These Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly Slices are smothered in a tangy BBQ sauce & are melt-in-your-mouth tender. Ready in just 25 minutes, they are also gluten and dairy-free!
Hands down, this is the BEST way to cook pork belly slices! Or is it cooking the pork belly slices in the slow cooker? This recipe is the most viewed recipe on my website and is also a family favourite, so it's a hard call!
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Now, I know pork belly can divide opinions, whilst some people aren’t big fans of fatty meat, a lot of you adore it. (Including me!)
The secret is, that it just has to be cooked right! Cooking the pork belly strips in the air fryer helps the fat to render down, which results in a perfectly crispy and crunchy exterior, while the inside remains juicy and succulent.
I have marinated the pork belly slices in BBQ sauce which really brings out the natural flavours of the pork belly, infusing it with a blend of tangy and sweet flavours that complement the rich taste of the meat.
As long as you are using a gluten-free BBQ sauce then this recipe is dairy, egg and gluten-free!
With no pre-boiling required, these easy crispy air fryer pork belly slices are ready in just 25 minutes!
They are delicious served alongside these slow cooker roast potatoes & hot honey Brussels sprouts or garlic & rosemary hasselback potatoes & roasted carrots and green beans.
Or why not chop the cooked pork belly into cubes to use in this pork belly fried rice?
Reader 5⭐ Review
"Honestly surprised by how well it turned out! Tender inside and crispy outside, lots of flavour. This recipe is super easy and quick, you just have to time the basting.
We had it with rice and a side salad. Will definitely recommend and use it again thanks"
- Tatjana
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🥘 Ingredients You Will Need
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you will need to make these crispy air fryer pork belly slices.
✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋
- Pork Belly: Try to buy the best quality pork that you can. Most major supermarkets sell pork belly pre-sliced or you can ask your butcher to slice it into strips for you. Try and find strips that have a stronger meat-to-fat ratio.
- BBQ Sauce: For quickness, I have used a shop-bought BBQ sauce from Heinz as I have in these BBQ chicken wraps. This brand is free from the top 14 allergens. Remember to always check the packaging as some shop-bought BBQ sauces do contain gluten & ingredients can also change.
- Seasonings: I have used a mixture of black pepper, sea salt and garlic powder.
- Olive Oil: Mixed with the seasoning to coat the pork belly, this helps to give a crispier finish to the outside of the pork. You can buy these great olive oil spray bottles if you don’t want to add as much oil.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
⚡ Variations & Substitutions
✔️ Make Them Into Bites: You can easily make these slices into pork belly bites, that make a perfect snack or starter dish.
Simply cut the pork into cubes before cooking. You may need to reduce the cooking time by five minutes or so.
✔️ BBQ Sauce: For a sweeter taste, swap the BBQ sauce for honey or maple syrup.
✔️ Seasonings: Mix up the seasonings. Paprika and garlic powder is a delicious combination as is a little brown sugar, mixed with oregano, salt & chilli flakes.
🤔 Is Pork Belly The Same As Bacon?
The difference between pork belly and bacon comes down to how they’re prepared and used, though they’re related cuts.
Pork belly is an uncured, boneless cut of fatty meat from the underside of the pig, while bacon is usually cured and smoked, often made from pork belly.
There are two main types of bacon: streaky bacon and back bacon. Streaky bacon, which comes from pork belly, is higher in fat, has a layered look, and crisps up nicely when cooked.
Back bacon, from the loin, is leaner with a bit of belly attached, giving it a more tender, meaty texture.
✏️ How To Make Pork Belly Slices In The Air Fryer
⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, this will be used to coat the pork belly.
Step 2: Next, pat the pork belly slices dry with paper towels, this helps dry out the meat so the seasoning will stick to it.
Step 3: Add the strips to the mixing bowl, and using your hands or a spoon, toss the pork until evenly coated in the seasoning mixture.
Step 4: Line the basket with baking parchment or an air fryer liner, then place the pork belly slices in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket, making sure they do not overlap.
This will allow the pork to cook evenly. Cook the slices for 15 minutes, flipping the slices every 5 minutes.
Step 5: After the initial cooking time, baste the pork belly with BBQ sauce and cook for a further 5 minutes. This will give the pork a delicious BBQ flavour and a shiny, caramelised glaze.
Step 6: Turn over the pork slices, baste the other side with the BBQ sauce, and cook for a final 5 minutes.
Once the pork belly slices are done, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making them extra juicy!
💡 Lauren's Tips
- ✔️ Cooking times will vary, depending on the make of your air fryer and the thickness of the belly slices, so I always recommend keeping an eye on the food and checking with a meat thermometer that the meat is cooked.
- ✔️ Pat the skin dry with kitchen paper towel before cooking. Dry skin is crucial for achieving a crispy finish.
