Published: · Modified: by Krista Stechman · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments
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The Ultimate Pork Burger is a delicious mess of a burger. It's the homemade pork version of a Big Mac but with insane flavor.
This Ultimate Pork Burger recipe is the burger you want to make when company is coming over for a backyard BBQ. This perfect burger will be a huge hit!
The recipe for this Ultimate Pork Burger was actually inspired by a burger called "Le Pig Mac" from Cochon Butcher in New Orleans. https://cochonbutcher.com/
My husband and I took a trip to New Orleans for New Years about 7 years ago and this restaurant and pork burger was probably the most memorable part of our trip.
Don't get me wrong, everything at Cochon Butcher is absolutely delicious but these perfect pork burgers stuck with us.
I don't often make pork burgers, so when re-creating this it just had to be called The Ultimate Pork Burger. This is such a flavorful burger!
I could definitely use one of these burgers with a beignet on the side! We love easy recipes and this juicy ground pork burger recipe is just that!
Easy and delicious.
Speaking of delicious, the sauce for these pork burgers amazing. It's so good, I like to use it to dip my fries or chips in too.
That's why the this pork burger recipe has a little more sauce than you would actually need for the burger. Try dipping your fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries or potato chips!
Jump to:
- Recipe Ingredients
- How To Make The Ultimate Pork Burger
- Expert Tips
- What To Serve With
- Perfect For Weeknights
- Equipment
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Please leave me a rating and/or review!
- The Ultimate Pork Burger
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Pork - Found at your local grocery store or butcher. I buy ground pork meat but you could also buy pork burger patties. Lean ground pork is an option.
- Garlic Powder - Typically I'm a fresh garlic type of girl but garlic powder works well here.
- Kosher Salt - Salt brings out the flavor in all the ingredients.
- Smoked Paprika - Smoked paprika brings a light smokey flavor.
- Black Pepper - I prefer coarse ground black pepper.
- Garlic Clove - Minced fresh garlic works best for the sauce.
- Mayo - I prefer Hellman's mayo.
- Ketchup - Ketchup is mixed into the sauce.
- Bread and Butter Pickles - These pickles give a bit of sweet flavor to the special sauce.
- Dill Pickles - Can't have a burger without pickles!
- Dijon - Dijon adds a bit of a bite but it's just a hint.
- Iceberg Lettuce - Iceberg lettuce is great for a little crunch on these juicy ground pork burgers.
- Yellow Onion - I Love fresh onion on burgers. Red onion can be substituted.
- American Cheese - The classic American cheese.
How To Make The Ultimate Pork Burger
- Step 1: First, make the special sauce. Whisk all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside until needed.
- Step 2: Next, make the pork patties. Combine ground pork with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Do not overmix. Form into 4 oz patties.
- Step 3: Grill patties over medium heat until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees f. Use an instant read thermometer inserted to the center of the burger to check temperature.
- Step 4: Add the American cheese and remove burgers from the grill. Place patties on each bun, two patties each, then top with a generous amount of sauce.
- Step 5: Top grilled pork burger with lettuce, onion and dill pickle chips. Serve immediately.
These make the perfect juicy ground pork burgers every time! Best burger for a quick and tasty meal.
Expert Tips
- Make the sauce a day ahead of time if possible, it helps all the flavors blend together.
- Do not overcook the pork, the burger will dry out. An internal temperature of 160°F is good, the burger will continue to cook after it comes off the heat. I like to use a digital meat thermometer like this.
- Don't be afraid to slather it in sauce. The sauce is your best friend here.
- Cook pork burgers on a gas grill, charcoal grill, cast iron griddle, cast iron skillet, grill pan, flat top. Add a drizzle of olive oil if using a pan indoors.
- This cast iron griddle is my go-to.
- If you don't eat ground pork then you can sub in ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey. A beef burger is my next favorite option for this burger recipe.
- If you love pork recipes then check out my Pork Sugo and Pozole Rojo!
What To Serve With
The Ultimate Pork Burger is an easy meal to make so why not put easy sides with it? These are large burgers so you don't need too much for a side. Here is a list of some of my favorite sides to eat with these ground pork burgers.
These sides are great for dipping in the special sauce too. These juicy ground pork burgers go perfectly with Easy Crack Corn Salad.
- Potato Chips - that's right, plain regular potato chips because they are AMAZING dipped in the special sauce.
- French Fries - The classic burger and fry combo.
- Sweet Potato Fries - Sweet potato fries go well with this pork burger too.
- Tater Tots - Tater tots are fun for the kids and adults!
- Onion Rings - I love a good homemade onion ring recipe with my burger.
Perfect For Weeknights
The Ultimate Pork Burger is perfect for an easy weeknight meal. It's totally ready in less than 30 minutes.
