Pork belly is an affordable strip of meat located on the underside of the pig. It’s often used in Asian and European cuisines, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy it here as well! Sure, pork belly may take a while to make, but once you perfect it, it makes an incredibly tasty and tender meal. Looking for the perfect pork belly recipe but can’t seem to nail one down? Well, I have 21 for you! Whether you want sweet, spicy, umami, or a combination of flavors, I have you covered. I guarantee these won’t disappoint in the flavor and tenderness departments. With these easy-to-follow recipes, there’s no need to go to a restaurant for a mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly meal.
How To Cook Pork Belly
1. Pork Belly Bites Over Jalapeno Slaw
This pork belly dish is not only succulent but is packed with flavor as well. The pork itself is flavored with salt, pepper, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, grapeseed oil, and sesame oil, and is then slow-roasted in chicken stock. Wow, can you imagine all those combined ingredients in one bite? How heavenly! To cut through the richness of the pork belly, there’s some sweet and spicy jalapeno slaw with a dressing of brown sugar, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil. Together, these two elements are perfection on a plate.
2. Honey Glazed Pork Belly
With ultra-crispy skin and sweet, fork-tender meat, this honey glazed pork belly is a dish to die for. The pork is seasoned with a rub of smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, and garlic powder. It’s then slow-roasted to get that crisp, chicharron-like (chicharron: crunchy and salty deep-fried pork skin) consistency. This dish has nailed the authentic flavors of Spain. And of course, for that wonderful element of sweetness, the pork is also basted in a honey and dry sherry glaze.
3. Crispy Golden Pork Belly
Crispy pork skin and succulent meat, but minus all the effort; that’s what this dish is all about. Flavored with Shaoxing rice wine, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic, this dish will give Chinese restaurants a run for their money. The secret to this recipe is the salt crust. You coat the entire skin with salt, bake it, and remove the crust afterward. This gives you that wonderful crunch and perfect flavor!
4. Pork Belly Sandwich
Ridiculously tender and flavorful pork in a sandwich? I’ll have two, please! In this recipe, you’ll let go of the bacon and use a super succulent pork belly instead. But no worries, it still tastes phenomenal. Stacked with lettuce, avocado, and tomato, this sandwich has all the contrasting textures you want in a bite! Encased in two pieces of toasted sourdough slathered in a sweet and creamy sun-dried tomato mayo, it’s seriously one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had.
5. Pork Belly Salad
Did you know that pork fat is healthier than beef and lamb fat? It is loaded with vitamin B and other minerals, as well. Who says you have to limit your meat to fish and chicken when you’re trying to be healthy? This pork belly salad isn’t only tasty, but also meets your nutritional needs! Combining crisp and succulent meat, apples, walnuts, and a sweet dressing, this salad has the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
6. Pork Belly Burnt Ends
If you’re a fan of barbecue, you’ll want this pork belly to get in your belly! If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “burnt ends” refers to a point of a brisket that’s sliced in cubes and coated in barbecue sauce. But in this variation, you’ll use pork belly instead. The cut works just as fine as beef because it’s high in fat. Flavored with butter, honey, and barbecue sauce, and smoked to perfection, these pork belly burnt ends fulfill every barbecue lover’s desires.
7. Sticky Chinese BBQ Pork Belly
I am the biggest fan of char siu. It’s pork belly flavored with lovely Chinese spices and roasted to perfection. What you’ll get is a sweet and sticky, melt-in-your-mouth meat that’s perfect with rice or sweet bao buns! With this simple recipe, you can have char siu right in the comfort of your own home. Marinated overnight in hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and five-spice powder, the flavor is well taken care of.
8. Pork Belly Sliders
One bite is all it takes to fall in love with these pork belly sliders. They’re filled with shredded cabbage and flavored with sriracha honey mayo. It’s the epitome of sliders!
9. BBQ Pork Belly (In the Oven)
Who says you need to slave in the kitchen for hours to get the most tender, sweet, and savory grilled pork belly? With this oven recipe, all you need is 5 ingredients and 55 minutes! The key is to let the pork belly marinate in soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper. The longer you let it chill, the better flavor you get. Three hours is fine, but overnight is better. Once all the flavors have seeped into the meat, all that’s left is to bake it for 30 minutes. Minimal effort, maximum flavor: that’s my kind of recipe!
