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–+ servings
Slices of crispy pork belly on a plate with a side of dipping sauce.
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Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly

Juicy, tender Chinese roast pork belly seasoned with a dry five-spice rub with a beautifully crispy crackled skin. This easy air fryer pork belly recipe yields a restaurant-quality dish straight from your air fryer!
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword air fry pork belly, air fryer roast pork, pork belly in air fryer
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 1424kcal
Author Megan

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Poke holes in the skin. Pat dry the pork skin with a paper towel. Poke small holes using a bladed meat tenderizer, fork, or knife across the skin side of the pork. Be careful to not puncture too deeply into the meat. The holes you poke the more bubbly the skin.
  • Score the meat and add Shaoxing wine. Flip the pork belly over the meat side up. Score the meat in 1-inch strips. Stop before you slice the skin. Rub or brush the Shaoxing wine into the meat and be careful to not touch the skin.
  • Mix the seasoning. In a small bowl, combine the five-spice powder, white pepper, garlic powder, sugar, and salt.
  • Add seasoning to meat. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture onto the meat side of the pork belly and rub it into all the scored crevices. Make sure to not season the skin side.
  • Wrap with foil. Place two sheets of foil perpendicular to each other and place the pork skin side up in the center. Pat dry the skin again. Fold the edges to create a boat around the pork belly leaving the top exposed.
  • Prepare the skin. Lightly brush the rice vinegar over the top of the pork skin. Do not drench the skin. Pack the sea salt in one even layer over the skin making sure the pork is completely covered.
  • Bake at 250°F (121°C). Place the pork belly in with the foil in the air fryer basket and bake at 250°F (121°C) for 30 minutes. Then remove all the salt layer from the skin and brush away any excess salt.
  • Bake at 400°F (204°C). Then increase the heat, brush with a thin layer of cooking oil, and bake at 400°F (204°C) for 30 minutes or until the skin is crispy. For an extra crispy skin layer, broil for a few more minutes. Let the pork rest in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Notes

See the Expert Tips section above for more guidance.

Nutrition

Calories: 1424kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 144g | Saturated Fat: 53g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 67g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 12754mg | Potassium: 524mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg