Homemade Pork Chop Burgers (Meal Prep)

Meal prep in a family with kids isn't just about saving time and money, but more importantly, about planning meals that kids would actually want to eat. These pork chop burgers tick all the possible boxes. They're ready in under 15 minutes (provided you've done the homework-meal prep), packed with veggies and nutrients, and disappear from our kids' plates in seconds.

These burgers are truly homemade, from the bottom to the top. We make burger buns at home (so they're sugar-free, just as we like) and cook pork chops ahead of time, as a part of our meal prep routine, stacking them up in the fridge for busy weeknight dinners. (By the way, pulled pork and shredded beef are also great alternatives to these pork chops, so you have plenty of options to choose from!) With all the ingredients at hand, you only need 15 minutes to assemble the burgers (and, believe me, even those 15 minutes feel like forever with kids constantly checking if the burgers are ready).

For the sauce, we use our homemade sugar-free mayonnaise, combined with a bit of tomato paste or chili for extra punch.

This idea easily adapts for families who prefer sandwiches-the star of the dish remains the juicy and tender pork chop, which you can pair with the ingredients of your choice. Parents might want to add more mozzarella slices and basil for extra flavor, while pickier kids might prefer to keep it simple, skipping anything besides the meat, sauce, and cheese.

So, while you can choose your favorite ingredients, let me share our favorite combo.

Ingredients 🥘

• Burger buns (homemade or store-bought)
• Pork chops (pan-fried, per instructions available in this post)
• Mayonnaise (sugar-free mayonnaise can easily be made in 5 minutes at home, while your kids help you prepare burger ingredients)
• Sugar-free tomato paste
• Leafy greens (the crunchier the better, and we also love to add arugula for a more intense flavor)
• Fresh tomatoes (play with colors to make the burgers even more playful!)
• Cheese (Cheddar is great)
• Pickled or fresh cucumber (check the sugar content or use a fresh cucumber to stay on the safe side)
• A tiny bit of butter or olive oil to brush on pork chops while reheating, and some salt, if preferred, for extra seasoning
• (Optional) Fresh or dried chili, chili flakes, or a sugar-free chili sauce (for adults and superheroes who tolerate heat)

We also save some onion slices for the parents' burgers...

Instructions 🔪 

This is one of the simplest recipes on our blog, which basically only requires assembling the dish. However, normally the process goes like this:

1. Turn on your oven. While it's preheating, cut burger buns in half and place them on a baking sheet along with pork chops.
2. Wash and dry tomatoes (and cucumber, if using a fresh one) and leafy greens.
3. Slice the tomatoes, cheese, and the cucumber (if applicable).
4. Reheat the burger buns and the pork chops in the oven (5 minutes max).
5. Assemble the burgers by spooning some mayonnaise and a sugar-free tomato sauce onto both halves of the burger buns and then assembling the burger with all the ingredients in your preferred order. No strict rules here! However, we strongly advise placing the cheese next to the heated meat so it melts beautifully and you get to enjoy an authentic burger experience.

Extra tips:

• The mayonnaise & tomato sauce combo can be swapped for a basil pesto, adding thicker mozzarella slices for a burst of flavors and allowing you to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal. Our teenagers are absolute fans!
• I cannot imagine a burger without some onion slices. However, kids tend to think differently, and for this reason, onion isn't listed among the key ingredients. Feel free to add it, though.
• These burgers are great for lunch boxes, too. To ensure they don't become soggy, avoid using too much sauce and don't place tomatoes next to bread (or skip them altogether).