Feeding-frequency regimen is an important part of animal husbandry and production, which can influence the feeding behavior and regulate the growth of animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the growth, digestion and absorption functions of growing pigs under different feeding frequencies with the same total daily feed intake. Twenty-four Duroc × Landrance × Yorkshire growing pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: feeding one time per day (M1), feeding three times per day (M3) and feeding five times per day (M5); each group consisted of eight replicates (pens), with one pig per pen. During the one-month experimental period, each pig was fed an equal amount of diet daily. The results showed that final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG) in M3 and M5 groups were significantly higher than in the M1 group, but feed: gain (F: G) was significantly lower than in the M1 group (P < 0.05). Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) in the M3 and M5 groups was significantly higher than that in the M1 group (P < 0.05). Compared with the M1 group, the activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin in the pancreas of M3 and M5 groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The activity of pepsin in M3 and M5 groups tended to increase (P = 0.08), while the activity of duodenum sucrase and ileum lipase in M3 and M5 groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). A lower level of maltase activity but a higher level of lipase in duodenum were found in the M5 group as compared with in the M1 group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of genes EAAT3, ATB0,+, T1R1 and PepT1 in duodenum of pigs in M3 and M5 groups were significantly higher than those in the M1 group. Moreover, the mRNA expression of fatty acid transport protein 2 (FATP2) and plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) in duodenum in M3 and M5 groups, and FABPpm in ileum in the M5 group tended to increase as compared with the M1 group. Different feeding frequencies had no effect on the levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), peptide tyrosine (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in duodenum and ileum. These results indicate that feeding frequency affected the digestion and absorption of protein and fat in growing pigs, and eventually impacted the growth performance of pigs with the same daily feed intake.