10+ Pork Belly Recipes You’ll Love to Try Today

Pork belly is a flavorful and versatile cut of meat that many people enjoy cooking at home. It’s known for its rich taste and tender texture when prepared well.

You can explore many different ways to cook pork belly, from slow roasting to smoking or frying.

If you like trying new recipes, pork belly offers a delicious base that can suit a variety of meals. You don’t need to be an expert to get great results.

Trying different techniques can make your meals exciting and satisfying.

1) Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

Slow roasting pork belly gives you tender, juicy meat with crispy skin. Start by scoring the skin and rubbing salt into it.

This draws out moisture, which helps make the crackling crisp. Cook the pork belly low and slow in the oven, usually around 275°F (135°C).

This breaks down the fat and gives you soft, flavorful flesh. Near the end, increase the heat to about 450°F (230°C) to crisp the skin perfectly.

Ingredients

• Pork belly (about 2-3 pounds)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C).
2. Score pork skin and rub with salt and a little olive oil.
3. Place pork belly skin side up on a rack.
4. Roast for about 2.5 to 3 hours until tender.
5. Increase oven to 450°F (230°C) and roast for 20-30 minutes until the skin is crispy.
6. Rest before slicing and serving.

2) Sticky Chinese Pork Belly

Sticky Chinese pork belly is a simple dish with rich flavor. Start by cooking pork belly slices with garlic, ginger, and rice wine.

This mix creates a delicious, sweet, and savory sauce that sticks to the meat. Cook the pork slowly to make it tender and juicy.

The sauce thickens as it reduces, giving the pork a glossy, sticky finish. Serve it with steamed rice or greens for a full meal.

You can find a detailed recipe with ingredients and steps on Kitchen Sanctuary.

Ingredients

• Pork belly slices
• Ginger (thin slices)
• Garlic cloves (smashed)
• Rice wine
• Sugar
• Chicken stock
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Place pork belly in a pan with ginger, garlic, rice wine, sugar, and chicken stock.
2. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat.
3. Simmer gently until the pork is tender, about 1.5 to 2 hours.
4. Remove the lid and cook until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky.
5. Season with salt and pepper, then serve hot.

3) Thai 30-Minute Crispy Pork Belly

You can make crispy pork belly in just 30 minutes with this Thai style recipe. The key is double frying, which creates a crunchy outside while keeping the meat juicy.

It’s simple and quick, perfect when you want something tasty without a long wait. This dish is often served over rice, making it a filling meal.

Rest the pork for about 30 minutes before frying. Using the rendered pork fat to fry adds extra flavor and crispiness.

This method avoids boiling or heavy seasoning, focusing on letting the pork’s natural taste shine. You’ll get a perfect, golden crust every time.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450g) pork belly, skin on
• 1 tablespoon oil (or rendered pork fat)
• Salt, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Score the pork belly skin and pat dry.
2. Season with salt.
3. Rest the pork for 30 minutes.
4. Heat oil or pork fat in a pan over medium heat (around 350°F/175°C).
5. Fry pork skin-side down until crispy, about 10 minutes.
6. Flip and fry the other side for 5 minutes.
7. Remove and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Try this quick Thai 30-Minute Crispy Pork Belly recipe for an easy meal!

4) Twice Cooked Sichuan Pork Belly (Hui Guo Rou)

Twice Cooked Pork Belly, or Hui Guo Rou, is a popular Sichuan dish. First, boil the pork belly gently, then slice and stir-fry it with spicy seasonings.

This gives the pork a tender inside with a slightly crispy outside. The key flavors come from Sichuan chili bean paste and fermented black beans.

Add ginger, garlic, and green onions to boost the taste. This dish is both spicy and savory, perfect if you like bold flavors.

Simmer the pork belly in water with aromatics before frying. This step makes the meat tender and helps remove any strong pork flavor.

Ingredients:

• 300g pork belly (one piece)
• 5 slices ginger
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon Sichuan chili bean paste
• 2 green onions
• 1 tablespoon fermented black beans
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place pork belly in cold water with ginger and green onions.
2. Bring to a boil, skim impurities, then simmer for 20-30 minutes.
3. Chill pork, then slice thinly.
4. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic, chili bean paste, and fermented black beans.
5. Add pork slices, stir-fry until slightly crispy.
6. Toss everything together well and serve hot.

More details on this recipe can be found at The Woks of Life.

5) Slow Cooked Braised Asian Pork Belly

Slow cooked braised Asian pork belly is a great dish for easy, hands-off cooking. Let the pork belly cook slowly in a sticky, flavorful sauce until it becomes tender and soft.

You can cook it in a slow cooker for 6 hours on high or 10-12 hours on low. The slow cooking helps the fat melt and the meat absorb the sauce well.

This dish uses simple ingredients like soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a bit of sugar to create a rich glaze. Serve it with rice or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds pork belly
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine or cooking wine
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water or stock

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place pork belly in your slow cooker.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and water.
3. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10-12 hours.
4. Check for tenderness; pork should be soft and easy to pull apart.
5. Remove pork, strain sauce if you like, and simmer the sauce on the stove to thicken.
6. Pour sauce over pork and serve.