- ✔️ I really recommend getting a meat thermometer, it will become your new best friend in the kitchen! Pork is cooked and safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145˚F, but we are going to cook it until it reaches around 195˚F, so it gives time for the outside of the pork to really crisp up.
- ✔️ Use baking parchment or an air fryer liner in the air fryer basket. This will help keep any mess to a minimum.
- ✔️ Avoid Overcrowding. Arrange the pork belly strips in a single layer without overcrowding. This ensures that each strip gets enough hot air circulation for optimal crispiness.
🤔 Which Air Fryer Do You Use?
This recipe is tested with my Ninja Foodie Dual Zone AF300UK Air Fryer, and the timings and temperatures are tailored for this model. Keep in mind that different air fryer brands may cook differently, so regularly check your food for the best results.
🥡 Storage
Once the pork has cooled, it can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop back in the air fryer on the re-heat function until the pork has reached 145˚F.
You can also freeze the pork belly in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat as above.
💬 Recipe FAQs
No. That's the great thing about this recipe, no pre-boiling is required! You can still achieve juicy and tender, yet crispy pork belly by cooking it just in the air fryer.
It is not recommended to use frozen pork belly slices for air frying as they will not cook evenly and may result in undercooked or overcooked pork. It is best to use thawed pork belly slices for air frying.
While it is best to serve air fryer pork belly slices immediately after cooking, you can make them ahead of time and reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes before serving. However, the skin may not be as crispy as when it is freshly cooked.
📖 More Air Fryer Recipes..
Looking for more air fryer recipes? Why not try these:
If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly Slices
Equipment
- Meat thermometer optional
- Air fryer liner optional
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.5 oz) pork belly slices
- 2 tablespoon BBQ sauce check packaging for allergens
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F / 200˚C.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pat the pork belly slices dry with paper towels.
- Add the pork belly slices to the mixing bowl and using your hands or a spoon, toss the pork until evenly coated in the seasoning mixture.
- Line the air fryer with baking parchment or an air fryer liner, then place the pork belly slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not overlap.
- Cook for 15 minutes, flipping the slices every 5 minutes.
- Baste the pork belly with the BBQ sauce and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Turn over the pork slices, baste the other side with the BBQ sauce and cook for a final 5 minutes.
- Remove the pork belly slices from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- ✔️ Cooking times will vary, depending on the make of your air fryer and the thickness of the belly slices, so I always recommend keeping an eye on the food and checking with a meat thermometer that the meat is cooked.
- ✔️ Pat the skin dry with kitchen paper towel before cooking. Dry skin is crucial for achieving a crispy finish.
- ✔️ I really recommend getting a meat thermometer, it will become your new best friend in the kitchen! Pork is cooked and safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145˚F, but we are going to cook it until it reaches around 195˚F, so it gives time for the outside of the pork to really crisp up.
- ✔️ Use baking parchment or an air fryer liner in the air fryer basket. This will help keep any mess to a minimum.
- ✔️ Avoid Overcrowding. Arrange the pork belly strips in a single layer without overcrowding. This ensures that each strip gets enough hot air circulation for optimal crispiness.
Brigitte says
I made this tonight but the pork was a little undercooked and chewy. I was reluctant to cook them longer in case they burnt. Flavour was great though. Should I cook them longer at a lower temperature before crisping them up?
Lauren Woodger says
Depending on how thick the belly strips are, they could need a little bit longer than stated on the recipe. Different makes of Air Fryer take different times too. I would cook them for longer at 190C / 375F and check with a meat thermometer to see if when they are cooked. Its hard for pork belly to go dry, due to the high fat content, so they should still be juicy.
Tatjana says
Honestly surprised how well it turned out! Tender inside and crispy outside, lots of flavour. This recipe is super easy and quick, you just have to time the basting. We had it with rice and a side salad. Will definitely recommend and use it again thanks 😀
Lauren Woodger says
Ahh I'm so glad you loved it! They are super juicy aren't they, perfect with rice and salad 🙂
Kay says
Going to try this tonight with rice and asparagus.
Lauren Woodger says
I hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
Tara says
So so crispy! I love how easily these pork belly slices come together in the air fryer. They look so good.
Lauren Woodger says
The air fryer really helps to crisp them up! Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
Carrie Robinson says
I just LOVE pork belly- especially when it has crispy edges! 🙂 Genius idea to make it in the air fryer.
Lauren Woodger says
The crispy bits are the best aren't they!
Ann says
I love pork belly and using air fryer means I can do portion control. Thanks!
Lauren Woodger says
So happy to hear you loved the recipe 🙂
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I love sweet and sticky pork belly and using the airfryer makes it all so easy. Love this.
Lauren Woodger says
Glad you loved it.. the air fryer is a game changer isn't it!