Ground Pork Burgers with Creamy Homemade Burger Sauce
These juicy ground pork burgers with homemade burger sauce are an easy dinner for two, loaded with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, sliced onion, pickles and plenty of cheese. The pork patties cook up tender and juicy, but the real star here is the creamy burger sauce. It’s tangy, a little sweet, loaded with finely chopped pickles and good enough that we ended up dipping the fries into it too.
Since this was dinner for two, we each picked our own favourite cheese for the burgers. It’s an easy way to make the same dinner a little different without doing any extra work.
Short Description
These ground pork burgers with homemade burger sauce are juicy, cheesy and loaded with crispy bacon, lettuce, onion and pickles. The creamy, tangy burger sauce really makes them. We also serve extra sauce on the side because it is just as good for dipping the fries.
Why It’s Good
What I like about these ground pork burgers is how juicy the pork stays while still getting nicely browned in the pan. The bacon adds a little crunch, and the pickles and onions cut through the richness.
The homemade burger sauce is probably my favourite part. It is creamy, tangy and full of little bits of pickle. Since we were making dinner for two, we each chose our own favourite cheese. Simple, but it made everyone happy.
When to Serve It
These easy pork burgers with creamy burger sauce are perfect for a casual weeknight dinner, Friday night comfort food or an easy weekend meal. They also work well for a small summer BBQ.
Serve them with fries, potato wedges or a simple salad, and definitely make a little extra burger sauce for dipping.
How to Make Ground Pork Burgers with Creamy Homemade Burger Sauce
Fresh ground pork is the base of these juicy homemade pork burgers. At this stage, the pork is ready to be gently mixed with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Keeping the mixing light helps the ground pork burger patties stay tender and juicy instead of becoming dense.
Cook the ground pork burger patties in a hot skillet until they develop a nicely browned crust, then flip and continue cooking until the pork is cooked through. Add your favourite cheese during the last minute or two so it melts right over the hot patties.
For dinner for two, we each chose a different cheese, which is an easy way to personalize these homemade pork burgerswithout making two separate meals. The browned edges and melted cheese make a big difference in both flavour and texture.
Fresh Toppings for Ground Pork Burgers
Crispy bacon, fresh lettuce and sliced onion add plenty of flavour and texture to these ground pork burgers. The smoky bacon works especially well with the juicy pork patties, while the cool lettuce and crisp onion help balance the richness of the cheese and creamy homemade burger sauce. It is a simple combination, but it makes the finished pork cheeseburgerfeel loaded without being complicated.
Add Plenty of Homemade Burger Sauce
Soft sesame seed hamburger buns are the perfect base for these ground pork burgers, especially with a generous layer of creamy homemade burger sauce. Spreading the sauce right onto the bun helps get that tangy, pickle-packed flavour into every bite. I like using a little more than I think I need—the sauce is one of the best parts of this pork burger recipe.
Tips and Tricks
Handle the ground pork gently. Mix the seasonings in just until combined. Overworking the meat can make your ground pork burgers dense instead of tender and juicy.
Shape the patties slightly larger than the buns. Pork burgers shrink a little as they cook, so starting with a wider patty helps the finished burger fit the bun better.
Make a small indentation in the centre. Pressing a shallow dip into each pork burger patty helps it cook more evenly and keeps it from puffing up too much in the middle.
Use a hot skillet. A properly heated pan gives the homemade pork burgers a nicely browned outside and adds a lot more flavour.
Try not to flip the burgers repeatedly. Let the patties develop a good crust before turning them. One good flip usually works best.
Cook ground pork thoroughly. The centre of each burger should reach 160°F (71°C) before serving.
Add the cheese near the end. Place your favourite cheese on the burgers during the last minute or two of cooking so it melts nicely over the hot pork patties.
Choose your own cheese. Since we were making dinner for two, we each picked our favourite. Cheddar, marble, Monterey Jack or Swiss all work well with these juicy ground pork burgers.
Make the homemade burger sauce first. Letting the sauce sit for 10 to 15 minutes gives the pickle, mustard and seasonings a little time to blend together.
Make extra burger sauce. We spread it generously over the buns and serve more on the side with the fries. The creamy homemade burger sauce is one of the best parts of this recipe.
Juicy Ground Pork Burger with Bacon and Cheese
This juicy ground pork burger is piled high with melted cheese, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, sliced onion and tangy pickles on a sesame seed bun. The pork patty stays tender while the salty bacon, creamy cheese and crunchy toppings add plenty of flavour and texture. Finished with our creamy homemade burger sauce, this is the kind of easy homemade burger that feels a little extra special without being complicated.
This creamy homemade burger sauce is what really pulls the whole pork burger together. It is rich, tangy and packed with little bits of pickle, with just enough seasoning to give it that classic burger-shop flavour.
We make enough to spread generously over the buns and still have extra for dipping fries. The sauce also tastes even better after sitting for 10 to 15 minutes, which gives all those flavours a little time to blend.
Ground Pork Burger with Creamy Burger Sauce and Fries
This juicy ground pork burger with creamy homemade burger sauce is the kind of dinner that really comes together once everything hits the plate. The pork burger is loaded with melted cheese, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, onion and pickles, then served with golden fries and plenty of extra sauce for dipping. The homemade burger sauce is rich, tangy and full of pickle flavour — and honestly, dipping the fries into it might be just as good as putting it on the burger.
Variations
- Change the cheese. These ground pork burgers work with cheddar, marble, Monterey Jack, Swiss or pepper Jack. Since this was dinner for two, we each chose our own favourite cheese, which made the burgers feel a little more personal without adding extra work.
