Air Fryer Pork Belly Slices
, Updated Jul 05, 2025
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Air fryer pork belly slices – this easy recipe delivers perfectly tender meat that’s simply packed with flavor! Pork belly slices are braised then smothered with barbecue sauce and air fried till irresistibly crisp, sticky and super tasty! I swear once you try pork belly slices in your air fryer you will never look back.
Ever come across a pack of pork belly slices in the supermarket and hesitated buying them because cooking them seems intimidating? Well put those fears aside, grab a pack or two and let’s get cooking!
What Are Pork Belly Slices?
Pork belly slices come from the same part of the pig that’s used for bacon. But here’s the thing: unlike bacon, these thick, juicy strips are usually unsmoked and unsalted, so you can really get creative with flavors. Each slice has a nice balance of meat and fat, which means you’ll get tons of flavor and that amazing melt-in-your-mouth texture when you cook them just right.
These thick slices, usually about ½ inch or more, are sold without the thick rind you commonly find on thick slabs of pork belly (used to make crackling). These makes them super versatile: they can be roasted, grilled, pan-fried or air fried for those crispy edges and juicy centers. And as a bonus they are also budget-friendly and easy to cook.
Why You’ll Love Cooking Pork Belly in the Air Fryer
The air fryer works like a dream here—circulating hot air to render the fat and crisp up the edges while keeping the inside juicy and rich. And unlike the oven which requires a long cooking time of at least an hour or more, the air fryer works its magic in about 30 minutes.
I mean who wants to turn on the oven during a heatwave? The air fryer is so much more economical to run, easier to clean and won’t heat up your whole kitchen.
Pork Belly Slices Recipe Ingredients
You can make this recipe with literally salt, pepper and barbecue sauce – and it will still be super tasty. But why not push the boat out a little to guarantee flavor that will knock your socks off? Let’s take a look at the key ingredients in this dish.
- Pork belly slices (obvs): I usually slice them in half if they are long strips.
- Dry rub: seasoning the pork with salt, brown sugar, paprika, ginger, garlic powder and Chinese five spice infuses each slice with tons of flavor from the off.
- Braising liquid: we will be cooking the pork belly strips in a mix of Shaoxing rice wine (or mirin), soy sauce and a little vinegar. If you don’t like using alcohol in your recipes you can simply use ginger beer, apple juice or cola.
- Finally we will be slathering the pork with barbecue sauce for that sticky caramelized smoky taste that’s impossible to resist! Use your fave BBQ sauce or make your own, check the recipe card below.
How to Cook Pork Belly Slices in the Air Fryer
- Pat the pork slices dry with kitchen paper and cover with the spice rub on both sides.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) for a few minutes. Add the wine, soy sauce and vinegar directly in the air fryer basket or ideally in a silicone liner for easy clean up. Arrange the slices in a single layer in the basket.
- Cook for 20 minutes, turning them over halfway through so they cook evenly. Place the slices on a rack, spaced slightly apart so that they crisp up evenly.
- Crank up the heat to 400°F (200°C) and baste each slice with the barbecue sauce. Cook for an additional two minutes per side, slathering with the sauce, or until the pork belly strips have are sizzling and crisp.
- Cool slightly and serve immediately as a snack, in burger buns, sandwiches or bao buns, with sticky rice or noodles – they are delicious any which way you enjoy them!
Serving Suggestions
These beauties go with everything. Here are a few serving ideas:
- Tuck into bao buns with pickles, sriracha, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts
- Serve in brioche burger buns with coleslaw
- Serve as a shared appetizer with drinks and other nibbles
- Chop and toss into noodle bowls or fried rice (OMG, so good in fried rice!)
- Add to rice bowls (or grain bowls) with kimchi, sliced vegetables and top with a soft-boiled egg
- Skip the BBQ sauce and serve them in ramen noodle broth
Recipe Notes
- Store leftovers (very unlikely, I know) in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5–6 minutes to bring back the crispiness.
- If you don’t want to bother with the seasoning rub then a simple sprinkling of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder are more than enough.
- Don’t crowd the pork slices in the air fryer – air circulation is important so cook in batches if needed.
- This recipe was tested in my Instant Vortex air fryer. Bear in mind that different models vary and you may need to adjust the cooking time to suit your air fryer model.
Once you try my pork belly slices in the air fryer, you’ll never go back. It’s a game-changer—crispy, flavor-packed, and just super easy. Let me know in the comments how you like this recipe—and don’t forget to tag #supergoldenbakes on Instagram if you share your pork belly creations. Happy air frying 🙂
Air Fryer Pork Belly Slices
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry rub
- 1 tbsp Chinese 5 Spice Seasoning
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp salt
For the pork belly slices
- 8 pork belly slices , sliced in half if long
- ½ cup (125ml) Chinese rice wine or see notes
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp barbecue sauce or as needed, see notes
To serve
- 1 bunch scallions (green onions) , finely sliced to garnish
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the spice rub in a small bowl.1 tbsp Chinese 5 Spice Seasoning, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic granules, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp salt
- Pat the pork slices dry with kitchen paper and cover with the spice rub on both sides.8 pork belly slices
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) for a few minutes. Add the wine, soy sauce and vinegar directly in the air fryer basket or ideally in a silicone liner for easy clean up. Arrange the slices in a single layer in the basket.½ cup (125ml) Chinese rice wine, 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Cook for 20 minutes, turning them over halfway through so they cook evenly. Place the slices on a rack, spaced slightly apart so that they cook evenly.
- Crank up the heat to 400°F (200°C) and baste each slice with the barbecue sauce. Cook for an additional two minutes per side, slathering with the sauce, or until the pork belly strips have are sizzling and crisp.
- Cool slightly, garnish with chopped scallions and serve immediately as a snack, in burger buns, sandwiches or bao buns, with sticky rice or noodles – they are delicious any which way you enjoy them!1 bunch scallions (green onions)
Notes
- Replace the rice wine with mirin or use ginger beer, vegetable broth instead.
- Store leftovers (very unlikely, I know) in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5–6 minutes to bring back the crispiness.
- If you don’t want to bother with the seasoning rub then a simple sprinkling of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder are more than enough.
- Don’t crowd the pork slices in the air fryer – air circulation is important so cook in batches if needed.
- This recipe was tested in my Instant Vortex air fryer. Bear in mind that different models vary and you may need to adjust the cooking time to suit your air fryer model.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
