Pork Burger Meal Prep

TL;DR: This Pork Burger Meal Prep layers seasoned pork patties, grilled eggplant, zucchini, tomato, lettuce, fried eggs, and a simple homemade pesto for a satisfying burger-inspired meal without a traditional bun. It works especially well for keto, Whole30, paleo, and gluten-free meal prep, with a few simple storage tricks to keep everything tasting fresh.

When I want a burger for meal prep but don't want the usual bun-and-cheese situation, this Pork Burger Meal Prep is one of those recipes that proves a little creativity goes a long way.

Instead of a traditional bun, thick rounds of grilled eggplant hold a seasoned pork patty, zucchini, tomato, lettuce, pesto, and an egg. You still get the satisfying layers and flavors of a burger, but with plenty of fresh vegetables built right into the meal.

It's also a flexible option if you're looking through our Whole30 meal prep recipes or want more ideas from our Keto recipe collection. Even better, it makes four servings, so one cooking session can take care of several lunches or dinners.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It makes vegetables part of the burger. Eggplant takes the place of the bun, while zucchini, tomato, and lettuce add even more fresh flavor.
• It's protein-forward. Each serving provides 39 grams of protein based on the original recipe nutrition information.
• It works for several eating styles. The recipe is designed to be keto, paleo, Whole30, and gluten-free.
• The homemade pesto adds plenty of flavor. Basil, walnuts, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic give the burger a rich finishing touch without dairy.
• It's easy to adjust for meal prep. If grilled eggplant won't hold up long enough for your schedule, fresh eggplant or lettuce can be used instead.

This is also a good reminder that meal prep doesn't have to mean eating the exact same chicken-and-rice combination every week. Recipes are tools. When I find one that fits my schedule and gives me a few easy ways to adjust it, it becomes much easier to stay consistent.

Summarize this Recipe or Get Macros

Ingredients

For The Whole30 Pesto

• 4 cups fresh basil
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons walnuts
• Minced garlic, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste, about ⅛ teaspoon or more as desired

For The Pork Burgers

• 1 pound ground pork
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 eggplant, cut into ½-inch round slices
• ½ zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, for grilling
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 4 lettuce leaves
• 4 eggs, cooked to your liking
• Olives, optional

How To Make Pork Burger Meal Prep

The original recipe brings together grilled vegetables, pork patties, pesto, and eggs. I like to prep the individual components first and then assemble everything once they're ready.

Step 1: Make The Pesto

Combine the fresh basil, olive oil, lemon juice, walnuts, garlic, and sea salt until you have a pesto consistency you like.

Taste and adjust the garlic or salt as needed. Since this pesto does a lot of the flavor work in the finished burger, this is a good place to season according to your preference.

Step 2: Season The Pork

Combine the ground pork with the sea salt, thyme, paprika, and black pepper.

Divide the mixture into four portions and shape them into burger patties.

Step 3: Prep The Vegetables

Slice the eggplant into ½-inch rounds and cut the zucchini into thin slices.

Lightly coat the vegetables with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Step 4: Cook The Burgers And Vegetables

Cook the pork patties until completely cooked through.

Grill the eggplant and zucchini until they reach the texture you prefer. The eggplant rounds will act as the burger "bun," so I like them cooked enough to become tender while still being sturdy enough to hold the other ingredients.

Step 5: Cook The Eggs

Prepare one egg for each burger.

If you're eating the burgers right away, you can cook the eggs however you prefer. For meals that will spend several days in the refrigerator, the original recipe recommends fully cooking the eggs because undercooked eggs may not store as well and can discolor after a few days.

Step 6: Assemble

Layer each pork patty with grilled eggplant, zucchini, tomato, lettuce, pesto, and an egg.

Add olives if desired.

You can assemble the entire burger before storing it, but I usually get better results when I keep some of the wetter or more delicate ingredients separate until it's time to eat.

How To Store This Meal Prep

If you're wondering how to store this meal prep, the main thing to think about is the eggplant.

According to the original recipe, grilled eggplant held up for about 3 days in meal prep containers. If you need your meals to last closer to four days, consider using fresh eggplant or lettuce instead of grilled eggplant as the burger wrap or bun.

