Make these juicy pork burgers on the grill, stovetop, air fryer, or oven. They’re tasty and easy to make, no matter your chosen method.
Looking for a delicious and easy-to-make pork burger? Look no further than our juicy pork burgers. They’re perfect for grilling, stovetop cooking, air frying, or baking in the oven. You can’t go wrong with any of these methods – they’ll all result in a delicious burger you can be proud to serve your friends and family.
This handy guide will show you many different cooking methods. Use the table of contents below (Click expand and click the link) to quickly jump to the section that interests you.
Why This Recipe Works
The pork and bacon provide a juicy, flavorful burger, while the breadcrumb panade help to bind the ingredients together and adds extra moisture to the meat.
Ingredient Notes
Ground Pork: We like to use ground pork for these burgers because it’s juicy and flavorful. You can substitute ground beef, turkey, or chicken if you prefer.
Bacon: We love the flavor that bacon adds to these burgers. If you’re not a fan of bacon, you can use all ground pork or substitute sausage meat.
Garlic: The fresh garlic adds a lot of flavor to these burgers. If you’re out of fresh or need a shortcut, you can use a teaspoon or two of garlic powder.
Breadcrumbs: The breadcrumbs help to bind the ingredients together and add extra moisture to the burger. We used panko breadcrumbs, but you can use any type of breadcrumbs you like best.
Internal Cooking Temperatures For Pork Burgers
Pork burgers should be removed from the heat five to ten degrees below the desired doneness. The residual heat will resume cooking the burgers as they rest.
Follow the ‘cook to’ temperatures below and rest until the meat reaches the desired doneness temperature. This will take five to ten minutes.
If your primary concern is food safety, cook the pork until well-done.
| Doneness | Cook To Fahrenheit | Rest To Fahrenheit | Cook To Celsius | Rest To Celsius |
| Medium Rare | 140 to 145°F | 145 to 150°F | 60 to 63°C | 63 to 66°C |
| Medium | 140 to 150°F | 145 to 150°F | 57 to 68°C | 66 to 68°C |
| Medium Well | 140 to 155°F | 155 to 159°F | 60 to 68°C | 68 to 70°C |
| Well Done | 150 to 160°F | 160°F | 63 to 66°C | 68°C |
Download the above Pork Temperature Table to print or save for later.
Step by Step Instructions
Mix breadcrumbs and milk in a small bowl until they are moist. Depending on the brand of breadcrumbs, you may have to add extra milk. Set aside.
Cut the bacon strips in half and add them to a food processor.
Grind the bacon until it is finely chopped.
Add the bacon to a large bowl with ground pork and breadcrumbs that have been moistened. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and the bowl.
Mix until fully incorporated and shape into quarter-pound pork patties.
Stovetop Cooking
Preheat your pan with 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat.
Cook the pork burgers on each side for two to three minutes or until they are cooked to your desired doneness (see the table above for internal cooking temperatures).
For medium doneness, cook the pork patties to 145°F/65°C and let them rest for a few minutes until they reach 150°F/68°C.
Cooking On The Grill
Set the grill to medium-high heat (375 to 400°F or 190 to 204°C) and let it heat up before putting your patties on with a bit of space between them.
Grill the pork patties until golden brown and a little charred on the bottom. You will know when to flip them when you see the juice pool on the uncooked surface.
Flip the patties and cook until they are charred and golden brown on the other side.
When they reach the desired doneness, take them off of the heat.
Cooking In The Oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C. Place the patties onto a sheet pan lined with foil or baking paper.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness.
Cooking In An Air Fryer
Preheat the Air Fryer to 375°F/190°C and grease the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Add the pork patties in a single layer.
Cook in the preheated fryer for 6 minutes. Flip the patties and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
While your burgers rest, you can toast your buns if desired. See my Hamburger recipe post for detailed instructions.
Serve these pork burgers for your next dinner and watch them disappear! They’re that good. And don’t forget to top them with your favorite toppings – cheese, bacon, burger onions -Yum!
Erren’s Top Tips & Variations
- This recipe makes 8-quarter pound pork patties, but you can make larger burgers to suit your preference.
- To keep the pork patties from puffing up during cooking, form a small indention on the surface of the patty before cooking.
- If you’re not a fan of bacon, you can use all ground pork or substitute sausage meat.
