Sweet and Spicy Pork Stir Fry
Perfect to serve over rice, this Sweet and Spicy Pork Stir Fry includes pork sausage, tender veggies, and a tangy sauce. The result is a quick and satisfying stir-fry dish that's easy to make for a quick dinner any night of the week!
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No need to order takeout this week! Make this pork stir fry yourself right in your own kitchen. With a tangy orange pork sauce and healthy veggies, this is a fantastic all-in-one dish that's guaranteed to please your family and keep everybody full and happy!
Why This Recipe Works
Because it comes together mostly in one pan, this stir fry dish is incredibly convenient and low-stress. It combines fresh veggies with common pantry ingredients and results in a flavorful meal. This stir fry goes a long way, especially when paired with some steamed white rice or jasmine rice. The leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day too!
And if you can't get enough stir fry but want to try it with a different protein, try my Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir Fry, Easy Beef Stir Fry, or this Sweet and Spicy Chicken Stir Fry!
Ingredients Needed
- Soy Sauce: Gives your stir fry sauce a nice umami flavor.
- Fresh Orange: You can use bottled orange juice if it's easier, but I prefer to add fresh squeezed orange juice for best flavor!
- Brown Sugar: Balances the savory and spicy ingredients with some sweetness.
- Sesame Oil
- Garlic and Ginger: Fresh garlic and fresh grated ginger will give you the best flavor, but you can use jarred minced garlic or garlic paste and ginger paste for a shortcut.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a nice amount of spicy heat.
- Cornstarch: Adding a cornstarch slurry to your stir fry ensures the sauce thickens up to the perfect consistency!
- Ground Sausage: Spicy pork sausage or sweet pork sausage are both great options!
- Olive Oil
- Vegetables: I add zucchini, onions, and zucchini to my pork stir fry.
How to Make this Orange Pork Stir Fry
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch.
- Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, then add the pork and cook until mostly browned.
- Step 3: Add onion and red bell peppers and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes or until soft, then add the zucchini as well and cook for a minute or so.
- Step 4: Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the sauce. Bring it to a simmer and cook for a couple of minutes, until everything is heated through and the sauce is thickened up.
Recipe Tips
- Garnish with parsley, sesame seeds, or green onions.
- Add more vegetables like green beans, broccoli, bok choy, green peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, asparagus, or anything else you have around.
- You can also make this with another kind of ground meat, like regular ground pork, or ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef.
- Store leftover stir fry in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or in a wok or skillet over the stove.
- You can also freeze your leftovers for several months, then allow them to thaw in the fridge before you reheat.
Recipe FAQ's
I recommend using brown sugar, whether it's light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. White sugar might make the sauce too sweet, so if it's all you have, add it sparingly. You can also add some molasses with the white sugar to make up for the missing brown sugar flavor.
Yes, if you want to control the amount of cooking for both the pork and veggies, you could cook them separately and mix them together with the sauce. I like to cook them in the same pan for quicker cooking time and less cleanup!
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Sweet and Spicy Pork Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 large oranges juiced about 1/2 cup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium zucchini cut into 1/4 inch slices
Instructions
- In a small bowl add the soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch and whisk until combined and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet or wok on medium-high heat and add the sausage, break it into crumbles, and cook until browned about 5-6 minutes.
- Add in the diced onions and red peppers and cook another 2-3 minutes. Add in the zucchini and cook another 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the sauce let simmer for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce is thickened.
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onions enjoy!
Hi Cathy just an error all fixed 🙂
Your recipe calls for olive oil but nowhere in the directions do you say where to add the olive oil?
I used a country sausage
What kind of sausage did you use to make this dish?
You certainly can use that or country sausage, or a hot sausage.
This looks so tasty - I am trying this tonight 🙂
Is the pork sausage breakfast sausage?