Looking for convenient weeknight dinners that don’t sacrifice flavor? Pork freezer meals can cover a broad range of cuisines and styles — often with just a few ingredients.
Pork is the most popular meat in the world due to its adaptability and affordability. Many freezer meals with pork are made with slow cookers and Instant Pots, and they deliver great taste without a lot of pre-meal prep.
How to Prepare Freezer Pork Meals
Making pork meals to freeze is easy when you have time on Sunday night. You can batch-cook pork and other ingredients, making multiple pork freezer meals. Since very little weeknight prep is required, the time you gain can be substantial.
Find containers specifically made for freezer use. Cheaper, low-quality food storage containers leave pork freezer meals susceptible to freezer burn.
Freezer Pork Meals for the Whole Family
Here are 11 of our favorite pork freezer meals to try. Since most of them can be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, these meals are a snap to prepare.
1. Garlic Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fry
Traditional ingredients like soy sauce and rice vinegar make this stir-fry a savory treat.
Serves 6
Ingredients for Freezing:
- 2 1/4 lb pork tenderloin
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 3/4 tbsp sugar
- 3 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/3 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 white or yellow onions, diced
- 2 green or red bell peppers, diced
Ingredients at Preparation:
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 3 tsp canola oil
Directions:
- Trim fat off tenderloin and cut into cubes. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and pepper flakes in a medium bowl and whisk. Put pork, sauce, and vegetables into 3 separate 1-quart freezer bags. Remove air from each bag, seal, and freeze.
- To prepare: Thaw completely in refrigerator. Discard liquids from pork bag, if necessary. Add cornstarch to pork bag and shake to coat the meat.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook for about 10 minutes. Add vegetables and sauce to skillet and stir-fry until vegetables are cooked.
2. Pork Carnitas
A staple of summer barbecues, carnitas are one of the easiest pork freezer meals to assemble.
Ingredients:
- 4 lb pork shoulder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp refined palm or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chipotle chile powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 12 garlic cloves
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 cup water
- Juice of 2 limes
Directions:
- Cook the pork shoulder in a slow cooker or Instant Pot until browned. Shred the meat and place in freezer container. Combine other ingredients and put into a jar, leaving at least a third of the jar empty for liquid to expand as it freezes. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To prepare: Defrost pork and broth overnight. Preheat oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spread shredded pork across it. Broil for 5-7 minutes.
- Heat broth on stove or in microwave, toss with pork, and serve.
3. Pulled Pork With Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce
A mustard-based sauce makes this classic a tangy delight.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 2 lb boneless pork shoulder roast
- 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tbsp granulated garlic
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 tbsp salt
Sauce:
- 3/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Cayenne powder, to taste
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Dash of hot sauce, if desired
Directions:
- Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl. Coat pork shoulder all over with dry mix.
- Combine all remaining ingredients and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Place pork in 1-gallon freezer bag. Add 1 cup of sauce, remove air, and seal. Put remaining sauce in jar, leaving space at the top. Freeze.
- To prepare: Defrost pork and sauces in refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Place pork and sauce in slow cooker and heat on low for 8 hours.
- Remove pork to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Place back in slow cooker, add remaining jar of sauce, and heat on high for 30 minutes. Serve as-is or on slider buns with coleslaw.
4. Keto Pulled Pork
The whole gang will love this low-carb option for freezer meals with pork.
Ingredients:
- 2 lb pork butt chopped into larger chunks
- 1/2 cup sugar-free ketchup
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar swerve or golden monkfruit sweetener
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt more to taste
- 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (added on day of cooking)
Directions:
- Label your 1-gallon-sized plastic freezer bag. Make sure to include name, instructions, and a use-by date (I recommend 90 days after prep date).
- Add all ingredients except the 1/4 cup of chicken broth to your freezer bag. Stir gently to combine.
- Remove air, seal, and freeze.
Crockpot Instructions:
- Thaw the freezer meal overnight in the fridge.
- Transfer contents into Crockpot.
- From thawed, add broth then cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
- When done cooking, shred or slice the meat then mix with the sauce.
Instant Pot Instructions:
- From frozen, sauté in Instant Pot for 5 minutes then flip the meal over. Add broth then pressure cook for 40 minutes on high. Allow natural release (15-20 minutes).
- From thawed, add broth then pressure cook for 35 minutes on high. Allow natural release (15-20 minutes).
- When done cooking, shred or slice the meat and mix with the sauce.
- TIP: Serve warm over cauliflower rice or your favorite low-carb rolls. Top with some avocado, fresh chopped cilantro, and more BBQ sauce, if desired.
