3 Ways to Cook Ground Pork (That Aren't Boring)

Let’s talk ground pork—the underrated MVP of your freezer stash. It’s affordable, full of flavor, and crazy versatile. 

Whether you’ve got a smoker, a crockpot, or just a regular ol’ oven, you can turn ground pork into something downright delicious with just a few pantry staples.

Here’s how we like to do it on the farm:

1. Smoked Ground Pork

If you’ve got a smoker, this one’s a no-brainer. That low and slow smoke takes ground pork to the next level.

What you need:

• Edwards Family Farms ground pork (of course you can substitute for ground beef or any ground meat for that matter)

• Olive oil

• Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, pepper

• Optional: chili powder for a kick

How to:

Mix everything together, spread it out in a shallow pan or cast iron skillet, and smoke it at 225°F for 1.5–2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes to let the smoke do its thing.

Use it for:

Tacos, nachos, rice bowls, sandwiches, or eggs in the morning. Heck, eat it with a spoon—we won’t judge.

2. Crockpot Ground Pork

Set it and forget it. This one’s great for meal prepping or lazy Sundays.

How to:

Brown your pork in a skillet first (optional but tasty), then toss it in the slow cooker with the seasonings. Cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Want it less juicy? Crack the lid the last 30 minutes.

Pro tip: Add a splash of apple cider vinegar or hot sauce at the end if you want to wake it up a bit.

3. Oven-Roasted Ground Pork

No smoker? No slow cooker? No problem. This one’s quick and easy.

How to:

Mix your pork and seasonings, spread it on a baking sheet or casserole dish, and roast at 375°F for 25–30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

You’ll get golden, slightly crispy bits and a whole lotta flavor. Dinner = done.

Flavor Variations (because we like options)

Want to switch things up? Try these:

• BBQ Style: Add 1–2 tbsp of your favorite BBQ sauce before cooking

  
  

• Asian Inspired: Sub soy sauce and sesame oil for olive oil + add ground ginger

  
  

• Taco Night: Add our Taco'Bout Tasty taco seasoning with a squeeze of lime at the end for the ultimate flavor

  
  

• Sweet + Spicy: Mix in maple syrup and red pepper flakes

Whether you go smoky, slow, or oven-baked, ground pork is one of those staples that can carry a meal all on its own.

Make a big batch, stash some in the fridge, and use it all week long.

Let us know which version you try—and tag us if you make it!

We love seeing what’s cookin’ in your kitchen.