Chorizo is a heavily flavored pork sausage (except when its not). In the United States, “chorizo” usually means a spicy, raw Mexican fresh sausage that gets its red color from chile peppers. In Europe, it usually refers to a hard, smoked sausage that has been cured or not. The red color comes from Spanish paprika, also known as pimentón. There is traditional pork chorizo on the market today, but there are also beef, chicken, lamb, and veal chorizos, as well as a growing number of vegan chorizos that can be used in many chorizo recipes.
Mexican chorizo is a fresh and uncured version of Spanish chorizo. Fresh sausage meat is combined with pork fat, vinegar, chiles, and other spices. Its stuffed in casings, then air-dried for up to a week. Mexican chorizo is a remarkably versatile ingredient. The vinegar adds a sour note, the chiles add heat, and the pork adds a richness to the flavor.
Most of the time, you can’t switch between Spanish and Mexican chorizos, but chorizo with clams is one example of a dish that works with either. There are a lot of different ways to use chorizo. You can use vegan or beef chorizo wherever pork chorizo would normally be found. Chorizo can be used in a lot of different ways in Mexican food and even in food that isn’t Mexican, like corn soup or breakfast tacos.
Since there are so many brands, how do you know which ones are the best? Let’s look at chorizo products, from not-so-great to great.
Chorizo is a type of sausage that originated in Spain and Portugal and is now popular in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. It’s made from coarsely chopped pork and pork fat and is seasoned with smoked paprika (pimentón) and garlic
But chorizo also comes in a beef variety, which is commonly found in Mexico and Southwestern U.S cooking So which one is better – pork or beef chorizo?
I’ve done a thorough comparison of these two types of chorizo to help you determine which one to use for your next recipe. Read on to find out about the differences in taste, texture, nutrition, fat content, and best uses for pork vs beef chorizo!
An Overview of Chorizo
Before diving into the pork vs beef debate, let’s start with a quick overview of what chorizo is:
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Chorizo is a seasoned sausage originating from Spain and Portugal.
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The traditional Spanish chorizo is made from pork and is cured, fermented, and smoked.
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Mexican chorizo is made from fresh (uncured) pork and is spiced with chili peppers. It has a loose, crumbly texture.
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Beef chorizo is also popular in Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. It has a firmer texture than pork chorizo.
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Both pork and beef chorizo get their signature red-orange color from paprika and chili powders.
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Other seasonings in chorizo may include garlic, oregano, cumin, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Now let’s look at how pork and beef chorizo compare in several categories:
Taste and Texture
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Pork chorizo has a distinctly smoky, salty, and spicy flavor. It has a soft and crumbly texture that falls apart during cooking.
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Beef chorizo has a meatier flavor with milder spice notes. It has a denser, firmer texture that holds its shape better during cooking. The texture is similar to ground beef.
So if you want a bolder, more intense chorizo flavor, go for pork. But beef chorizo can be a good choice if you don’t want the sausage to dominate the dish.
Nutritional Value
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Pork chorizo is higher in calories, fat, and cholesterol compared to beef chorizo. A 3 oz serving of pork chorizo contains around 290 calories, 26 grams of fat, and 80 mg cholesterol.
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Beef chorizo is lower in calories and fat. A 3 oz serving of beef chorizo has about 190 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 60 mg cholesterol.
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Both are high in protein with around 13-18 grams per 3 oz serving. Beef has a bit more protein on average.
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Pork chorizo contains more monounsaturated fat. Beef chorizo contains more polyunsaturated and saturated fat.
So beef chorizo is the leaner, lighter option if you are watching your fat and calorie intake.
Fat Content
The fat content is one of the biggest differences between pork and beef chorizo:
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Pork chorizo has a fat content ranging from 30-45%. It’s on the higher end for sausages.
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Beef chorizo has a lower fat content of around 20-30%. It provides a meatier texture with less greasiness.
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Pork chorizo’s high fat content makes it very flavorful, but the texture can be greasy if too much fat is rendered out during cooking.
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The lower fat beef chorizo has a pleasant meaty texture without being overly greasy.
So if you want to limit fat, go with beef chorizo. But pork fat adds tons of flavor if that’s your priority!
Best Uses in Cooking
How you plan to use chorizo in recipes can help determine whether pork or beef is the better choice:
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Pork chorizo is perfect for authentic paella, stews, soups, baked eggs, stuffed peppers, chili, and Mexican dishes. The soft texture blends nicely.
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Beef chorizo holds its shape better in tacos, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, pasta sauce, and casseroles. The firmer texture stands up to mixing and baking.
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Pork chorizo works better as a standalone sausage because it has that characteristic crumbly texture.
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For dishes where you want the texture of crumbles or ground meat, beef chorizo integrates more seamlessly.
So consider the texture and fat content you want in your final dish when deciding between pork or beef chorizo.
Price Differences
When comparing prices, pork chorizo tends to be more expensive than beef:
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On average, pork chorizo costs $6-8 per pound
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Beef chorizo averages around $4-6 per pound
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You may also find deals on bulk beef chorizo packs since it has more widespread use.
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Organic, artisanal, or imported Spanish chorizo can cost significantly more for both beef and pork.
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For everyday cooking, beef chorizo delivers excellent value, especially when bought in bulk.
So beef chorizo can save you a couple bucks per pound if you use it frequently.
Which One Is More Authentic?
If authenticity is important to you, traditional Spanish-style chorizo is made from pork. The dry-cured, fermented sausages you find in Spain are always pork-based.
Beef chorizo originated later as a Mexican interpretation that substituted beef for the higher cost imported Spanish pork chorizo.
