Leftover Pork

Leftovers don’t have to be boring, and they definitely don’t have to be the same night after night. Our leftover pork recipe adds veggies, mushrooms, rice and a gravy-like sauce to last night’s pork to create a fresh dish that’s simply delish. It’s so easy to make too, since the pork and rice are already cooked. And just like that, you have a brand-new meal!

Ingredients for Leftover Pork

• Red onion, sweet red or green pepper and celery: Chopped red onion, sweet red or green pepper and celery each contribute their own color and crispness. (You can feel free to add a little more celery if you enjoy it in this type of dish.)
• Cooked pork: You’ll cut the cooked pork into 1/2-inch cubes for this recipe, but don’t worry if the pieces are a little larger.
• Frozen carrots and jarred mushrooms: Thawed sliced frozen carrots keep things easy, as does a jar of sliced mushrooms (drain and discard the liquid in the jar).
• Pork gravy: The pork gravy makes the dish extra delicious, but turkey gravy also works and is just as tasty.
• Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds umami and flavors everything nicely, and it also thins the gravy into a sauce.
• Soy sauce: Use soy sauce to bring even more flavor to the sauce for this leftover pork dish.
• Rice: Cook the rice in advance to prepare for making this dish. Oh, and leftover rice works well too.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the aromatics

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In a skillet, saute the onion, pepper and celery in the olive oil until they’re crisp-tender.

Step 2: Combine and cook the remaining ingredients

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Add the pork, carrots, mushrooms, gravy, broth, soy sauce and pepper, then bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat, then cover the skillet and let the dish simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Serve the pork mixture over warm rice.

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Leftover Pork Variations

• Add sesame oil: Add a tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan when sauteing the vegetables. The sesame oil adds a deliciously nutty aroma and flavor to the dish.
• Use chicken instead: Leftover cubed chicken breast tastes just as delicious prepared in the same way. Use chicken or turkey gravy instead of the pork gravy.
• Serve it over noodles: Leftover pork recipes would be just as tasty over lo mein noodles instead of rice. Wide egg noodles would also work.
• Use fresh veggies: Fresh mushrooms (which are technically fungi but are considered vegetables for nutritional purposes) and fresh carrots would give this dish more of a homemade flavor.
• Serve it over spaghetti squash: Spaghetti squash serves as a delicious, nutritious addition to this meal, and it naturally shreds into a noodle-like shape after cooking. Use the squash in place of rice.

How to Store Leftover Pork

When the pork and vegetable mixture cools, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to four days. If the pork is already a couple days old, subtract that time as well, as the freshness is based on when the pork was cooked the first time.

Can you freeze leftover pork?

Yes. When the dish cools, place it all in zippered storage bags, and squeeze the air out before sealing the bags and popping them in the freezer. Mark the date on each bag for future reference, and enjoy the leftover pork within three months. For the best results, freeze the dish when the pork is still relatively fresh, or within a couple days of whenever you first cooked it. Thaw the leftovers in the fridge the night before you plan to eat them.

Leftover Pork Tips

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How can I make this lower in sodium?

Choose low-sodium versions of soy sauce, gravy and broth to reduce the sodium in this leftover pork recipe. Traditional soy sauces and many broths are high in sodium, so in a recipe that includes several such ingredients, it’s helpful to choose the lowest sodium options.

Could I use leftover pork chops for this recipe?

You sure can. Just cut the pork into cubes until you have 1 cup of pork cubes. Shredded or pulled pork may be used in place of cubed pork as well.

What other type of sauce could I make for leftover pork chop recipes?

Instead of the sauce made from gravy and broth, use a little hoisin sauce, as in this hoisin pork tenderloin recipe, or even a sweet-and-sour sauce. Citrus-glazed pork chops made from orange marmalade, orange juice, Dijon mustard and several other ingredients are also a delicious way to enjoy pork leftovers.