This air fryer pork belly recipe is one of the best and easiest ways to make this side dish. They are so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
You will absolutely love these pork belly bites! It cooks so quickly and conveniently in the air fryer. This pork recipe is also gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly.
I love that this is a quick dish I can eat as a side or with some veggies for a more filling meal.
Also try this amazing Instant Pot Pulled Pork or Shake and Bake Pork Chops recipe!
Equipment Used
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The primary equipment you will need to make this recipe is an air fryer. This is by far my favorite way to get my dishes all crispy and delicious!
Check out this list of the best affordable air fryers to make easy, crispy, healthy dishes!
Ingredients Used
- Pork belly: I use a pound of pork belly meat for this recipe that has already been chopped into pieces. You can get yours at your local grocery store. Alternatively, you can buy a whole slab of pork belly from your local farmer's market or butcher's shop to ask for this particular cut of meat.
- Olive Oil: You can also use your favorite cooking spray.
- Spices: I use my homemade pork seasoning, made with simple ingredients like garlic powder, black pepper, and ground mustard. I always have a container of this dry rub in my pantry, and I use it for all my meat dishes. Of course, you can use your favorite pork dry rub.
How To Air Fry Pork Belly
- First, preheat the air fryer to 400F. Next, spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. This will ensure the pork doesn't stick to it.
- If necessary, cut the pork belly into bite-sized cubes, then spray it with olive oil. Mix the spices in a medium bowl and sprinkle them liberally all over the pork belly bites. You can also use your favorite homemade dry rub here.
- Arrange the pieces of pork belly in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Let there be a bit of space between the pork bites. Air fry for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway to flip them over.
- Make sure the pork belly bites are at least 165F. Place the pork bites on a paper towel to catch excess grease.
Storing and Reheating
If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. They will keep fresh this way for up to four days.
If you want, you can freeze leftover pork belly slices for a few months. First, place them on a sheet and freeze for two hours, then transfer them to a freezer-safe sealable bag and pop the bag into the freezer.
If frozen, first defrost the pork belly overnight in the refrigerator. Then, air fry for about seven minutes at a temp of 400F or until warmed through. Remember to place the air fry pork belly pieces in a preheated air fryer.
What can I eat this recipe with?
This crispy pork belly recipe can be served with steamed and air-fried veggies. Try it with some asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower for a filling, healthy dinner.
You can also use it to make a pork stew or stir fry. Pork belly is versatile, so you can choose to serve this recipe with whatever you decide.
Tips and variations
- Refrigerate the pork belly to harden the meat a bit so you can cut it into smaller pieces easily. It's a bit tricky to cut into it while soft when it's at room temperature, except you use a really sharp knife.
- Try not to crowd the air fryer basket or tray. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can air fry the pork belly bites in batches.
- Drizzle the air-fried pork belly strips with your favorite low-carb syrup, dipping sauce, or BBQ sauce.
- Don't air-fry the pork too long, or the meat might start to get dry.
Frequently asked questions
Frozen pork belly can be air-fried, but it might not turn out as crisp as you'd like. For crispy pork bites, it would need to be dried and excess water removed as much as possible. For best results, thaw it out first if you want it to have crispy skin, or cook twice as long at a high temperature.
If your pork belly isn't crispy, you might need to cook it longer. Because pork belly has high fat, the longer it spends in the air fryer, the more it roasts. So pop it back into the air fryer and roast it till it crisps.
Serve your delicious pork belly pieces with delicious grilled or air-fried veggies for a full and tasty experience. It'll also be a hit when served on top of a salad.
Check out these other air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Pork Belly
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork belly
- 2 teaspoon pork seasoning
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Cut pork belly into bite-sized pieces, if needed.1 lb pork belly
- Spray with olive oil, sprinkle the pork seasoning and mix thoroughly.2 teaspoon olive oil, 2 teaspoon pork seasoning
- Add the pork belly pieces to the air fryer on a single layer.
- Air fry for 15mins, shaking the basket halfway. Make sure the pork belly bites are at least 165F.
- Place the pork bites on a paper towel to catch excess grease.
Notes
- Refrigerate the pork belly to harden the meat a bit so you can cut it into smaller pieces easily. It's a bit tricky to cut into it while soft when it's at room temperature, except if you use a really sharp knife.
- Try not to crowd the air fryer basket or tray. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can air fry the pork belly bites in batches.
- Drizzle the air-fried pork belly strips with your favorite low-carb syrup, dipping sauce, or BBQ sauce.
- Don't air-fry the pork too long, or the meat might start to get dry.
This sounds and looks delicious. When you said pick up some pork belly at the grocery store, is that the same thing as what we call fatback in the South? If not, could you post a photo of what it looks like when you purchase it at the store? Thank you so very much!
Hi Tammy, pork belly has some meat and fat on it, and I think that's different from fatback. I can't post a picture in the comments, but if you do a google search for 'raw cut pork belly', you'll see some great examples.