Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (1)

Free: Healthy 5-Ingredient Meals Ebook

Get It Now

Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Pork Belly Recipe
  • What Is Pork Belly?
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Cook Pork Belly
  • Tips For Best Results
  • Storage Tips
  • What To Serve With Crispy Pork Belly
  • More Flavorful Pork Recipes
  • Crispy Pork Belly Recipe

If you’ve never had crispy pork belly or are intimated with how to cook it, you are in for a treat! It’s not quite the same asbacon, but if you like bacon, you’ll love this pork belly recipe. It’s the perfect combination of crispy and tender, incredibly simple to make, and lets the pork flavor shine. And it’s so easy to do!

Why You’ll Love This Pork Belly Recipe

  • Tender like a pork loin with crispy crackling on top
  • Rich, salty flavor
  • Only 4 simple ingredients
  • Prep in 5 minutes, then hands-off in the oven
  • Perfect for family meals
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (2)

What Is Pork Belly?

Pork belly is a flavorful, boneless, fatty cut of meat from the belly of the pig, known for its rich, meaty taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture, topped with crispy skin (similar to pork rinds).

Unlike bacon, which comes from the same cut, pork belly recipes aren’t cured or smoked, and are typically served in thicker, unsliced portions. It’s a versatile ingredient in global cuisines, including Chinese, Hispanic, Danish, Norwegian, Korean, Thai, and Filipino cooking.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This section explains how to season pork belly, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Pork Belly – I can’t always find it at the grocery store, but it’s readily available at butcher shops, specialty meat stores, and Asian markets. Select cuts with uniform thickness for even cooking.
  • Avocado Oil – This gets your baked pork belly recipe nice and crispy. You can also use olive oil or any heat-safe cooking oil.
  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper – I prefer sea salt, but kosher salt also works.

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (3)

VARIATION: Add more seasonings!

The only thing you really need to season pork belly is salt and pepper! Of course, feel free to branch out. These seasonings are also delicious and common in pork belly recipes:

  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Brown sugar (or Besti Brown natural sweetener!)
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Chinese five spice – One of the most popular options
  • Cajun seasoning – Separate from the spices above

How To Cook Pork Belly

This section shows how to make crispy pork belly, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Score the skin. Use a sharp knife to makea crisscross pattern across the skin of the pork.
  2. Season. Brush the avocado oil over the top of the pork. (I like to use this brush.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (4)
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (5)
  1. Bake. Roast the pork belly recipe in a baking dish or on a sheet pan with sides, skin side up. Increase heat and bake again, until the top is golden brown.
  2. Broil. Place under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.
  3. Serve. Slice the pork into thin, 1-inch slices.
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (6)
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (7)

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (8)

Tips For Best Results

  • Position the oven rack correctly. It should be in the middle while baking, but you can move it to 6 inches away from the broiler for the broiling step.
  • Bake time will vary. This can depend on the thickness of your pork belly, the baking dish you use, and your oven. An hour for the first baking step is a good starting point regardless, but when you bake after increasing the oven temperature, watch for a golden brown skin.
  • Watch closely when broiling. Pork belly can go from crispy to burnt very quickly, so check on it every minute or so.
  • Slice against the grain. This makes each bite more tender.

Storage Tips

  • Store: Crispy pork belly has the best texture when it’s fresh, but you can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat in a hot skillet, or in the oven at 400 degrees F.
  • Freeze: Slice and store in a freezer container or zip lock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (9)

What To Serve With Crispy Pork Belly

You can serve pork belly as a breakfast meat, like bacon, or as a main protein dish with a side. There are so many options! Here are some of my favorite ways:

  • Veggies – Try serving this pork belly recipe with roasted asparagus, simple stir fry veggies, or sauteed zucchini. I also like it with sauteed spinach to balance the richness of the pork.
  • Rice – Serve over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
  • Salad – Make a lighter meal with a creamy radish salad, an Asian-inspired cabbage salad, or a smashed cucumber salad.
  • Sandwich – Stuff pork belly in between two slices of your favorite bread with a drizzle of BBQ sauce and a lettuce leaf for any easy sandwich.
  • Pork Belly Tacos – Slice into bites or thin strips, and serve in warm tortillas with your choice of toppings, like fresh salsa, avocado, and fresh cilantro.
  • Eggs – Whip up a special breakfast or brunch with a spinach quiche, customizable egg muffin cups, or simply hard boiled eggs.