For best results:

• Store the pork patties and cooked vegetables in meal prep containers.
• Keep lettuce separate when possible so it stays crisp.
• Store pesto separately if you don't want the vegetables to become softer.
• Fully cook eggs that will be refrigerated for several days.
• Add fresh tomato and lettuce after reheating the warm ingredients when possible.

That small amount of separation can make a noticeable difference. It takes an extra minute during prep, but it gives you more control over texture when lunch rolls around.

How To Reheat Pork Burgers

The best way to reheat this meal prep is to warm the cooked pork and vegetables separately from the fresh toppings.

Microwave

Remove the lettuce, tomato, pesto, and any other ingredients you want to keep cool before reheating.

Warm the pork patty and cooked vegetables until heated through, then rebuild your burger with the cold toppings.

Oven

You can also warm the cooked pork and grilled vegetables in the oven until heated through.

Again, add the lettuce, tomato, and pesto after the warm components are ready. Keeping hot and cold ingredients separate is one of the easiest ways I've found to make reheated meal prep taste more like a freshly assembled meal.

Nutrition Facts

The original recipe provides the following nutrition information per serving:

• Protein: 39 grams
• Fat: 45 grams
• Calories: Not provided in the original recipe
• Carbohydrates: Not provided in the original recipe
• Fiber: Not provided in the original recipe

Rather than estimate the missing values, I've kept this section limited to the nutrition information supplied with the original recipe.

Helpful Tips And Ingredient Swaps

Use Lettuce For Longer Meal Prep

Grilled eggplant is tasty, but it was found to last around three days in the original meal prep testing.

If you're preparing four days of meals, lettuce can be an easier option for the final serving.

Keep The Pesto Separate

Pesto adds richness and moisture, which is great when you're eating the burger but not always ideal when it sits against vegetables for several days.

A small condiment container lets you add it right before eating.

Fully Cook Eggs For Make-Ahead Meals

A runny yolk can be great when you're eating the burger immediately. For several days of storage, however, the original recipe recommends fully cooking the eggs.

Check Your Condiments

Mustard can work with this meal, but if you're following Whole30, check the label for added sugar and make sure the specific product fits the requirements you follow.

Build The Burger Around Your Schedule

This is the part of meal prep I think matters most. You don't have to prepare every serving exactly the same way.

If you're eating one burger tomorrow and another several days later, use the grilled eggplant first and save the lettuce version for later in the week. That's a small adjustment that can help the same recipe work better across several days.

FAQs

Is This Pork Burger Meal Prep Whole30?

The original recipe was designed to be Whole30 compliant. It uses a dairy-free homemade pesto and skips the traditional burger bun and cheese.

As always, check packaged condiments and individual ingredients for anything that doesn't fit the version of the program you're following.

Is This Recipe Keto-Friendly?

Yes. This pork burger meal prep was created as a keto-friendly option and uses eggplant instead of a traditional bread bun.

Is This Pork Burger Meal Prep Paleo?

The recipe is also designed to fit a paleo eating style because it avoids the traditional dairy and bread components you'd find in many burgers.

How Long Does Grilled Eggplant Last For Meal Prep?

The original recipe notes that the grilled eggplant lasted around three days.

For a fourth meal-prep day, fresh eggplant or lettuce may be a better option.

Can I Cook The Eggs Sunny Side Up?

You can if you're eating the burger right away. The original recipe especially likes the combination of pork with a rich egg yolk.

For meals stored for several days, though, fully cooked eggs are recommended because they hold up better in storage.

Final Thoughts

This Pork Burger Meal Prep is a good example of why I like thinking of meal prep as a flexible system instead of a rigid weekly routine.

You can use grilled eggplant when you'll eat the meal within a few days, switch to lettuce when you need something to hold up longer, and keep the pesto and fresh toppings separate so reheating is easier. One recipe can still work across several days without every container needing to look exactly the same.

That kind of flexibility makes meal prep easier to repeat, and repeatable is what matters.

If you love this recipe, check out the Workweek Lunch Meal Planner to make healthy meal prep simple and stress-free all week long.