More details can be found in this slow cooked braised Asian pork belly recipe.

6) Smoked Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pork Belly

Smoking pork belly slowly brings out a deep, smoky flavor while keeping the meat tender. Season it with a simple dry rub that balances salt, sugar, and pepper.

This helps the outside form a tasty crust during smoking. Set your smoker to about 275°F (135°C).

Smoke the pork belly until it becomes soft and juicy. This usually takes a few hours but is worth the wait.

When done, the pork belly should feel tender and almost easy to pull apart. This method gives your meat a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients

• Pork belly slab
• Brown sugar
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat smoker to 275°F (135°C).
2. Rub pork belly with olive oil and coat with brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
3. Place pork belly in the smoker.
4. Smoke for 3-4 hours or until tender.
5. Let rest before slicing and serving.

Learn more details at Savory Smoked Pork Belly.

7) Pork Belly Bites (fried bite-sized pieces)

Pork belly bites are small, crispy pieces of pork belly that you fry until golden brown. They make a great snack or appetizer and are easy to prepare.

You can season them simply with salt and pepper or add your favorite spices. Frying these bites gives them a crunchy outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy.

Cook them in a pan with a bit of oil or use an air fryer for less mess. They usually take under an hour to get perfectly crispy.

Enjoy pork belly bites on their own or with a dipping sauce like soy sauce or spicy mayo. They are great for sharing with friends or family.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Pat the pork belly pieces dry with paper towels.
2. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if using.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat (around 350°F / 175°C).
4. Add pork belly pieces, frying in batches if needed.
5. Cook for 8-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy and browned.
6. Remove and drain on paper towels before serving.

Try air frying for a cleaner method as shown in this Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites recipe.

8) Roasted Pork Belly with Crispy Crackling

Roasted pork belly is a simple dish that delivers juicy meat with a crispy top. Start by scoring the skin and drying it well.

This is key to getting a crunchy crackling. Slow roast the pork at a low temperature to keep the meat tender.

Finish with a hotter blast to crisp the skin. You’ll get a nice contrast between soft inside and crunchy outside.

Seasoning is easy—just salt, pepper, and a bit of oil on the skin. You can add herbs or garlic to the meat for extra flavor if you like.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds pork belly
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Optional: garlic cloves, rosemary, or thyme

Cooking Instructions

1. Score the skin with a sharp knife.

2. Pat the skin dry with paper towels.

3. Rub salt, pepper, and oil all over the pork.

4. Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C).

5. Roast pork for 2.5 to 3 hours on a rack.

6. Increase temperature to 425°F (220°C).

7. Roast for another 20-30 minutes until the crackling turns crispy.

8. Let the pork rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

For more detailed tips, check out this recipe for roasted pork belly.

9) Paper-thin Hot-Pot Sliced Pork Belly

Slice the pork belly very thin, almost like paper. Thin slices cook quickly and work well for hot pot meals.

You will get tender, flavorful meat that cooks in seconds when dipped in hot broth. The slices melt in your mouth and soak up the soup flavors.

Slice the pork evenly for best results. Serve the slices with vegetables and dipping sauces.

This dish is quick and perfect for sharing with others.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pork belly, thinly sliced
• Broth for hot pot
• Vegetables (like cabbage, mushrooms, and spinach)
• Dipping sauces (soy sauce, chili sauce, or sesame sauce)

Cooking Instructions

1. Freeze pork belly for 20-30 minutes to firm it up.

2. Cut the pork belly into paper-thin slices with a sharp knife.

3. Bring your hot pot broth to a boil, around 212°F (100°C).

4. Dip each pork slice in the broth and cook for 5-10 seconds until it turns light pink.

5. Remove the pork and dip it in your favorite sauce. Enjoy right away.

10) Classic BBQ Pork Belly with Cornbread and Baked Beans

Make a simple meal with BBQ pork belly, cornbread, and baked beans. Smoke or grill the pork belly until the outside turns crispy and the inside stays tender.

Serve with warm, slightly sweet cornbread. Add baked beans for a touch of smoky sweetness, cooked with pork belly pieces and a bit of molasses.

This meal brings together smoky, sweet, and savory flavors. It’s great for casual gatherings or family dinners.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork belly
• 1 cup dried beans or canned baked beans
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• Onion, bell pepper (for beans)
• Molasses or brown sugar
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Season the pork belly with salt and pepper. Smoke or grill it for 2-3 hours until it turns crispy.

3. If you use dried beans, soak them overnight. Cook the beans with onion and bell pepper.

4. Add pork belly pieces and molasses to the beans. Simmer until the beans become tender.

5. Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, milk, and melted butter to make the cornbread batter.

6. Bake the cornbread for 20-25 minutes or until it looks golden.

7. Serve the pork belly with baked beans and warm cornbread.