Get ready to treat your tastebuds to one of the best ways to cook pork, ever. This Air Fryer Pork Belly recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and salty in every single bite.
If you’re new to the world of pork belly, get ready to be impressed. When I try and explain what pork belly tastes like to someone who’s never had it, you need to.
You will hear some people compare pork belly to bacon but in my mind, pork belly is just a whole other level of flavor. Not only is it tender, but cooking it in the air fryer adds the perfect crisp to every bite. Pork belly tastes like the best bacon you’ve ever had. This air fried pork belly recipe will be on your forever list once you try it.
Make sure to check out my Keto Pork Chops as well as my Keto Pulled Pork for more great pork recipes to try.
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Ingredients
Using an air fryer is a great way to cook this fatty cut of pork. The air fryer basket is useful since it holds up the meat while letting the grease drip down below. This helps the pork belly crisp up and not be soggy.
- Pork belly – This is a cut of meat from the belly of the pig. I find my pork belly at Costco. But you can try the meat market at your local grocery store. If you can’t find it at the supermarket a local butcher should have it on hand as well. It will be more expensive than regular bacon but worth it!
- Sugar–free maple syrup – The syrup is optional but I recommend you try it at least once. This gives each bite that balance of sweet and salty goodness. You can use my homemade keto pancake syrup.
- Salt & Black Pepper – Pork belly does not have added salt the way bacon does. You will need to add some kosher salt or sea salt and pepper for the best flavor.
How To Make Air Fryer Pork Belly
This is a very easy way to make pork belly compared to traditional methods.
Step One: Slice the pork belly so that it fits in the air fryer basket without having to be bent. This may depend on the size of your air fryer. I have an Instant Pot with an air fryer lid.
Top Tip💡
Make sure to grease the air fryer rack or basket that you’re using so that the pork belly slices don’t stick for the best results.
Step Two: Air fry the pork belly pieces in a single layer in the air fryer for up to 30 minutes cooking time. The internal temperature will be safe to eat much before 30 minutes. But if you want crispy pork belly just keep cooking until it’s as crisp as you like.
Step Three: Once done, remove the pieces of pork belly and drain on a paper towel. They won’t release much grease but will release a little.
Step Four: Drizzle with the syrup or add salt and pepper. Store any leftovers in an air-tight container.
Variations
Syrup – There really isn’t a ton of variety that you can do with this pork belly but you can change up the syrup flavoring or even try a bit of honey instead if you aren’t keto.
Brown Sugar – Brown sugar or a brown sweetener added during the last 5 minutes is delicious. You can have a bowl of it next to the air fryer and coat each piece and then add it back for that to glaze on.
Asian – Mix brown sugar sweetener with soy sauce and cook until it reduces by half. Use as a glaze.
Seasoning – If you want to season your pork belly before cooking it, do so! Just mix up a blend in a small bowl, add on your favorite seasonings, and cook for the time on the directions. Onion powder and garlic powder are natural choices as well as smoked paprika and chili powder.
Barbecue Sauce – This is also delicious dipped in some keto bbq sauce.
Bites – Want crispy air fryer pork belly bites instead of strips? Just cut the strips into bite-sized cubes with a sharp knife before cooking. Pork belly cubes are my kids’ fave!
Common Questions
Do I need to boil pork belly before air frying it?
Nope! Just put it raw right into the air fryer. You can have air fryer CRISPY pork belly without messing up the kitchen boiling it first.
Is pork belly the same as bacon?
While it’s cut from the same part of the big for the most part, it’s not the same. This is because most bacon is cured already while pork belly is not.
What do you serve with pork belly?
This pork belly air fryer recipe is the perfect appetizer but you can easily eat it for any meal of the day.
Cutting it into pieces and adding it into a salad is always a great idea. You can even eat it on a BLT sandwich with fresh garden tomatoes and lettuce! Or make some pork belly tacos.
Can you eat pork belly for breakfast?
Since it’s similar to bacon, breakfast pork belly sounds just about perfect to me!
Can you overcook pork belly?
You can. But the good thing about it is that since it has such a high level of fat content, it will still have great flavor even if you’ve overcooked it.
Why is my pork belly not crispy?
If your pork belly is not crisp you need to cook it longer. When I first started making it I was shocked how long it took to cook air fried pork belly. It has a lot of natural fat and you need all that to render to get it crisp.
Leftovers
Leftover pork belly keeps well in the refrigerator. We will chop it up and add it to salads.
Can you freeze cooked pork belly?
You can. Just be sure to add it to an airtight container so that it doesn’t get freezer-burnt in the process. Even though you can freeze it, you’re going to have so much more flavor when you cook it up fresh!
For more air fryer recipes check out my Air Fryer Delicata Squash, Air Fryer Whole Chicken, and Air Fryer Filet Mignon.
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Air Fryer Pork Belly
This easy Air Fryer Pork Belly recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and salty in every single bite.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb pork belly cut into ½ inch slices 4-5 inches long
- 2 tablespoon sugar free maple syrup optional
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Spray air fryer basket with non-stick spray. Place pork belly in the basket. Make sure there is room between the pieces for air to circulate.
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Cook for 25-30 min on 400 until it is your desired level of crispiness. Thicker pieces take longer. It is helpful to rotate and flip pieces over halfway through.
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Drizzle with syrup and sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 440.7Carbohydrates: 0.1gProtein: 7.9gFat: 45.1gSaturated Fat: 16.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4.8gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 61.2mgSodium: 172.6mgPotassium: 158.2mgFiber: 0.1gVitamin A: 8.8IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 4.6mgIron: 0.4mg
Originally Published November 5, 2021. Revised and Republished February 12, 2024.