So if you want true Spanish-style chorizo for dishes like paella, go with pork. But both beef and pork chorizo can be considered authentic depending on the cuisine.
Is One Healthier?
When it comes to nutrition, beef chorizo is the healthier option:
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It’s lower in calories, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol compared to pork chorizo.
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Beef provides more protein and iron with less fat per serving.
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The saturated fat content is almost half that of pork chorizo.
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For those limiting sodium, watch out for high salt levels in both varieties.
If you’re looking for a heart-healthy sausage, beef chorizo is the way to go. But as with any processed meat, it should still be eaten in moderation.
The Verdict: Pork vs Beef Chorizo
So is pork or beef chorizo better after considering all the differences?
Here’s a quick summary of the main pros for each type:
Pork Chorizo Pros:
- More authentic flavor
- Soft, crumbly texture
- Higher fat content adds flavor
- Works well in stews and soups
Beef Chorizo Pros:
- Lower in fat and calories
- Firm texture for tacos, sandwiches
- Milder spice level
- Less expensive than pork
In my opinion, pork chorizo wins for providing the most authentic chorizo flavor and texture. But beef chorizo is no slouch, offering a great alternative with a healthier nutrition profile.
The spicy, fatty flavor of pork chorizo is hard to replicate. But if you want a lower fat, meatier-tasting version, reach for beef chorizo. It’s ideal for recipes where you want the texture of ground meat.
And you really can’t go wrong mixing it up and using both pork and beef chorizo in different dishes! The variety keeps your palate excited and adds versatility to your recipes.
So try out both types of chorizo and decide which one suits your tastes and cooking style the best. The most important thing is to have fun and experiment with new flavors. ¡Buen provecho!
Simple Truth Meatless Chorizo
The simple truth about the plant-based “Meatless Chorizo” product from Simple Truth — Krogers plant-based food product line — is that it is not chorizo. Its not Mexican chorizo any more than Spanish chorizo (and its definitely not that). The reason its not chorizo isnt due to its lack of pork (or beef, chicken, lamb, or veal). It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact it is a vegan product.
Simple Truths product doesnt look like chorizo. It does not eat like chorizo or cook like meat-based chorizo. Most importantly, the sausage doesnt even taste like chorizo. The wheat-based, meatless “chorizo” from Simple Truths is more like a chorizo-inspired hot dog that has fond memories of a Cinco de Mayo party where it had fun and developed a slight liking for sombreros. This take on meatless chorizo is, at best, Mexican-ish. If one really wants to press the envelope, its possible to see it as a good product. Its just not a good rendition of chorizo.
El Mexicano Chorizo
El Mexicanos pork, beef, and soy chorizo (sometimes called “soyrizo”) offer good acidity and saltiness up front with a layer of chile flavors behind. The fundamental problem with El Mexicanos chorizos is that the products lack texture. They literally fall apart almost as soon as they hit the pan, leaving a massive pool of fat where — mere moments ago — there had been chorizo. If the oil slick produced by this chorizo were petroleum on the ocean surface, seagulls would be imperiled. Dont get us wrong: rendered chorizo fat can and should be a feature of good chorizo, not a flaw. However, when the rendered fat to residual meat ratio ventures into the stratosphere, theres a problem.
Of course, one persons problem can be anothers boon: strain and harvest that chorizo fat. The next morning, you could use it to make chorizo fried eggs or fry up a batch of hash browns. Frankly, anything that you can make with oil is a candidate to be made better with chorizo fat. Get creative! It might even make an excellent mayonnaise.
Cantellas boasts that their chorizo is “[m]ade from fresh pork shoulder (no by-products are ever added),” and it shows. It was one of the two meatiest chorizos tested and offered a solid texture and good chile flavors. What the product lacks, though, is fat. It has, in essence, exactly the opposite problem of El Mexicanos chorizo. While the fat content of the latter was too high, Cantellas did not offer enough. “Low fat” may be marketing gold in some circles, but chorizo generally does not travel in that vicinity. Indeed, arguably, it should not.
Because of this, Cantellas is not a good choice for many chorizo-based dishes, like chorizo tacos (like breakfast tacos) or enchiladas, or other dishes that highlight the richness of the sausage meat. You could also use chorizo in your next Bolognese to make it taste like it came from another continent. The flip side is that Cantellas is a good choice for dishes emphasizing chorizos meatiness and chile flavors. Another good choice is clams with chorizo. Huevos con chorizo or chorizo hamburgers could also be good.
CHORIZO | Mexican Survival Guide
What is the difference between pork and beef chorizo?
Pork chorizo is often used in dishes like chorizo and potato tacos, chorizo burgers, and chorizo and egg breakfast burritos. Beef chorizo is generally higher in protein and lower in fat than pork chorizo. However, both types of chorizo are high in sodium and should be consumed in moderation.
What is chorizo?
Chorizo is a highly seasoned chopped or ground pork sausage used in Spanish and Mexican cuisine. It is made of pork. Mexican chorizo is made with fresh (raw,, uncooked) pork, while the Spanish version is usually smoked.
Can you substitute beef for pork chorizo?
Yes, you can substitute beef chorizo for pork chorizo in most recipes and vice versa. However, remember that the flavor and texture may differ slightly, so the end result may not be exactly the same as the original recipe. FAQ: Are there any health differences between beef and pork chorizo?
What is Mexican chorizo made from?
Mexican chorizo is typically made from ground pork, but it can also be made from ground beef, chicken, venison, or turkey. In some stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, you can find vegetarian and vegan versions made from tofu and/or soy. Mexican chorizo is a very fatty and highly seasoned sausage.