Grill Perfection: The Juiciest Ground Pork Burger Recipe

Grill Perfection: The Juiciest Ground Pork Burger Recipe

Are you looking for a mouthwatering twist on the classic ground beef burger? Try this Juicy Grilled Pork Burger recipe! Made with tender and flavorful ground pork, these burgers are perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, resulting in juicy and delicious patties. Add your favorite burger toppings and serve on toasted hamburger buns. These pork burgers are sure to satisfy your cravings and be a huge hit with your whole family!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I love a good burger. I’ve made all sorts of burgers and shared them here on this blog! Ground beef, of course, is a gold standard for burgers, like in this Cordon Bleu burger recipe. But other ground meats make great burgers too. For example, this recipe for BBQ Cheddar Turkey Burgers is a family favorite topped with zesty barbecue sauce and onion rings. I’ve also used ground chicken to make burgers, like in this recipe for Chicken Burgers flavored with teriyaki sauce.

Like ground turkey and ground chicken, ground pork is a nice change from ground beef in burger recipes. When sold packaged in the grocery store, lean ground pork generally has a lean-to-fat ratio of 85/15. This is good news! It means it will produce flavorful and juicy pork burgers. Ground pork is packed full of protein too. A 4 oz. burger made with lean ground pork will provide about 20-25 grams of protein! And perfect pork burgers are so easy to make!

Simple and Versatile

This is a simple pork burger recipe that can be easily adapted to your own tastes. It makes the perfect base for all your favorite condiments. This pork burger recipe produces a juicy and flavorful burger, whether you choose to grill it like I did or cook it stove-top in a grill pan, skillet, or air fryer basket. Pork burgers make an easy meal for busy weeknights that is also economical. It’s basically everything you want in a winning recipe!

These grilled pork burgers start with one pound of ground pork. A little panko bread crumbs and mayonnaise are mixed in for texture and the mixture is seasoned with salt and black pepper, then hand-shaped into four pork burger patties. They are then grilled over medium-high heat until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F as registered on an instant-read meat thermometer. Allow them to rest for 3-5 minutes before dressing up with your favorite toppings!

How To Make Easy Pork Burgers

1. Start by adding one pound of ground pork to a medium bowl or large bowl (big enough to mix the ground pork with the other ingredients). Add in panko bread crumbs, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. (Find the complete ingredient list with amounts below in the recipe card.) With freshly washed clean hands, combine the ingredients to form a homogeneous ground pork mixture. Wash hands again.
2. Divide the ground pork mixture into 4 equal parts. Form each section into patties. To keep pork from sticking to your hands, use wet hands to form patties. I do like to put a small indent in the middle to keep the patties from puffing up. I get very little puffiness when I grill the pork patties with this recipe though.
3. Pre-heat your grill to medium-high. Once it’s to temperature, keep one side of your grill at a medium-high temperature and turn off the burners on the opposite side. This creates a hot and cool side of the grill.
4. Grill the burgers on the hot side for about 5-10 minutes with the lid closed. With today’s lean ground pork, you shouldn’t get flare-ups. It’s always good to keep a spray bottle of water handy to spritz them if they do occur.
5. Once the burger is browned with grill marks on one side and it doesn’t stick to the grill grate, flip the burger and cook for about 5-8 minutes with the lid closed or until the internal temperature of the middle of the pork burger registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read meat thermometer. Cooking to 160 degrees F will ensure that the pork burgers are safe to eat and that you will have juicy ground pork burgers. (If the burger sticks to the grate, it’s not ready to flip). If not adding cheese, remove from the grill to a platter when they reach temperature (160 degrees F) and let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
6. If you are topping your pork patties with cheese, once they are fully cooked, move them over to the cool side of the grill. Top each burger with a slice of cheese, then lower the lid. They are ready when the cheese is melted. It won’t take long for this to happen, so watch them closely.

Variations and Toppings for Pork Burgers

Additional Flavor Ideas for Your Pork Mixture:

• Garlic Powder
• Chopped fresh herbs: such as sage (goes well with pork), thyme, rosemary (you could also use dried herbs here)
• 1 tsp. of your favorite BBQ seasoning (I am currently in love with this Garlic and Chili Pepper Traeger Rub)
• A little soy sauce
• A little Worcestershire sauce
• A dash or two of hot sauce

Topping Ideas for Your Pork Burgers:

• Cheese (cheddar, swiss, American, blue, etc.)
• Lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion
• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Sauerkraut (my favorite is this Beet Kraut from Cleveland Kitchen)
• Sauteed apples (apples and pork — YUM!) and cheddar cheese
• Sliced ham, swiss cheese, and mustard (like a Cuban sandwich!)
• Barbecue sauce
• Caramelized onions

Honestly, any way you top it, you will have the perfect burger!

How to Cook Pork Burgers in the Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange raw pork burger patties in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 7-8 minutes, then flip, and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of pork burgers is 160 degrees F as registered on an instant-read meat thermometer. Let rest for 3-5 minutes on a paper-towel-lined plate before adding toppings.

How to Cook Pork Burgers on the Stove-top in a Grill Pan or Skillet

Preheat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle with about a teaspoon of olive oil. Add raw pork burgers to the pan. Cook on one side for 5-6 minutes, then flip and continue to cook until the internal temperature of pork burgers is 160 degrees F as registered on an instant-read thermometer. Let rest for 3-5 minutes on a paper-towel-lined plate before adding toppings.

How to Toast Buns for Pork Burgers

Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil onto the hot pan. Place buns, cut side down, and swirl into the hot oil. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until buns are golden brown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store leftover pork burgers?

Store fully cooked pork burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze raw pork burgers?

If you’ve made the burgers from fresh, never-before-frozen ground pork, you can freeze them and then allow them to thaw before cooking. If you are making pork burgers from previously frozen ground pork, cook the burgers before freezing.

How do ground pork burgers taste compared to ground beef burgers?

Honestly, they taste amazing! My husband actually prefers them over beef burgers. The fat content in ground pork is suited to making the perfect burger. Moist and flavorful!

What can I serve with pork burgers?

My Sweet and Tangy Amish Style Macaroni Salad goes perfectly with these pork burgers. This Firecracker Coleslaw adds a punch of extra flavor to your meal, and these Crispy Oven-Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges would make a great accompaniment too!

More Ground Pork Recipes to Love

• Asian Style Pork Meatballs in a Sweet Asian BBQ Sauce
• Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Ground Pork Meatballs
• Ground Pork Carnitas Tacos

I’ve partnered with my friends at Ohio Pork Council to create this delicious recipe and blog post for you. Make sure to visit OhioPork.org for more delicious pork recipes!

Juicy Grilled Ground Pork Burger Recipe

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 14 min
Total Time: 24 min

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1/3 cup plain panko bread crumbs
• 1 TBSP. mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. BBQ seasoning (optional – but gives great flavor!)

Instructions:

1. Add ground pork to a medium or large bowl (big enough to mix the ground pork with the other ingredients). Add in panko bread crumbs, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. With freshly washed clean hands, combine the ingredients to form a homogeneous ground pork mixture. Wash hands again.
2. Divide the ground pork mixture into 4 equal parts. Form each section into patties. To keep pork from sticking to your hands, use wet hands to form patties. I do like to put a small indent in the middle to keep the patties from puffing up. Wash hands again.
3. Preheat your gas grill to medium-high. Once it’s to temperature, keep one side of your grill at a medium-high temperature and turn off the burners on the opposite side. This creates a hot and cool side of the grill.
4. Grill the burgers on the hot side for about 5-10 minutes with the lid closed. With today’s lean ground pork, you shouldn’t get flare-ups.