The application of recycled concrete in cold regions is limited by its frost resistance, which is closely related to its internal complex pore structure. This paper comprehensively analyzes the current status of domestic and international research on the influence of pore structure on the frost resistance of recycled concrete, and through the freeze-thaw damage mechanism of recycled concrete and microscopic pore characterization, it is found that the high porosity and microcracks of recycled concrete make it more likely to absorb water during freeze-thaw and generate greater frost expansion stress when icing and expansion, which accelerates crack expansion and structural damage. Utilizing the latent heat properties of phase change materials, internal temperature fluctuations can be reduced to a certain extent to reduce freeze-thaw damage, thus improving the frost resistance of recycled concrete. Future research needs to delve deeper into the freeze-thaw damage mechanism of recycled concrete and the effect of phase change materials on its frost resistance to promote the development of new technologies for its application in cold regions.