- Make the burger sauce spicy. Stir a little hot sauce, cayenne or finely chopped jalapeño into the creamy homemade burger sauce for extra heat. Start small. It is easy to add more.
- Add more pickle flavour. If you like a tangier burger sauce, add a little extra chopped dill pickle or another splash of pickle juice. We like being able to actually taste the pickle in the sauce.
- Try caramelized onions. Swap the fresh sliced onion for caramelized onions if you want a sweeter, richer pork burger. They work especially well with bacon and melted cheese.
- Leave off the bacon. The bacon adds a nice smoky crunch, but these juicy pork burgers are still really good without it. Add extra pickles or onion for more texture.
- Add tomato. A thick slice of fresh tomato gives the burger a lighter, juicier bite and balances the richness of the pork, cheese and sauce.
- Toast the buns. Lightly butter and toast the sesame buns before assembling the burgers. It adds flavour and also helps keep the homemade burger sauce from soaking into the bread too quickly.
- Serve the sauce different ways. This sauce is not just for burgers. Use it as a dipping sauce for fries, potato wedges or even roasted potatoes. We usually make extra because it disappears pretty quickly.
Storage Tips
- Store the pork burgers separately. Keep leftover ground pork burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Storing the toppings separately helps everything stay fresher.
- Keep the burger sauce chilled. Transfer the creamy homemade burger sauce to a sealed container and refrigerate it for about 4 to 5 days. Give it a quick stir before using it again.
- Don’t assemble burgers ahead of time. Once the sauce, lettuce and pickles sit on the bun for too long, the bread can get soft. For the best texture, store each part separately and assemble the pork burgers just before serving.
- Reheat the pork patties gently. Warm leftover burgers in a skillet over medium-low heat or briefly in the microwave until heated through. Adding the cheese during reheating helps bring back that fresh pork cheeseburger feel.
- Store bacon separately too. Crispy bacon can soften in the refrigerator, so keep it in its own container and reheat it briefly before adding it back to the burger.
- Freeze the cooked patties if needed. Cooked ground pork burgers can be wrapped well and frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Make the sauce ahead. The homemade burger sauce is actually a good make-ahead part of this recipe. A little time in the fridge lets the pickle, mustard and seasonings blend together even more.
Ground Pork Burgers with Creamy Homemade Burger Sauce
Equipment
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Mixing bowl
- Small bowl for burger sauce
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Burger spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Meat thermometer
- Small whisk or spoon for mixing the sauce
Ingredients
Creamy Homemade Burger Sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons dill pickles finely chopped or dill pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Pinch black pepper
Ground Pork Burgers
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 slices cheese your favourite varieties
- 2 sesame seed hamburger buns
- 4 slices bacon cooked until crisp
- Lettuce leaves
- Sliced white or sweet onion
- Dill pickle slices optional
- Butter or oil for toasting the buns - optional
Instructions
- Make the burger sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, finely chopped dill pickles, pickle juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the burgers.
- Season the ground pork. Place the ground pork in a mixing bowl. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Shape the patties. Divide the pork mixture into 2 equal portions and shape into patties slightly wider than the hamburger buns. Press a small indentation into the centre of each patty.
- Cook the pork burgers. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes, or until the burgers are browned and the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Add the cheese. During the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking, place your favourite cheese on each burger. Cover the skillet briefly if needed to help the cheese melt.
- Toast the buns. Lightly toast the sesame seed buns in the skillet or under the broiler, if desired.
- Assemble the burgers. Spread a generous layer of creamy homemade burger sauce over the buns. Add lettuce, the cheesy ground pork patties, crispy bacon, sliced onion and dill pickles.
- Serve. Top with the remaining bun and serve immediately with fries and extra homemade burger sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Do not overmix the ground pork. Mix the seasonings in just until combined so the pork burger patties stay tender and juicy.
- Shape the patties a little wider than the buns. Ground pork burgers shrink slightly as they cook.
- Use a meat thermometer. Cook the ground pork burgers until the centre reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Choose your favourite cheese. Cheddar, marble, Monterey Jack, Swiss or pepper Jack all work well. For dinner for two, using different cheeses is an easy way to personalize each burger.
- Make the burger sauce first. Giving the creamy homemade burger sauce 10 to 15 minutes to sit helps the pickle, mustard and seasonings blend together.
- Add extra pickle juice for more tang. Start with a small amount, taste, then adjust. It can quickly become too sharp.
- Toast the buns if you can. Lightly toasted sesame buns hold up better under the juicy pork burger and creamy sauce.
- Make extra sauce. The homemade burger sauce is excellent on the burger, but it is also really good as a dipping sauce for fries.
- Keep toppings cold and crisp. Add the lettuce, onion and pickles just before serving so the finished pork cheeseburgerhas a nice mix of hot, juicy and crunchy textures.
- Serve right away. These ground pork burgers with creamy homemade burger sauce are best while the patties are hot, the cheese is melted and the bacon is still crisp.
Nutrition
Ellen Britt
Hi, I’m Ellen — a passionate home cook dedicated to creating easy, flavorful recipes inspired by real-life cooking and shared family traditions. Every recipe on this site is a true collaboration, developed and tested together in our kitchen to ensure it’s reliable, simple to follow, and absolutely delicious.
Serve these juicy ground pork burgers with creamy homemade burger sauce alongside our Creamy Classic Coleslaw for an easy burger dinner with a fresh, crunchy side.
