Easy Ground-Pork Dinner

Mix ground pork with flavorings and add-ins. For example, make Cajun-style burgers by mixing ground pork with chopped celery, chopped bell peppers, tangy chili sauce and seasonings such as cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Alternatively, make Caribbean-style burgers with a tropical flavor by mixing grated lime peel, red pepper flakes and allspice into the ground pork. For burgers with a Greek flair, blend the pork with Greek yogurt, oregano, basil and garlic. Make Southwestern burgers by mixing creamy chipotle dressing and finely chopped onion into the ground pork.

You can cook ground pork patties in a heavy skillet on the stovetop. Use a paper towel to rub a bit of canola or olive oil on the skillet to prevent the pork from sticking to the pan. Alternatively, cook the pork patties on an indoor or outdoor grill. Coat the grill with oil or nonstick cooking spray first to make removal easier. Use a meat thermometer and cook the pork until the center of the patties registers at least 145 degrees.

Serve the patties on traditional, toasted hamburger buns spread with creamy tomato and bacon dressing or choose from a range of other flavorful options. For example, serve on crusty sourdough bread, sturdy ciabatta bread or sliced focaccia. Brush the bread with olive oil, then brown the ground pork sandwiches in a panini grill or in a heavy skillet. For a lighter meal, serve the ground pork patties in whole-grain pita bread.

Pair your ground pork burgers with a vegetable such as lightly steamed broccoli or asparagus to make a complete, healthy meal. If you like cole slaw, make an easy version with packaged slaw and bottled cole slaw dressing. For Greek-style burgers, serve a packaged green salad dressed with feta cheese, chopped cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. Serve the burgers with sliced red onions on the side. Provide lime or lemon wedges, especially with Caribbean-style pork burgers, as the citrus brings out the flavors of the pork.

An apple-based dessert is a fitting finish for a ground pork meal. Keep things simple and light with plain applesauce or heat the applesauce and serve it over vanilla ice cream. Alternatively, serve apple spice cake or cheesecake with an apple topping.