There's also not much clean-up, which is always a win in my book! This is a great pork burgers recipe for company too.
This juicy ground pork burger recipe is something the whole family will love!
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls - You will need a small bowl to mix the sauce and a large bowl to mix the ground pork mixture
- Grill pan or Grill - When cooking this juicy ground pork burger recipe then you'll need a grill pan or skillet. If you're making them outdoors then a gas grill is great
- Meat Thermometer - I like to use a digital NSF meat thermometer to check the internal temp of the Ultimate Pork Burger. This is what I use
- Sharp Knife - You should always be using a sharp knife in the kitchen
- Cutting Board - Use a cutting board to cut your veggies
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I cook ground pork to?
I cook my ground pork to an internal temperature of 160°F. The burger will carry over cook when it comes off the heat.
This means that the temperature of the meat will continue to rise another 5 degrees after being removed from the heat source. During this time, make sure you don't cut into the meat. It needs to rest to continue cooking.
Is pork good for burgers?
Yes, pork makes great burgers! If you like pork then it is definitely a good option to make burgers with. Pork burgers are a little fatty and very flavorful. This makes for super juicy pork burgers. Just envision ground pork shoulder.
Pork shoulder is one of my favorite cuts of meat! There are lots of different options for toppings when it comes to pork burgers but this pork burger recipe is a great place to start!
What is a ground pork burger?
A pork burger is simply a hamburger made with ground pork instead of ground beef. Just like a hamburger, a pork burger can be topped with a variety of different toppings. The ground pork is formed into burger patties. Seasoning can be mixed throughout the meat ahead of time or sprinkled on after the patty is formed.
Is a ground pork burger healthier than hamburger?
This question depends on a lot of different variables. It would depend on which cut of meat the pork and beef are using to make their ground meat.
Different cuts of meat from the same animal have different amounts of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, etc. It also depends what aspect you're looking at. Pork and beef contain different vitamins and minerals that are good for us.
It's really just a personal preference on what health benefits you're looking for.
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The Ultimate Pork Burger
Krista Stechman
This pork burger is the ultimate homemade version of a Big Mac, using pork instead of beef. It's 2 pork patties, American cheese, special sauce, onions, pickles and lettuce.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course dinner
Cuisine american
Servings 4 people
Calories 990 kcal
Ingredients
Special Sauce
- ½ cup mayo
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup bread and butter pickles diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Pork Burgers
- 2 pounds ground pork
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Burger Toppings
- ¾ cup iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup yellow onion fine diced
- 8 slices American cheese
- ⅓ cup dill pickles chips
Instructions
Making the Special Sauce
Mince the garlic and small dice the bread and butter pickles
Add all of the special sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk until well combined. Set aside. Sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days
Mixing and Cooking the Pork Burgers
Add ground pork to a large bowl and add remaining pork burger ingredients
Mix well but do not over mix. Form into patties
Cook the patties on a cast iron griddle or pan for 4 minutes each side. Check the temperature of the burgers with a meat thermometer. You're looking for a temp of 160°F
Add the cheese right before the burgers are ready and allow to melt for 30 seconds
Remove the burgers from the heat and place each one on a bun
Adding the toppings
While the burgers are cooking dice the onion and shred the lettuce very thin with a sharp knife
Add the lettuce, onion, dill pickle and special sauce to the tops of the burgers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make the sauce a day ahead of time if possible, it helps all the flavors blend together
- Do not overcook the pork, the burger will dry out. An internal temperature of 160°F is good, the burger will continue to cook after it comes off the heat. I like to use a digital meat thermometer like this
- Don't be afraid to slather it in sauce. The sauce is your best friend here
- I cooked the pork burgers on a cast iron griddle but feel free to use a cast iron skillet, grill pan, flat top or the gas grill
- This cast iron griddle is my go-to
- If you don't eat pork you can sub in beef, chicken or turkey
Nutrition
Calories: 990kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 47gFat: 83gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 18gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 217mgSodium: 2225mgPotassium: 868mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1007IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 499mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
nicole triebe
This was one big juicy mess and SO DELICIOUS!!! Definitely making these againReply
admin
So glad to hear that! Thank you!
Reply
Frank
That special sauce is awesome! Looks so goodReply
admin
Thanks!!
Reply
Paul Golub
Sounds greatReply
Suzanne
This is delicious! We are making it for the second time tonight. Sauce and burger seasonings are spot on!Reply
Krista Stechman
Thank you!!
Reply
Tim
This is absolutely outstanding. A welcome change from beef burgers. Thanks for the recipe!!
Reply
Krista Stechman
Happy to hear that!! Thanks so much for trying them out!
Reply
