Szechuan Green Beans and Ground Pork is a spicy and sweet recipe that is ready in 20-minutes! Ground pork in an Asian style recipe makes a quick and easy meal everyone will love!
Weeknights are busy at our house and I love meals ready in under 30-minutes.
Szechuan Green Beans and Ground Pork is made in 20-minutes and packed with delicious asian inspired flavors.
I love to use ground pork in Asian recipes because it becomes so tender when it cooks and soaks up the flavors from the sauce. This recipe is a hoisin and soy based sauce that is lightly sweetened and spiced with red-chili flakes.
I love the fresh green beans in this recipe as well. They pair perfectly with the pork, and I love the entire dish poured over freshly cooked rice.
Ingredients
- ground pork- ground chicken, turkey, beef, or plant based work too
- cornstarch
- salt
- ground black pepper
- canola oil
- fresh garlic
- fresh green beans
- hoisin sauce - this gives the sauce a salty and sweet flavor. The flavor comes from fermented soy beans.
- sugar
- crushed red pepper
- low-sodium soy sauce
Substitutions
Ground chicken, beef, turkey, or a plant based meat substitute are great alternatives to ground pork.
Pea pods, sliced cabbage, or asparagus are also great alternative for the green beans, or can be added to the stir-fry as well.
Honey, maple syrup, or agave are delicious alternatives to the sugar.
Garlic powder or pre-minced garlic also work in place of the fresh chopped garlic.
Instructions
- Gently mix pork, cornstarch, salt and pepper by hand in a medium bowl.
- Heat the oil in a large rimmed skillet over medium heat.
- Add pork, beans, and garlic to the skillet. Cook until pork loses is not longer pink and crumbles, about 7-8 minutes. The green beans will brighten in color and start to soften.
- While pork cooks, whisk hoisin, sugar, red pepper and soy sauce in a bowl. Pour soy mixture into the pork and green beans. Cook 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to heat and thicken. Serve with rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to use cornstarch with the ground pork?
The cornstarch helps thicken the sauce. It is optional, but the sauce will not thicken and will be more watery. The flavor will still be delicious, but the look will be slightly different.
My green beans are slightly crunchy? Do I need to cook them longer?
No, the cook time for this recipe allows for the green beans to have a small crunch left. If you want them softer you can cook the green beans longer.
Can I use sesame or peanut oil?
Yes, both work well and will give great flavor.
Can I use chopped pork, like tenderloin or chops?
Yes, but I recommend chopping the pork very small if you are cooking it with the green beans. If you want larger pieces cook the pork for a few minutes before adding the green beans. This method will also result in you having a little more sauce because it will not soak into the pork as it does when the meat is ground.
Looking For More Stir-Fry Recipes?
Spicy Pork with Asparagus and Chili
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Szechuan Green Beans and Ground Pork
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb ground pork
- 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 2 cloves fresh garlic cloves minced
- 2 ½ cups 1-inch cut fresh green beans
- 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
Instructions
- Gently mix pork, cornstarch, salt and pepper by hand in a medium bowl.
- Heat the oil in a large rimmed skillet over medium heat.
- Add pork, beans, and garlic to the skillet. Cook until pork loses is not longer pink and crumbles, about 7-8 minutes. The green beans will brighten in color and start to soften.
- While pork cooks, whisk hoisin, sugar, red pepper and soy sauce in a bowl. Pour soy mixture into the pork and green beans. Cook 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to heat and thicken. Serve with rice.
Notes
Asian Inspiration
- Asian Chicken Slaw Salad by Making Miracles
- Asian Inspired Broccoli Slaw by Art of Natural Living
- Potsticker Sloppy Joes by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Pan-Fried Cabbage and Noodle Buns by Magical Ingredients
- Pork and Shrimp Pad Thai by That Recipe
- Pork Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Szechuan Green Beans and Ground Pork by Cheese Curd In Paradise
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This recipe was originally published in 2015 and was updated in 2021 for reader enhancement and enjoyment.
Hezzi-D
I'm always looking for quick and easy recipes. I'm so tired after work and it's hard to cook with a 3 year old. This meal sounds perfect!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
This looks so good! I wish I hadn't used up all my green beans!
Radha
Sweet and spicy yum! who wouldn't love this delicious bowl! Thanks for the recipe, I would love to make a vegan version of this.
Christie
I always forget about ground pork when I'm making the dinner menu. I will have to try this next time! It looks delicious!