More Flavorful Pork Recipes

Craving more tasty pork dishes? These other flavorful pork recipes focus on big flavors and easy cooking:

Air Fried Pork Chops

Greek Souvlaki Recipe

Egg Roll In A Bowl

Pork Steak Recipe

RECIPE SAVED! The recipe was sent to your email. I also sent you your free login info. You can use that to access your saved recipes at My Favorites.

Recipe Card

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (15)

4.84 from 43 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe

Learn how to cook pork belly that's tender inside and crunchy on top! This crispy pork belly recipe is simple, flavorful, and so easy.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 1 hour 50 minutes

Resting Time: 10 minutes

Total: 1 hour 55 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 12 (adjust to scale recipe)

Un-save RecipeSave Recipe Remove Ads

Recipe Video

Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes!

ReviewPrint

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C).

  2. Using a knife, score the skin of the pork belly.

  3. Use a silicone basting brush to brush the avocado oil over the top of the pork belly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

  4. Place the pork belly into a baking dish, skin side up, and bake for 1 hour.

  5. Increase oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C) and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

  6. Change oven to broil and broil the pork belly on high for 2-5 minutes, until the skin is crispy to your liking. It will crisp up more as it cools from hot to warm.

  7. Allow the pork belly to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into 1-inch slices.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Rate recipe

Save Recipe

Related Easy Recipes

  • Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

  • Smothered Pork Chops

  • How To Make Pork Rinds (Chicharrones)

  • Cast Iron Pork Chops

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/12 entire recipe

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories618

Fat63.5g

Protein10.6g

Total Carbs0.3g

Net Carbs0.2g

Fiber0.1g

Sugar0.1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keywords:crispy pork belly, how to cook pork belly, pork belly recipe

Calories: 618 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe

Pin It For Later!

Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (23)
Crispy Pork Belly Recipe - Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

Is crispy pork belly healthy? ›

Yes, pork belly can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutritious foods. Is pork belly high in cholesterol? Pork belly does contain cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol levels than previously believed. However, moderation is still key.

Why won t my pork belly get crispy? ›

If the skin hasn't completely transformed to crisp crackling, turn on the broiler and blast it for a further 10 minutes, keeping a close eye to make sure it doesn't burn. Remove cooked belly from oven, place on a board. Use a cleaver or roast slicer to cut into chunks and serve immediately.

Why put baking soda on pork belly? ›

Both the vinegar and the baking soda help remove more moisture, and the baking soda will help attain that bubbled effect on the skin once the heat is turned up. The dry rub in this recipe is not quite traditional but having tried quite a number of alternatives this works well as it adds a complexity to the meat.

How unhealthy is pork belly? ›

Compared with other cuts of pork, pork belly contains more saturated fat. While saturated fat can be part of a healthy diet, a South Korean study on pork belly intake suggests lowering your total calories from saturated fat. That's because it may be linked to numerous health conditions, including heart disease ( 4 ).

Is pork belly as unhealthy as bacon? ›

Nutritional Benefits

Both can be part of a healthy diet, as long as you know what you're getting and can consume them in moderation. When comparing the nutritional content of a 100-gram portion of pork belly and bacon, pork belly contains 53 grams of fat, whereas bacon has 37 grams of fat.

Why does vinegar make pork skin crispy? ›

White Vinegar helps dry out the skin – but it has a secondary purpose of removing the odour! If you are prepared, place the Pork in the Fridge UNCOVERED overnight – the skin will dry out. When you pre-heat your oven, remove the pork from the fridge and let it return to room temperature.

What is the best way to cook belly pork? ›

Typically, recipes call for around 2 hrs at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then a further 30 mins or so at 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Some recipes suggest cooking at a higher temperature first, while others recommend doing so at the end as we have here; either way will produce good results.

How to get pork skin crispy? ›

Rub the roast with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and half a tablespoon of salt (more if you like salty crackling), making sure the oil and salt penetrate the scores. Place the roast on a wire rack inside a baking tray and cook at 240°C (max 250°C conventional) until the rind crackles, up to 50 minutes.

What liquid should I cook pork in? ›

Aside from barbecue sauce, something tangy and sweet is a good go-to for slow-cooked pork. Apple cider vinegar has the right amount of acidity to break down the fattiness and is equipped with a bright flavor that pairs beautifully with pork. Using liquids you would normally drink is also a good choice.

