Sweet and Spicy Pork

by Kelsey Romano on March 14, 2025

Tender ground pork, crunchy cucumber salad, and tangy sweet & sour sauce – These sweet and spicy pork bowls are the perfect easy weeknight meal. They take less than 30 minutes and only a handful of wholesome ingredients to throw together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredibly easy to make.
The perfect weeknight meal.
All you need is one pan.
It is made with wholesome ingredients.
The sweet and spicy combo is truly unreal.
It’s a great option for meal prep.

ingredients for sweet and spicy pork bowls

Ingredients & Substitutions

Ground pork. You will need 1 lb of organic ground pork for these sweet and spicy pork bowls.
Sesame oil. Sesame oil will be used for the pork and also for the cucumber salad.
Coconut aminos. Coconut aminos will be used for the pork and for the cucumber salad. You can also use tamari to keep it gluten free or soy sauce if gluten isn’t an issue.
Rice vinegar. Rice vinegar is used for the pork and the cucumber salad.
Honey. Honey is what gives this recipe the little bit of sweet. If using coconut aminos you won’t need as much honey but if you are using tamari or soy sauce, up the honey. You can sub maple syrup.
Cucumbers. 4 Persian or mini cucumbers, thinly sliced are needed for the cucumber salad.
Rice. 1 cup of jasmine or long grain white rice, cooked according to package.
Avocado. 1 avocado, diced, is used in the cucumber salad.
Cilantro. These sweet and spicy pork bowls are topped with fresh cilantro to elevate the flavor even more.
Red pepper flakes. Red pepper flakes add the perfect amount of spice to this dish.

How to Make

Step 1

Make the cucumber salad. Add coconut aminos, sesame oil, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes, and honey to a small bowl and mix until fully combined. In a bowl, add cucumber and avocado then toss with the sauce mixture. Set cucumber salad aside.

Step 2

Make the ground pork mixture. In a large skillet, add oil and heat at a medium high heat. Add the pork and break up. Cook until browned. Add in coconut aminos, sesame oil, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes, and honey. Mix to combine the pork and the sauce. Cook another 5-7 minutes at a low heat, this gives the sauce time to thicken slightly. Add in water if needed to thin the sauce slightly if needed.

Step 3

Assemble the sweet and spicy pork bowls. Add rice, ground pork, and cucumber salad to a bowl then top with fresh cilantro. Enjoy!!

Expert Tips

These sweet and spicy pork bowls are best served with rice and fresh cilantro. Pour extra sauce from the cucumber salad over the pork and rice for a flavor blast!
I highly recommend swapping the water for bone broth when cooking the rice! This adds nutrients and protein, plus it gives such incredible flavor to the rice.
This bowl would also be delicious served with pickled veggies or kimchi.
If you aren’t a fan of pork you can sub with ground beef or ground chicken.

Is this recipe gluten free?

Yes! These sweet and spicy pork bowls are gluten free because you are using coconut aminos. You can also use tamari for gluten free friendly. If you use soy sauce it will no longer be gluten free.

What if I don’t like pork?

If you aren’t a fan of pork you can easily sub ground beef or ground chicken instead!

Would these make a good meal prep?

Absolutely! These would be delicious as meal prep. The flavor in the cucumber salad actually gets better as it sits. If possible, store the cucumber salad and pork separately so you can reheat the pork and keep the salad cool.

How do I store these?

Store pork in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Store the cucumber salad in a separate container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.