5. Tangy Pork Chops
Apple cider vinegar pairs naturally with several freezer pork meals, including this one.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 6 bone-in pork loin chops
- 2 tsp canola oil
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 small onion, sliced thinly
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced into rings
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. In batches, brown the chops in canola oil in a large nonstick skillet. Coat a 13” x 9” glass baking dish in cooking spray and transfer the chops to it.
- Melt butter in the same skillet. Add celery and chopped onion and saute until onion is translucent. Add remaining ingredients except sliced onion and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Turn heat to medium-low, cover pan, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until liquid reduces by about one-third.
- Pour mixture over browned chops and top with sliced onion and pepper rings. Cover and bake the pork chops for 20-25 minutes or until pork reaches 145° on a thermometer.
- To prepare: Thaw chops in refrigerator overnight. Add chops to medium saucepan and cover. Reheat the chops, stirring occasionally. Add a few tablespoons of water if too dry.
6. Bone-In Pork Shoulder With Cranberry Sauce
This surprisingly satisfying pork dish uses just four ingredients.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 lb bone-in pork shoulder
- 15 oz whole berry cranberry sauce (1 can)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup dried minced onion
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a 1-gallon freezer bag. Squeeze out air, seal, and gently turn bag a few times to combine.
- To prepare: Add all ingredients, still frozen, to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours. Alternately, add all frozen ingredients to an Instant Pot with a half cup of water and pressure-cook on high for 60 minutes. Serve sliced pork with sauce in the pot.
7. Tuscan Style Pork Tenderloin
This Italian-inspired classic is richly filling.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin
- 1/4 tsp crushed fennel seeds
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
- Place pork in 1-gallon freezer bag. Add remaining ingredients. Massage the bag so the spice mix covers the pork tenderloin entirely. Remove air, seal, and freeze the contents for up to 4 months.
- To prepare: Thaw pork tenderloin overnight in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400°. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork tenderloin in skillet, about 2-3 minutes each side. Place skillet in oven and cook pork for 20-30 minutes, or until pork reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°.
8. Pork Schnitzel
Schnitzel as a pork freezer meal? Believe it or not, it works.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin, cut at angles into 4 pieces
- 1 1/2 cup plain or panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Put each cutlet between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Pound each cutlet to between 1/4 and 1/8 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place breadcrumbs and flour into separate shallow dishes. Beat eggs with oil in a third shallow dish. Arrange dishes to form an assembly line.
- Dredge each cutlet in flour and shake off excess. Then, dip in egg mixture. Finally, dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing gently to coat the cutlet completely. Wrap each cutlet individually in plastic wrap. Transfer to a container or 1-gallon freezer bag and freeze.
- To prepare: Heat 2 cups of frying oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to 375° over medium-high heat. Fry cutlets two at a time until golden brown. Flip cutlets on a paper towel-lined dish several times to remove excess oil. Serve with lemon and parsley garnish.
9. South of the Border Pork Chop Casserole
Taco seasoning gives this dish a classic taste.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 6 pork loin chops, 1/2-inch thick
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3/4 cup long-grain rice, cooked
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions:
- Place loin chops in individual freezer bags. Combine tomato sauce, bell pepper, cooked rice, and taco seasoning in a small bowl; transfer to freezer-safe jar. Freeze all items.
- To prepare: Partially thaw ingredients in refrigerator overnight. Grease a 13” x 9” baking dish and fill with sauce ingredients. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°.
- Meanwhile, cook loin chops in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes each side. Season and keep chops warm. When casserole is cooked, remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese, set chops on top, and bake at 350° for 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
10. Honey-Dijon Pork Chops
One of the most elegant pork meals to freeze is this honey-mustard delight.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 4 thick-cut pork chops
- 4 large red potatoes, cut into cubes or wedges
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp raw honey
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh green beans
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients except broth into 1-gallon freezer bag. Mix and freeze.
- To prepare: Place contents into slow cooker, add chicken broth, and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
11. Instant Pot Kalua Pork
This recipe is inspired by the whole-hog tradition of Hawaiian barbecue.
Serves 5
Ingredients:
- 2 lb pork shoulder or butt
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Directions:
- Pierce pork all over with a carving fork. Rub liquid smoke, salt, pepper, and olive oil into pork. Pour chicken broth into freezer-safe bag and add pork. Freeze for up to 90 days.
- To prepare: Add ingredients to Instant Pot along with 1/2 cup of water. Seal and set pressure cooker to “manual” for 90 minutes. Serve with cooked rice.
Enjoy These Freezer Pork Meals
We hope these freezer meals with pork have inspired you to set some time aside next weekend. Having pork meals to freeze and heat up for nightly dinners saves time, money, and effort — while offering all the taste of freshly made food. Perhaps you’ll be encouraged to turn some of your own family favorites into pork freezer meals!
