Recipes

Better Than Bacon: 25 Pork Recipes, From Chops to Tenderloins

From lean and tender pork loins to tasty pork shoulders to a classic pork chops, we've compiled 25 of our favorite recipes that puts a pig to good use.
A pork chop cooking in a cast iron pan with herbs
Photo by Romulo Yanes

Bacon makes everything taste better: in waffles, in quiches, in cornbread, in miso, on pizza, and wrapped around anything. You say bacon, and we're there holding a fork and knife with a plastic bib around our necks. But the world's insatiable craving for the cured, smoked side of the pig has left the other flavorful parts of the animal untouched and ways to cook it ignored. We're here to change that.

From lean pork tenderloins to tasty pork shoulders to classic pork chops, here are 25 of our favorite recipes that put a pig to good use. Bacon is beautiful, but we love the whole hog.

  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal and Pork
    Marcus Nilsson
    1/25

    Spicy Glazed Pork Ribs

    This glaze also makes for an addictive tray of chicken wings. Use the same weight and method as for the ribs, but reduce final cooking time by 10 minutes.

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  • Image may contain Food
    2/25

    Classic Potted Pork

    They look unassuming, but these little jars of unctuous spiced meat served with crunchy toast and rich shallots are a decadent and satisfying treat.

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  • A pork chop cooking in a cast iron pan with herbs
    Photo by Romulo Yanes
    13/25

    Pan-Roasted Brined Pork Chop

    Brining these pork chops makes them moist, tender, and seasoned throughout, and the sugar helps create a dark, caramelized sheen.

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  • Image may contain Food Pork and Roast
    14/25

    Slow-Roasted Glazed Pork Shoulder

    For the most succulent results, use pork shoulder with the bone in and the top layer of fat intact. It's sold whole but is more often divided into Boston butt or picnic shoulder sections. Either cut will do the job.

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