Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites
This post may contain affiliate links.
These Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites are perfect for an easy weeknight snack or appetizer! Ready in under 30 minutes so that the whole family can fill their bellies fast!
Why This Recipe is a Favorite
These crispy pork belly bites are absolutely incredible! Made with just a few ingredients and jam-packed with delicious flavor, this is one appetizer you’ll make time and time again.
Pork Belly is the fatty cut of pork used to make bacon and pancetta. When you marinade it, it takes on even more flavor. And when it’s air fried, it gets beautifully crispy and tender.
It’s so delicious! The honey-bbq marinade infuses tons of flavor so every bite is sweet and savory.
It’s super easy to make. This recipe has simple steps and is incredibly forgiving, even if you’re new to air frying!
There’s only a little to clean up! Imagine zero grease splatters on your countertops and no messy pans to deal with! That’s what you’ll get. And when you’re done cooking, simply discard the cooled grease and throw the air fryer parts in the dishwasher!
If you love pork belly, be sure to try my recipe for Asian marinated pork belly next!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are the most important mom-tested cooking tips for making the pork belly bites. Use my tips and make it perfect the first time!
- Place a piece of bread in the bottom of the air fryer basket. It will absorb a lot of the rendered fat and reduce the chance of the oil smoking as the pork cooks. Plus, there’s less mess!
- Prep and marinate the pork ahead of time. You can marinate the pork belly pieces up to 18 hours in advance. That way, when everyone’s hungry, it’s ready to cook and serve!
- Don’t forget to flip the pieces of pork belly in the air fryer. Flip them every 5 minutes so that they cook evenly and crisp up on all sides.
- Don’t toss the grease! Pour the leftover grease over the veggies before roasting for a super yummy taste. You could also save the leftover fat and use it to pop up popcorn later – it’s SO good!
- Look for pork belly in a slab, not pre-sliced, since pre-sliced can often be too thin for this recipe. I order it with my monthly meat order from Porter Road.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you need a slab of pork belly, not slices, since most often, they are too thin.
Use whatever BBQ sauce you enjoy, or make my sugar free BBQ sauce recipe.
If you don’t have fresh garlic, substitute it with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
The honey adds sweetness. If you prefer agave or maple syrup, both are great substitutes.
How to Make Pork Belly Bites in the Air Fryer
This is only a summary of the steps. For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Make the honey BBQ marinade. Add the bbq sauce, honey, minced garlic, oil, vinegar, and spices to a bowl. Mix the sauce until fully combined. Set it aside.
- Prep the pork belly. Use a sharp knife to cut the pork belly into 1.5-inch wide strips, then again into square pieces.
- Transfer the pork pieces to a bowl, then pour the marinade over the pork. Mix until each piece is fully coated. Cover the bowl and set it in the refrigerator.
- Transfer the pork belly pieces to the basket. It’s totally okay if they touch each other because as they cook and the fat renders, they’ll shrink in size, and there’ll be room between the pieces.
Helpful Tips
For the best flavor, marinate the pork for at least 30 minutes, or as long as 18 hours.
To prevent sticking, use non-stick spray to grease the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the pork belly bites.
Cook for 18-22 minutes, stopping every 5 minutes to flip the pieces with a plastic-tipped spatula. This helps the pieces to crisp evenly.
Once the pork belly pieces are crispy on all sides, carefully transfer them to a plate. Serve right away with more bbq sauce for dipping!
Air Fryer Pork Belly FAQs
More than likely, the air fryer basket was too crowded. Be sure to leave a bit of room for the hot air to circulate and crisp them up.
Store any leftover bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer or on a baking sheet in a 350°F. oven.
Other Air Fryer Recipes
Appetizers, game day treats and side dishes are some of our favorite ways to use our air fryer. You can use it for frozen shrimp, burger bites or air fryer potato skins.
But don't forget the basics like air fryer eggs, juicy pork chops, and classic meatloaf!
👉 Get my printable air fryer Cook Times Chart!
After you make it, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs. pork belly
- ⅓ cup bbq sauce
- 2½ tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic minced, or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add the bbq sauce, honey, minced garlic, oil, vinegar, and spices to a small bowl. Mix the marinade until fully combined. Set it aside.⅓ cup bbq sauce, 2½ tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 3 cloves garlic, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Use a sharp knife to cut the pork belly into 1.5-inch wide strips, then again into square pieces. Transfer the pork pieces to a bowl, then pour the marinade over the pork, mixing to fully coat each piece.1½ lbs. pork belly
- Cover the bowl and set it in the refrigerator. Allow the pork to marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to 18 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Spray the basket lightly with oil to keep the pieces from sticking.
- Cook for 18-22 minutes, stopping every 5 minutes to flip the pieces with a plastic-tipped spatula. This helps the pieces to cook evenly. Once the pork belly pieces are crispy on all sides, carefully transfer them to a plate and serve while warm.
Notes
- To absorb some of the rendered fat grease and decrease the chance of smoking, place a piece of bread in the bottom of the air fryer basket before cooking.
- You can prep and marinate the pork belly pieces up to 18 hours in advance.
- During cooking, stop every 5 minutes to flip the pork belly pieces inside the air fryer basket. This will help ensure the pieces are cooked evenly and crispy on all sides.
- This recipe was created using a 6 qt. air fryer. Work in batches if you're cooking with a smaller air fryer or cooking larger quantities of pork belly.
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Fabulous