10. Texas-Style Smoked Pork Belly
Give your belly a Texas flavor by using only salt and pepper! This Texas-style smoked pork belly may only call for a few ingredients, but that doesn’t mean it lacks in flavor. The secret to this Texas-inspired recipe lies in the wood you smoke it in, which is either oak or hickory. Adding chunks of either wood to your grill will give your meat that distinct smoky flavor. Sure, it will take 6-8 hours to grill, but I promise you, it’s worth the wait.
11. Pork Belly Ramen Noodle
For a Japanese-themed dinner, how about this pork belly ramen noodle? Ramen is one of my favorite comfort foods. There’s nothing like slurping egg noodles and rich broth on a cold night! In this recipe, ramen is taken to a whole other level by adding crispy roasted pork belly flavored with a five-spice rub. Finished off with a runny boiled egg, you’ll have the perfect dinner.
12. Pork Belly Carnitas
Carnitas is made with pork shoulder, but for a tender and flavorful meat, use pork belly instead! Marinating the pork in pineapple or apple juice and a bunch of other seasonings will give that sweet and savory carnitas flavor we all love so much. Whether you top this carnitas on nachos, pair it with guacamole, or use it for enchiladas, burritos, and quesadillas, you won’t go wrong. With this recipe, your satisfaction is 200% guaranteed!
13. Spicy Korean Pork Belly
If you’ve been hit by the Korean wave just like me, you have to try this spicy Korean pork belly! This recipe gives you the perfect combination of two Asian elements: Chinese pork belly and savory and spicy Samgyupsal. It’s savory and tender meat infused with spicy chili paste (Gochujang), mirin, soy sauce, agave, and garlic. Served with rice and kimchi, you’ll have a spectacular Asian meal.
14. Teriyaki Pork Belly
Sweet and tender pork belly resting on a bed of white rice, topped with scallions and sesame seeds? Now, that’s what I call the ultimate dish! In this dish, Japanese teriyaki sauce flavors the pork belly. What you’ll get is a restaurant-quality, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly with fat so soft, it’s almost silky!
15. Cantonese Roast Pork Belly
Siu yuk, or the Cantonese roast pork belly, is a classic dish I love to order whenever I’m in a Chinese restaurant. It may be a simple dish – fried pork belly with a crisp skin – but it’s absolutely wonderful. And you can make it at home! You’ll use the salt crust technique to achieve that iconic crispy skin. For the flavor, you’ll use Shaoxing wine, five-spice powder, rice wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. To cook it, just let your oven do its magic! It may take almost 2 hours, but it’s worth it.
16. Pork Belly Pastrami
Sure, pastrami is usually made using beef, but pork belly works, too! Full disclosure: this recipe is a bit complicated, and will take a few days to complete. But as they say, good things come to those who wait! What you’ll get after days of working on this recipe is moist, succulent, and aromatic pastrami that’s bursting with so much flavor! The fulfillment you’ll get after going through all that effort is priceless.
17. Pork Belly Nachos
Add a Korean twist to the Tex-Mex favorite! Infuse your nachos with pork belly that’s flavored with kimchi juice, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and red pepper powder. Together with tortilla chips, cheese, kimchi, red onions, and sour cream, you’ll have the perfect snack to enjoy while watching your favorite K-Drama.
18. Crème brûlée Pork Belly
Crème brûlée and pork belly? Why not! Just imagine the classic Chinese char siu elevated into a whole other level. The twist is that the skin is glazed and torched to get a sweet and crunchy crack. It’s a must-try!
19. Pork Belly Pizza
In this dish, you’ll combine two popular and well-loved dishes: pizza and barbecue! It’s crisp and tender pizza dough slathered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. It’s then topped with marinated pork belly and mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection. Finished off with cilantro and bean sprouts, this pizza is the stuff of legends!
20. Pork Belly Chili
Chili is usually made with ground beef. But you know what will make it even better? Turn it into a beef and pork belly combo for the tastiest chili ever! Ground beef plus bits of pork belly in a chili? Sounds awesome to me! Served with tortilla chips, sour cream, and scallions, this pork belly chili is the pinnacle of comfort foods.
21. Pork Belly Tacos
This recipe uses the versatile pork belly to make the most tender and flavorful taco filling. Mexican pork belly is topped with a green onion sauce and a pickled watermelon rind. These tacos have the best flavors and textures in every bite. They’re also Paleo-friendly, to boot! Who says tacos can’t be good for the body? Click on a star to rate it!
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