My air fryer pork belly is perfect when I’m craving something rich and fatty. I can’t get enough of these crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside, mouth-watering bites!
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My Favorite Way to Make Crispy Pork Belly in the Air Fryer
I was at the grocery store and trying to think of something fun to make for Sunday night dinner when the pork belly at the butcher counter caught my eye. I knew right there that I wanted to try making air fryer pork belly!
I’d tried roasting pork belly in the oven before, but those long hours in the oven would heat up the whole house, and the skin never got as crispy as I wanted. Grilling dried it out too much, but cooking pork belly on the stove always made a mess.
When I told my kids we were having pork belly for dinner, they were very dramatic about how “gross” that sounded. But as soon as they saw the juicy bites with crackling, golden skin come out of the air fryer, they completely forgot to be grossed out.
Now, whenever I say we’re eating pork, they always eagerly ask if it’s going to be pork belly. No one can resist these fatty, crunchy bites!
For more air fryer pork recipes, be sure to check out my air fryer pork chops, air fryer pork loin, air fryer pork steaks, air fryer pork tenderloin, and air fryer pork roast!
What is Pork Belly?
Pork belly is the fatty, flavorful cut that comes from the underside of the pig, basically right behind the bacon. What I really love about pork belly is the thick layer of skin on one side that crisps up beautifully with the right prep!
Air Fry Pork Belly Ingredients
- Pork belly – I look for a good skin-on piece with even meat and fat layers. That’s what gives pork belly the perfect crackle!
- Salt and pepper – Simple seasonings are perfect for bringing out the pork’s natural flavor.
- Garlic powder – Just a little garlic goes a long way and is perfect with the taste of the pork.
- Baking powder – This is my secret ingredient to help pull moisture out of the skin and get it extra crispy!
- Oil for spraying – I coat the air fryer basket and make sure the garlic and baking powder rub is moistened completely with oil.
How to Cook Pork Belly in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: The night before cooking, cut the pork belly into 1-inch strips or chunks, then place them in a large mixing bowl.
STEP TWO: Sprinkle the pork belly with salt and rub it into the skin and meat. Next, set the pork, skin side up, on a large plate and sprinkle with black pepper.
STEP THREE: Place it in the refrigerator, uncovered, and let the pork belly chill overnight.
STEP FOUR: When ready to cook, whisk together the baking powder and garlic powder in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the pork belly.
STEP FIVE: Preheat the air fryer to 250 degrees F.
STEP SIX: Spray the inner basket of the air fryer with cooking oil spray. Next, generously spray the pork belly with the cooking oil spray, making sure the dry mixture is moistened completely.
STEP SEVEN: Place the pork belly in one layer, skin-side-up, in the air fryer basket and air fry it for 25 minutes.
STEP EIGHT: Turn up the heat to 400 degrees F and air fry it for an additional 20 minutes. Continue adding more time in 5-minute increments until the skin is crisped to your liking.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Pork Belly
- Dry the skin thoroughly before seasoning. I always pat with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the pork belly to maintain the beautiful layers of skin, meat, and fat.
- I refrigerate the meat uncovered overnight so the pork belly skin dries out even more. This gives me better crackling.
- I apply the baking and garlic powders generously and press gently to make sure it bonds to the skin. This step is essential for crispiness and also keeps the pork belly from drying out.
- The rub on the pork belly should be completely moistened with oil so the exterior can truly fry in the air fryer. This is another important step to prevent the pork belly from turning out dry.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. I place my pork belly in the air fryer basket in one layer, skin side up, so the meat will air fry instead of steam.
Pork Belly in the Air Fryer Variations and Substitutions
- I swap garlic powder for five-spice powder when I want a Chinese-style flavor profile.
- For a sticky finish, I make a glaze with soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar, then brush it over the pork belly in the last minute or two of air frying.
- To make the skin even crispier, I’ll rub with white vinegar before patting on the garlic and baking powders. Vinegar softens the skin which can actually make it fluff up as it fries.
- I sometimes use chili powder or cayenne in the rub for extra heat when I’m craving spice.
- For a more herb-forward, roast-style flavor, I add some dried rosemary or thyme to the seasoning mix.
What to Serve with Air Fry Pork Belly
For Asian-inspired flair, I like to pair crispy, fatty pork belly with air fryer rice, air fryer green beans, or air fryer spring rolls.
My family also loves when I serve these crunchy bites on skewers so they can dip the pork belly in honey garlic sauce, honey sriracha sauce, or even pot sticker dipping sauce!
Air Fryer Pork Belly FAQs
How to know when pork belly in the air fryer is done cooking
I cook my pork belly for 25 mins at 250 degrees F and then another 20 mins at 400 degrees F. After that, the pork belly should be cooked all the way through, but I keep cooking until the skin is as golden, brown, and crispy as I want it to be!
How to store air fried pork belly
I let the pork belly cool completely to avoid condensation that could ruin the crispy skin. After that, I store the leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to reheat crispy pork belly in the air fryer
To reheat leftover pork belly, I start by preheating my air fryer to 400 degrees F. Once hot, I spray the air fryer basket, spritz the pork belly with oil, and place it skin-side up in the air fryer. Then I air fry for 7 minutes until the pork belly is warmed through!
Do I need to prepare my pork belly overnight?
Letting the pork belly sit in the refrigerator overnight is the key to extra crispy skin! The fridge will draw extra moisture out of the skin to help it get that amazing texture once air fried.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air fryer chuck roast
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer salmon
- Air fryer tofu
- Air fryer chicken breast
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Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Oil for spraying
Instructions
- The night before cooking, cut the pork belly into 1-inch strips or chunks, then place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the pork belly with salt and rub it into the skin and meat. Next, set the pork, skin side up, on a large plate and sprinkle with black pepper.
- Place it in the refrigerator, uncovered, and let the pork belly chill overnight.
- When ready to cook, whisk together the baking powder and garlic powder in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the pork belly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 250 degrees F.
- Spray the inner basket of the air fryer with cooking oil spray. Next, generously spray the pork belly with the cooking oil spray, making sure the dry mixture is moistened completely.
- Place the pork belly in one layer, skin side up, in the air fryer basket, and cook for 25 minutes.
- Turn up the heat to 400 degrees F and air fry for an additional 20 minutes. Continue adding more time in 5-minute increments until the skin is crisped to your liking.
Video
Notes
- Dry the skin thoroughly before seasoning.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the pork belly to maintain the beautiful layers of skin, meat, and fat.
- Refrigerate the meat uncovered overnight so the pork belly skin dries out even more. This gives better crackling.
- Apply the baking and garlic powders generously and press gently to make sure it bonds to the skin.
- The rub on the pork belly should be completely moistened with oil so the exterior can truly fry in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. It should be in one layer, skin side up, so the meat will air fry instead of steam.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer preheated at 400 degrees F for about 7 minutes, skin-side up.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
That looks delicious! I need to make this
Cooked exactly as written and pictured, thank you…🌴🤗👍