Honey Garlic Pork

Name: Honey Garlic Pork
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup honey; ¼ cup soy (low-sodium); ¼ cup water; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 3 teaspoons garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 pounds pork loin (cut into small cubes); 1 tablespoon olive oil; ¼ cup green onions (sliced)

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Ready in roughly 20 minutes, these honey-garlic pork bites deliver juicy pork loin cubes coated in a sweet-savory sauce with garlic and a hint of red pepper flakes for a bit of spice. Serve over rice with steamed veggies for a satisfying weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

Honey Garlic Pork Bites on a bed of rice.

Pork Loin

I use pork loin often in different recipes. Recently, I found a deal at the grocery store that I just couldn't refuse. A three-and-a-half-pound pork loin was on sale for a total of $3.41. That's less than a dollar a pound. I grabbed one, brought it home, and cut it up into large boneless pork chops. I was able to get three meals out of it.

I don't always find deals this good, but buying a large pork loin is often a good idea. It's usually cheaper than already sliced pork loin chops, and if you can slice it into a few different meals, it goes a long way. You can also slice the loin into roasts.

Pork loin is different than pork tenderloin. They sound like they'd be the same because they both have the word loin in them, but they come from different areas of the pig. Both are boneless and have limited fat or marbling. A pork loin is often very large, and roughly the width of both hands circling around it. A pork tenderloin is very small and narrow, and about the size of one hand circling it.

Sliced pork loin chops on a cutting board.

Ingredients for honey garlic pork bites

Ingredients displayed in small bowls and bottles.

Pork - I used pork loin cut into thick chops and then into small, bite-sized pieces. A pork tenderloin would also work.
Honey - Sweetens the sauce.
Soy Sauce - Use a low-sodium soy sauce to prevent an overly salty sauce.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Adds a bit of tanginess to the sauce. You could also use white wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
Sesame Oil - Adds flavor and depth to the sauce.
Red Pepper Flakes - Adds a bit of spice. You can add as much or as little as you'd like to control the heat.
Garlic - A must for flavor.
Cornstarch - Thickens the sauce.

Step-by-step directions

Combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
Place one tablespoon of water in a small bowl and mix with cornstarch. Stir until smooth. Add the remaining water. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce.

Heat oil on medium-high heat in a large pan. Add pork and cook until browned. Stir to rotate and cook other side.

Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the sauce.

Thickened sauce pouring off a spoon onto pork in a pan.

Cook until simmering and the sauce thickens.
Check to make certain the pork is fully cooked, then remove from heat.
Sprinkle with green onions and serve hot.

Tips for honey garlic pork

Use a large pan to avoid overcrowding of the pork. If needed, you can cook the pork in two batches.
Allow the pork to brown for 3-4 minutes before moving it around. This helps develop a nice sear on one side, which adds flavor.
Don't overcook the pork, or it will become dry and tough.
Serve hot over rice or noodles.