We all know how satisfying it is to make great pork tenderloin, ribs, or a roast — but the end of the meal creates a new quandary: what do you do with the leftover pork? Contrary to what you might think, it's not that difficult. How to repurpose your meal is where real cooking creativity comes into play, so let us present to you our favorite pork chop soup recipe…

With this recipe, you'll discover how the natural bold flavor of pork gives this hearty soup a lift that a vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup just can't get. It's a dinner recipe to warm you up on a cold winter night or a midday restorative for a long work week. Throw all the ingredients in a large pot and let it simmer on the stove for a couple hours, or turn it into a slow-cooker recipe and let it percolate for an afternoon. This foolproof recipe transforms your favorite comfort food into an easy meal to warm you up again and again.

The Health Benefits of Pork

Pork is a great option if you're on a low-carb diet or trying to up your protein intake. The protein percentage of leaner cuts of pork can be as high as 89 percent! Pork also provides valuable vitamins and minerals that make pork recipes worthy endeavors.

Pork has high levels of thiamin and niacin, which other types of meat like beef and lamb lack. They are both B-vitamins that aid in several body functions such as metabolism and cell function. Pork also delivers a healthy amount of zinc, which aids in brain and immune system function. That makes digging into this pork chop noodle soup all the more alluring.

Recipe Variations

This pork soup recipe can be adapted to many diets. If you're following a low-carb or ketogenic diet, you can modify the recipe to suit you by leaving out the noodles. If you like, you can add a little crunch by topping it with French-fried onions. For cheese lovers, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese can give the soup more body and extra umami flavors.

If you're not a noodle lover, this soup recipe works equally well as a potato soup with diced potatoes. If you want to make a southwestern or Mexican version, add a can of diced tomatoes and bell peppers for a little extra depth. If you have a penchant for spicy soups, add a little chili powder or red pepper flakes. It's up to you!

This recipe is great for using up leftover pork chops, but you can make this soup using fresh chops —however you decide to do it, you won't be disappointed.