What to Make with Leftover Pork Chops: 26 Recipes That Taste Totally Gourmet (2024)

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By Katherine Gillen

•

Published Aug 1, 2023

Additional reporting by

Taryn Pire

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Oh, leftovers. They’re the secret to putting together easy, economical dinners in almost no time. But pork chops can be tricky to repurpose or use up. While we’re not above slapping a few slices on sandwich bread with a little mayo and calling it a day—we can all do better than that. Presenting 26 leftover pork chop recipes to clean out your refrigerator (that still taste totally gourmet).

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ERIC WOLFINGER/THE MEXICAN KETO COOKBOOK

1. Cast-Iron Pork Chops with Cacao-Spiced Rub

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly

The trick to these melt-in-your-mouth chops? Salting them 45 minutes before cooking and letting them come to room temperature. Make double of the spice rub to use on steak, salmon, ribs or chicken thighs.

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Tyler Kenny/On the Line

2. Pork Milanese with Cucumber Yogurt

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

A few pantry staples transform a modest boneless pork chop into something totally Insta-worthy. Fresh garlic and dill (stems included) infuse the yogurt dip with a ridiculous amount of flavor.

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3. Lemongrass Pork Chops with Carb-Free Yakisoba

Time Commitment: 8 hours and 25 minutes (includes marinating time)
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein

Yes, you'll need to marinate the pork chops in a savory mix of ginger, lime juice, honey and fish sauce for eight hours—but we promise it's worth the wait. This allows the acidic ingredients to tenderize the pork as it soaks.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly

As long as you slice your pork chops as thinly as possible, this classy comfort dish is within reach. Serve with mashed potatoes, white rice or arugula salad.

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Erin McDowell

5. Herb-Crusted Pork Cutlets

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

The thinner you slice the pork chops, the crispier they'll turn out. The panko coating is spiked with your choice of fresh herbs (we're partial to a mix of thyme, rosemary, tarragon, sage and oregano).

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

This recipe calls for pork tenderloin, but you could swap in cubes of leftover pork chop for a similar effect. Cook it on the barbecue if the weather allows and on a grill pan if you're cooking indoors—you don't want to miss out on those char marks.

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Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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Taryn Pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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What to Make with Leftover Pork Chops: 26 Recipes That Taste Totally Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

What to do with dry pork chop leftovers? ›

I'd dice them up and do a super flavorful fatty braise and re-cook the hell out of them… then shred for something like tacos, enchiladas, taquitos, etc. Or do that and then crisp them up as carnitas for the same uses.

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How to make leftover pork chops juicy? ›

What if my leftover pork chops are already dry? Occasionally I overcook a pork chop and not even this oven method can revive it for leftovers. In this instance, slicing the chop very thinly and pan cooking it with some fat (either butter or olive oil) and a flavorful liquid (think: broth or soy sauce) is my best bet.

How long are leftover cooked pork chops good for? ›

USDA recommends using cooked pork within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40 °F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

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How to make leftover pork juicy? ›

Using the oven: Start by preheating your oven to a low heat. Then, place your pork in an oven-safe dish, add a splash of broth or sauce to keep it moist and cover it with foil. Finally, reheat until it reaches your desired temperature — taking care to check periodically, so you avoid overcooking.

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How do you reheat pork chops without making them tough? ›

Put it in the oven until the pork chop temperature reaches 137 degrees (rare) to 160 degrees (cardboard). I usually use a low oven temperature … about 200 degrees, but you may increase it if time is of the essence—just remember that generally, the lower the temperature it cooks in, the more tender the meat.

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What do you do with cooked dried pork? ›

My Latest Obsession: Pork Floss, Chinese Cotton Candy-esque Dried Pork. Add this fluffy, finely shredded pork to everything from steamed rice and baked goods to pasta, and even pizza.

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What is the secret to moist pork chops? ›

How to Keep Pork Chops from Drying Out? Brine Them! After you bring your pork chops home, time to brine! Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop.

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Why do you soak pork chops in water? ›

A pork chop brine, like all brines, is a mixture of salt and a liquid, usually water. Soaking lean meats like pork, poultry, and even shrimp in a brine helps ensure these proteins turn out tender, flavorful, and juicy. And while it's not a 100% guarantee—you still have to cook them right—it's pretty close.

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How do you make pork moist again? ›

Make a mushroom, cream sauce, add the pork, just long enough for it to rehydrate and serve over pasta or mashed potatoes. Butter will make it oily, you want some liquids. Bbq sauce helps. Asian sauces with water/stock and corn starch helps.

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Are pork chops still good after 5 days in the fridge? ›

For raw ground meats, poultry, seafood and variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.), refrigerate them only 1 to 2 days before either cooking or freezing. Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days.

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Can I eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

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Can I eat pork 7 days after the sell-by date? ›

"It's safe to say 'days' but not more than a week for most refrigerated produce, months to years for canned and dry goods in the pantry, and I would say to not go past the date in the fridge for meat/fish/poultry, but they can last three months with good quality and if properly stored in the freezer," Jones says.

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What to do with leftover dry pork? ›

Are there any other good ideas for what I should do with about 3 pounds of dry, overcooked pork? Editor: Allison, overall, my suggestion would be to dice or shred it extra-fine and use it in places where its texture will be less of a problem: Breakfast burritos, cheesy pasta casserole, omelets, and soups.

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How to make leftover pork chops tender? ›

We Recommend

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add 2 tablespoons of water or broth (chicken, beef or vegetable) to an oven-safe pan.
Place the pork chops in the pan.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Reheat in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meat is thoroughly heated.

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Learn More Now ›

How do you reheat pork and keep it moist? ›

Reheat pork in a covered dish in the oven, microwave, or pan/skillet. Oven: Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add some water or broth to an oven-safe pan. Place the leftover pork in the pan and then cover with aluminium foil and reheat for 15 to 20 minutes (this is dependent on the size).

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How do you rehydrate leftover pork? ›

What can I do with pork that is too dry? ›

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Can you make dry pork moist again? ›

Set your skillet over a burner at medium heat and add your cooking liquid (water, broth, or cooking oil should work just fine), and allow it to reach a bare simmer. Once your liquid is sufficiently heated, add your pork chops and then cover the skillet for around three minutes.

How do you bring dry pork back to life? ›

Mix equal parts of low sodium chicken and beef broth together along with a little of your rub and mix it in with your pork. The combinations of broth, will not alter the flavor of the pork, while moistening it.

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