Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly (SUPER CRISPY) (VIDEO)

4.99 from 279 votes
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I’ve spent months perfecting this Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly recipe. I’ve tried many different methods at different temperatures, times, and air fryers, and this is the method that consistently puts out a crispy, puffed up skin and juicy, tender meat.

If you have an air fryer at home and also love Chinese roast pork with the super crispy skin, you’re going to love this recipe!

Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly Cut on a plate

Watch the Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly Recipe Video Below!

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Want a non-meat alternative? Try my super crispy Air Fryer Tofu!

Ingredients for this Recipe

This crispy pork belly is incredibly easy to make in the air fryer and only require a few ingredients and seasonings! Here is what you’ll need to make this super crispy pork!

Getting the perfect crispy pork belly is not as hard as it looks! I’ve made so many versions of this over the years and have learned a few KEY tips & techniques that will ensure your pork belly is JUICY & the skin is CRISPY!

If you love crispy, you’ll LOVE my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, which is the top recipe on my site!

Key Tips for the best Crispy Pork Belly in the air fryer!

  1. Select the Right Cut: Start with a good cut of pork belly. Look for one with a nice balance of meat and fat, as this will ensure both flavor and crispiness.
  2. Poke the Skin: Use a sharp knife or piercing tool to poke holes into the pork belly skin, just enough to pierce the skin but not too deep that it pierces into the meat. This helps the skin crisp up by allowing some of the fat to render out more easily, effectively frying the skin and allowing it to puff up.
  3. Dry the Skin: Pat the skin of the pork belly dry with paper towels. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so make sure it’s as dry as possible.
  4. Salt the Skin: Rub a generous amount of coarse sea salt into the skin. This helps draw moisture out of the skin and aids in crisping it up.
  5. Rest Before Slicing: Once done, let the crispy pork belly rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meat.
Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly in the air fryer

If you liked this Air Fryer Pork Belly recipe, check out some of the most popular recipes on the blog for your next lunch or dinner!

Love pork? Try my Sweet and Sour Pork recipe!

If you tried this Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

4.99 from 279 votes

Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly

Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly Cut on a plate
I've spent months perfecting this Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly recipe. I've tried many different methods at different temperatures, times, and air fryers, and this is the method that consistently puts out a crispy, puffed up skin and juicy, tender meat.

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • To the meat side, use a knife to make 1/2" deep cuts lengthwise across the pork belly. In a small bowl, combine salt, white pepper, five spice powder, sugar, and Shaoxing wine to make a paste. Evenly spread the paste on the meat side of the pork and crevices ensuring not to touch the skin.
  • Pat the skin-on pork belly dry with a paper towel and poke holes all across the skin of the pork using skewers or sharp knife. Ensure that the holes only puncture the skin and fat (do not pierce all the way through the meat). Cut the slab of pork belly so it will fit in your air fryer.
  • Create a tin foil frame around the pork belly, leaving a ยฝโ€ gap up from the edges of the pork to prevent salt from spilling over. Brush a layer of vinegar on the skin, then cover the skin completely with a layer of salt.
  • Air fry at 250F for 30 minutes or until the salt has dried completely.
  • Remove the salt from the pork belly and brush off any excess. Pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Brush the skin with neutral oil, then air fry at 400F for 30-40 minutes until the skin is puffed and crispy. Check at the 20 minute mark and every 5 minutes to monitor the skin, checking for burning, as the time will vary with different air fryers! If spots of the skin begin to burn, place a small piece of foil over the specific area to cover it and allow the exposed areas to continue crisping up.

Notes

Recipe Tips:ย 
  1. Select the Right Cut: Start with a good cut of pork belly. Look for one with a nice balance of meat and fat, as this will ensure both flavor and crispiness.
  2. Poke the Skin: Use a sharp knife or piercing tool to poke holes into the pork belly skin, just enough to pierce the skin but not too deep that it pierces into the meat. This helps the skin crisp up by allowing some of the fat to render out more easily, effectively frying the skin and allowing it to puff up.
  3. Dry the Skin: Pat the skin of the pork belly dry with paper towels. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so make sure it’s as dry as possible.
  4. Salt the Skin: Rub a generous amount of coarse sea salt into the skin. This helps draw moisture out of the skin and aids in crisping it up.
  5. Rest Before Slicing: Once done, let the crispy pork belly rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 1777kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 32gFat: 181gSaturated Fat: 66gPolyunsaturated Fat: 19gMonounsaturated Fat: 84gCholesterol: 245mgSodium: 29275mgPotassium: 649mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 37IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

Iโ€™m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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4.99 from 279 votes (115 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




216 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The recipe was an easy and not too complex recipe. At first, I was sceptical with all the salt required but I followed the recipe and it turned put great! Me and my family enjoyed it and was definitely worth trying!
    Very crispy, meat is not dry and flavoursome. So much less messier to do than the oven.
    I don’t normally leave reviews but this was so perfect that I just wanted to say Thank you for sharing the recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    C!!! J!!! Keep these air fryer recipes coming please. I cannot tell you how often Iโ€™ve made this recipe this past year. Crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The fat renders so nicely and itโ€™s much quicker than using the oven. I love this one!

  3. 5 stars
    This is one of my all time fav childhood dish! With your recipes theyโ€™re so easy to follow and access that I can now make these at home at restaurant quality level. Thank you!!