This Easy Pork Stir Fry is a weeknight dinner lifesaver! It’s a quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal that’s packed with tender pork, crisp-tender vegetables, and a delicious savory sauce. I love how customizable this recipe is – you can use your favorite vegetables and adjust the spice level to your liking. It’s a great way to get a balanced and satisfying meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Pork Stir Fry
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes, this stir-fry is perfect for busy weeknights.
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with lean protein and fresh vegetables, it’s a wholesome and satisfying meal.
- Flavorful Sauce: The combination of soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic creates a delicious savory sauce with a hint of sweetness.
- Customizable: Use your favorite vegetables or protein.
- One-Pan Meal: Everything cooks in one skillet or wok, making cleanup a breeze.
Ingredients for Pork Stir Fry
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious stir-fry. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Stir Fry Sauce
- Low-sodium beef broth (Liquid)
- Low-sodium soy sauce (Condiment)
- Rice vinegar (Acid)
- Sesame oil (Flavoring)
- Honey (Sweetener)
- Garlic, minced (Aromatic)
- Grated ginger (or ginger paste) (Aromatic)
- Mirin (optional) (Flavoring)
- Crushed red pepper (Spice)
- Cornstarch (Thickener)
Pork Stir Fry
- Vegetable oil (Oil)
- Pork tenderloin, sliced into very thin strips (Meat)
- Yellow onion, diced (Vegetable)
- Broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces (Vegetable)
- Red bell pepper, sliced julienne (Vegetable)
- Carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks (Vegetable)
- Sliced green onions (Garnish)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Variations
I love this Pork Stir Fry as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Use Different Protein: Try using chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu instead of pork.
- Add More Vegetables: Toss in some mushrooms, snap peas, snow peas, or bok choy.
- Make it Spicy: Add more crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha to the sauce.
- Add Nuts: Top with toasted sesame seeds or chopped peanuts for added crunch.
- Pineapple: Add pineapple.
How to Make Pork Stir Fry
Let me show you how easy it is to make this Easy Pork Stir Fry:
Prepare the Sauce
- In a medium bowl, I whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, mirin (if using), red pepper, and cornstarch. I set this aside.
Cook the Pork
- I heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- I add the pork and cook until it’s seared and browned on the bottom.
- I flip the pork and cook until it’s browned on the other side.
- I plate the pork and cover it to keep it warm. I work in batches so as not to crowd the pan, adding more oil if needed.
Stir-Fry the Vegetables
- I heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat.
- I add the onion, broccoli, and red bell pepper.
- I stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
- Then add the carrots
- I add the carrots and continue cooking and stirring for another 1-2 minutes, or until everything is crisp-tender.
- I plate the vegetables (but I don’t cover them, so they stay crisp).
Thicken the Sauce and Combine
- I whisk the sauce that was set aside and add it to the skillet over medium-low heat.
- I cook, whisking frequently, until the sauce is thickened.
- I add the pork and veggies back to the skillet and toss to warm everything through and coat it in the sauce.
Serve
- I garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Stir-Fry
Here are my secrets for making this stir-fry truly amazing:
- Slice the Pork Thinly: Slicing the pork thinly ensures it cooks quickly and evenly.
- Use a Large Skillet or Wok: A large skillet or wok gives you plenty of room to stir-fry the ingredients without overcrowding.
- Prep Everything in Advance: Stir-fries cook quickly, so it’s important to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.
- Don’t Overcook the Vegetables: The vegetables should be crisp-tender, not mushy.
- Adjust the Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings to your liking. Add more honey for sweetness, soy sauce for saltiness, or red pepper flakes for heat.
How to Serve
This Pork Stir Fry is delicious served with:
- Rice: White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice are all great options.
- Noodles: Serve it over your favorite noodles, like lo mein, udon, or rice noodles.
- Lettuce Wraps: For a low-carb option, serve it in lettuce cups.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the sauce and chop the vegetables ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator. Leftover stir-fry can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or in the microwave.
FAQs about Pork Stir Fry
- Can I use a different cut of pork?
- Yes, you can use pork loin or pork chops, but pork tenderloin is the most tender option for stir-frying.
- Can I make this without the mirin?
- Yes, you can omit the mirin. It adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor, but the stir-fry will still be delicious without it.
- What if I don’t have fresh ginger?
- You can use 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
Enjoy this Easy Pork Stir Fry! It’s a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
PrintEasy Pork Stir Fry
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Main Course, Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Description
This flavorful and healthy Pork Stir Fry is quick, easy, and customizable! Tender strips of pork tenderloin and crisp-tender vegetables are tossed in a savory and slightly sweet stir-fry sauce.
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry Sauce:
- 1/4 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or ginger paste)
- 1–2 tablespoons mirin (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Pork Stir Fry:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin, sliced into very thin strips
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced julienne (thin strips)
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, mirin (if using), red pepper flakes, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Cook Pork: Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the sliced pork tenderloin and cook until seared and browned on the bottom. Flip the pork and cook until browned on the other side and cooked through. Remove the pork from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Stir-Fry Vegetables: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the diced onion, broccoli florets, and sliced red bell pepper. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Add the carrots and continue to stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside on a separate plate (do not cover, to keep them crisp).
- Thicken Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Whisk the reserved stir-fry sauce again to recombine the ingredients. Pour the sauce into the skillet. Cook, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked pork and vegetables to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Toss gently to combine and warm through. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately.
Notes
- Pork Tenderloin: Pork tenderloin is a lean and tender cut of pork that’s perfect for stir-frying. You can substitute pork loin, cut into thin strips, if you prefer.
- Vegetables: Feel free to use other vegetables in this stir-fry, such as mushrooms, snow peas, snap peas, or baby corn.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preference.
- Mirin: Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine. If you don’t have it, you can omit it or substitute it with a mixture of 1 tablespoon sake and 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve this pork stir-fry over rice, noodles, or quinoa.