How do restaurants prepare pork belly? ›

We remove the hairs, clean it, boil it until just cooked, and marinate it. Then we dry the belly as much as possible. The drying means crispier skin. We also cut grooves and make holes in the skin, allowing the seasonings and oil to permeate better.

Do you rinse pork belly before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

How do Chinese restaurants make pork so tender? ›

In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.

What if my pork belly didn't crackle? ›

The skin wasn't dry enough. Make sure to pat the pork completely dry before rubbing in the salt and oil as excess moisture will stop it from crisping up. It's important to score the skin if you want it really crisp. You'll need a sharp knife for this, or ask your butcher to do it for you.

What does white vinegar do to pork? ›

Flavor Enhancement: Vinegar adds a tangy and slightly acidic flavor to the pork, enhancing its natural taste and complementing a wide range of seasonings and spices. Tenderness: The acidic properties of vinegar help to break down the muscle fibers in the pork, resulting in a more tender and juicy end product.

Is crispy pork skin healthy? ›

Crispy pork rinds are high in protein and fat. They're carb-free, which makes them appealing to those on a low carb diet. However, they're very low in any beneficial vitamins or minerals.

Is crispy pork belly fatty? ›

Pork Belly is a boneless cut of fatty, flavorful meat from just where it says: the belly. It's widely used in Asian cuisine, and Americans usually make bacon from it. It's about 90-percent fat and 10-percent protein, but 100-percent flavor.

How unhealthy are fried pork skins? ›

Because pork rinds are a processed food, they tend to be high in sodium. If you eat a 2-ounce bag, you're consuming up to 50% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for sodium. When your diet is high in sodium, more water is pulled into your bloodstream. This increases the amount of blood and blood pressure.

How many calories are in crispy fried pork belly? ›

1 Ounce of fried pork belly slices contains 80 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 0% carbs, 78% fat, and 22% protein. This has a relatively high calorie density, with 282 Calories per 100g.

Top Articles
'Een heel trieste dag': Trump pleit niet schuldig aan beschuldigingen in verkiezingsaanklacht van 2020, volgende hoorzitting: samenvatting
[2023] Voorbeeld afscheidsbrief aan werknemer die een baan/bedrijf/organisatie verlaat - plumcious
Penn Foster 1098 T Form
Yosemite Sam Hood Ornament
Pixel Combat Unblocked
Hours For Autozone Near Me
Page 6258 – Christianity Today
Nederland Police Department arrests and responses: Oct. 2-8 - Port Arthur News
A2 Key preparation | Cambridge English
Telegram FAQ
Hannah Palmer Of Leaked
Citibank Branch Locations In Orlando Florida
The Trek Nation - The Ultimate Computer
Graveler Gen 3 Learnset
Akai Hana San Diego Coupon
PG&E Outage Center - View Outage Map
Apartments For Rent Seattle Wa Craigslist
Does Gamestop Take Airpods
milanka kudel egypt - Search Engine
Mady Gio Feet
Jobs Hiring Start Tomorrow
Wired Hvcc
Reahub 1 Twitter
Greythr Hexaware Bps
Truist Park View From Seats
8554262764
Elektrische rolstoel ondersteuning
Restored Republic June 21 2023
Kaay 6Razy
Stellaris Ultima Vigilis
Dunkin Donuts Corporate Jobs
The Ben Shapiro Show Soundcloud
Chuckwalla relative / THU 4-4-24 / Gave a red card, informally / Derby participants in July / Game show host John Michael / Mission involving Spirit and Opportunity, in brief / What Scott Joplin might yell after a spill? / Kind of candle at a wedding cere
Chaithanya Matrimony Login
Papa's Games Unblocked Games
Washington Craigslist Housing
Klein Isd 2023-24 Calendar
Q Nails - Howell, MI 48843 - Services and Reviews
Twin Cities Live Recipe Replay Today
New York Health Commerce
Body Rubs Austin Texas
Moviehax · Watch Online Movies & Tv Show Download, Watch free movies & Tv Series. free hindi dubbed movies, latest hollywood and bollywood movies free download, watch online movies, Latest Bollywood Movies | Hindi Dubbed | Netflix Movies
He bought a cruise ship on Craigslist and spent over $1 million restoring it. Then his dream sank
Drys Pharmacy
What Is The Factored Form Of The Polynomial 27X2Y-43Xy2
How to Authenticate Designer Clothes
25 Best Manga You Can Read Right Now
Funbox Lone Tree Tickets
Tricare Dermatologists Near Me
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5888

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.