methods

Pork Burgers in the Oven

1. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Place the pork patties on the wire rack.
3. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes.

Pork Burgers in Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
2. Place the patties in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket, you may need to cook them in batches.
3. Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

How to Cook Pork Burgers in a Pan

1. Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Once the pan is hot, add a small amount of cooking oil (vegetable oil works best).
3. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Pork Burger Toppings

There are oodles of topping choices for your pork burgers. Here are some ideas:

• Bacon - There's bacon in the patty so more on top just makes it more awesome.
• Cheese - Cheddar and Pepper Jack work great with this meaty burger.
• Coleslaw - try this Korean Pork coleslaw for a crispy crunch.
• Condiments - Mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, or ketchup.
• Fried egg
• Guacamole - store-bought or homemade guacamole
• Sauce - Aioli, Barbecue sauce, Buffalo sauce, or salsa.
• Vegetables - Lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion, caramelized onions or mushrooms

What to Serve with Pork Burgers

• Baked Beans
• Chips - Potato chips or tortilla chips
• Fruit - fresh fruit salad, grilled pineapple, or carrot raisin salad.
• Onion Rings
• Potatoes - Regular French fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini fries, or tater tots.
• Vegetables - Roasted or grilled including this tasty grilled corn on the cob!

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

Storing:

1. Let the pork burgers cool completely after cooking.
2. Place them in an airtight container or wrap each individually with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
3. Store the burgers in the refrigerator. Cooked pork burgers should be eaten within 3 to 4 days.

Freezing:

1. Cool the cooked pork burgers completely.
2. Wrap each patty individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
3. Place the individually wrapped burgers into a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
4. Frozen cooked pork burgers will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

Reheating:

Refrigerated or thawed burgers:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Place the burgers on a baking sheet and cover with foil to keep them from drying out.
3. Heat the burgers for 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through.

Frozen burgers:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Place the frozen burgers on a baking sheet and cover with foil.
3. Heat the burgers for about 15 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.

More Grilling Recipes

• Grilled Filet Mignon
• Grilled Lamb Chops
• Grilled Pork Chops
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Mahi Mahi
• Grilled Tuna

Find lots of delicious and easy recipes for grilling right here on 2CM!

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