Moo Shu Pork (Freezer Friendly)
The next time you’re craving Chinese, skip the take out and make it at home! With the help of this make-ahead Moo Shu pork recipe, you can prepare your favorite restaurant dinner in under 30 minutes. And since this freezer-friendly recipe can be prepared in advance, it’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal for your family. Just prep the ingredients ahead of time and keep everything in the freezer until you’re ready to satisfy your Chinese take-out cravings.
If you’re looking for other Chinese takeout inspired recipes, you might be interested in our Beef and Broccoli Sheet Pan, Mahjong Chicken, and Moo Shu Beef Lettuce Wraps.
Moo Shu Pork Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger, minced
- 3 cups shredded cabbage (or use coleslaw bag)
- 1 cup Shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- Splash of olive oil
For day of cooking:
- 3 green onions, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup radishes, sliced
- Chinese pancakes or tortillas
Assembly Instructions:
- Place the pork in a large resealable freezer bag.
- Whisk together the orange juice, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame sauce, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Pour half the marinade mixture into the bag with the pork chops. Squeeze the ingredients together in the bag to mix, then remove excess air and seal the bag.
- Pour the remaining marinade into a quart sized freezer bag, remove excess air from the bag and seal it.
- In a third bag, combine the cabbage and mushrooms with a splash of oil. Seal this bag, then staple all three bags together above the fold.
- Place the bags flat in the freezer until you’re ready to cook your moo shu pork.
Cooking instructions:
- When you’re ready to start cooking the pork, transfer the ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
- Warm a large skillet over medium heat and add the pork. Fry the pork until the meat is browned and cooked through.
- Remove the pork from the pan and set it aside, then add the cabbage and mushrooms to the skillet.
- Saute the vegetables until they start to brown, then add the pork back to the pan along with the sauce. Stir to mix.
- Top with chopped green onions and sliced radishes before serving with Chinese pancakes or tortillas.
What is Moo Shu Pork Sauce Made of?
This popular Chinese dish is packed with flavor thanks to the delicious marinade and sauce. But just because this flavorful sauce is a staple in many restaurants, doesn’t mean it’s difficult to make. All you need are a few common ingredients to whip up your own moo shu sauce at home, including:
- Soy sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Sesame sauce
- Orange juice
- Garlic
- Ginger
Moo Shu Pork Recipe Ideas
This quick and easy dinner recipe is so versatile because you can easily swap out some of the ingredients to make it your own. Try these substitution ideas to create a delicious meal – no matter what ingredients you have on hand.
- Use coleslaw mix. Chopping cabbage is a great way to add freshness to your meal. But if you’re short on time, you can also use a bag of coleslaw mix to make your moo shu pork. While green cabbage is a classic ingredient in this dish, you can also use a mix of green and purple cabbage, too.
- Try it with other mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms have quite a bold flavor, so if you prefer something milder or less “mushroomy”, try using button, crimini, or oyster mushrooms instead.
- Serve with flour tortillas. While traditional moo shu pork is served with Mandarin pancakes, making a fresh batch from scratch isn’t always an option. To help speed up your prep work for dinner, try serving your pork and veggies with flour tortillas instead.
- Make it with chicken. In addition to pork, this simple Chinese inspired recipe can also be prepared with chicken. Cut your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into bite-sized pieces, then follow the instructions for freezing and preparing the meal.
- Mix in more vegetables. Cabbage and mushrooms are classic vegetables found in Moo Shu pork. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add more to your own meal! Try mixing in some bean sprouts, carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, corn, green beans, bell peppers, or onions.
How Do I Store Moo Shu Pork?
Everyone in the family is going to love this Chinese take-out dinner. But even if it’s a family favorite, you may have some leftovers when dinner is through. Any extras should be stored in the refrigerator. Allow the leftovers to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. The Moo Shu pork will stay good for up to three days.
You can also store the cooked leftovers in the freezer. After making sure the dinner is cooled completely, transfer everything to an airtight container or freezer bag. The pork will stay good in the freezer for up to two months.
To reheat the leftovers, make sure to thaw them completely. Then, warm them in the microwave or in a skillet over medium low heat until the meal is warmed through.
What to Serve with Moo Shu Pork?
Since this easy Chinese dish is made with protein and veggies, it’s a full meal that’s ready to serve. But if you want to add some side dishes to your dinner, there are several recipes that pair perfectly with your pork and cabbage. Try serving your moo shu pork with some of these sides to put together a delicious dinner for your family.
- Mandarin pancakes
- Flour tortillas
- Crepes
- White or brown rice
- Lettuce cups
- Fried rice
- 1 lb. boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. sesame sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp. ginger minced
- 3 cups shredded cabbage or use coleslaw bag
- 1 cup Shiitake mushrooms sliced
- splash olive oil
- 3 green onions chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup radishes sliced
- Chinese pancakes or tortillas
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Place the pork in a large resealable freezer bag.
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Whisk together the orange juice, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame sauce, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Pour half the marinade mixture into the bag with the pork chops. Squeeze the ingredients together in the bag to mix, then remove excess air and seal the bag.
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Pour the remaining marinade into a quart sized freezer bag, remove excess air from the bag and seal it.
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In a third bag, combine the cabbage and mushrooms with a splash of oil. Seal this bag, then staple all three bags together above the fold.
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Freeze.
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Thaw.
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Warm a large skillet over medium heat and add the pork. Fry the pork until the meat is browned and cooked through.
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Remove the pork from the pan and set it aside, then add the cabbage and mushrooms to the skillet.
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Saute the vegetables until they start to brown, then add the pork back to the pan along with the sauce. Stir to mix.
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Top with chopped green onions and sliced radishes before serving with Chinese pancakes or tortillas.
Note: Shiitake mushrooms have a strong flavor, so if you're not a fan, feel free to substitute your preferred mushroom type.