- When cooking on the stove, It’s best to use a grill pan or cast iron skillet, as nonstick surfaces won’t provide you with the same crisp sear.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to measure the internal temperature to be sure the pork is properly cooked.
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Let’s Make Pork Burgers
Ingredients
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ lb bacon
- 2 lbs ground pork
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs and milk until moist. Add extra milk if needed. Set aside.
- Cut the bacon into small pieces. Use a food processor to grind it until it is finely chopped. Add the bacon to a large bowl with ground pork and breadcrumbs that have been moistened.
- Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and the bowl and mix until fully incorporated.
- Shape into eight quarter-pound pork patties.
On The Stove
- Preheat your pan with 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Cook the pork burgers on each side for two to three minutes or until they are cooked to your desired doneness.
- To make pork burgers with cheese, add sliced or shredded cheese directly to the patties when they are almost done cooking. Cover the pan for about a minute to melt the cheese.
On The Grill
- Set the grill to medium-high heat (375 to 400°F or 190 to 204°C) and let it heat up before putting your burgers on. Make sure they aren’t touching each other.
- Grill the pork patties until golden brown and a little charred on the bottom. You will know when to flip them when you see the juice pool on the uncooked surface.
- Flip the patties and cook until they are charred and golden brown on the other side. When they reach the desired doneness, take them off of the heat.
- To make cheeseburgers, add sliced or shredded cheese directly to the patties when they are almost done. Close the grill for about a minute to melt the cheese.
In The Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C
- Place the patties onto a sheet pan lined with foil, baking paper, or on a pan rack.
- Form a small indention on the surface of the patty to avoid puffing as it cooks.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness.
- To make cheeseburgers, add sliced or shredded cheese directly to the pork patties a few minutes before taking them out of the oven. Place the pan back in the oven for about a minute to melt the cheese.
Air Fryer
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 375°F/190°C and grease the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the pork patties in a single layer.
- Cook in the preheated fryer for 6 minutes. Flip the patties and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness.
Finishing Touches
- While your burgers rest, you can toast your buns if desired.
- Top with your favorite toppings before serving.
Tips + Notes
- Use an instant-read thermometer to measure the internal temperature to be sure the pork is properly cooked. If your primary concern is food safety, cook the pork until well-done.
- The temperature of the meat will continue to rise as it rests, so be sure to take that into account when deciding when to take them off of the heat. For a temperature guide, see the table in the post. For medium doneness, cook the pork burgers to 145°F/65°C and let them rest for a few minutes until they reach 150°F/68°C.
- This recipe makes 8-quarter pound pork patties, but you can make larger burgers to suit your preference.
- To keep the pork patties from puffing up during cooking, form a small indention on the surface of the patty before cooking.
- If you’re not a fan of bacon, you can use all ground pork or substitute sausage meat.
- When cooking on the stove, It’s best to use a grill pan or cast iron skillet, as nonstick surfaces won’t provide you with the same crisp sear.
Hillary says
I love the step-by-step instructions in this recipe. It made it so easy to follow and the end result was delicious.
Erren Hart says
Thank you for leaving a comment about this recipe. Your feedback is appreciated, and I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future recipes. Thanks again for trying it out and sharing your thoughts!
Mona T says
This is a phenomenal pork burger recipe! I’ve been making them since you first posted the recipe and my family goes mad for them! Thanks, Erren!
Erren Hart says
Thank you, Mona, for this amazing pork burger recipe! We’ve been loving them too. 🙂
Kelly Armstrong says
I really enjoyed these pork burgers! The bacon added a lot of flavor, and the pork was nice and juicy. Overall, I thought they were really good and would definitely make them again.
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad to hear it! Thank you for trying out this recipe and for leaving such a positive review. We’re glad you enjoyed it and hope you’ll come back again soon!
Zelda F says
I’m not usually a huge fan of pork burgers, but I have to say, these burgers were quite delicious! The bacon gave them a nice smoky flavor, and making them on the grill added a nice char. I would definitely make these again.
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying our recipe and for leaving such a positive review. We’re glad you enjoyed it!
Debrah says
I absolutely love this recipe! The pork and bacon make them so darn tasty! This has quickly become one of my go-to recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying our Pork Burgers recipe, Debrah! We’re so happy to hear that you love it. The pork and bacon do make them flavorful and delicious. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
zoe says
I made these and your sea breeze cocktails for a family party today. They were just delicious! 😋 Thanks for all the tips!
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed the cocktails! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