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Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites

Air fryer pork belly bites are gloriously crispy on the outside, yet juicy and tender on the inside. Made with just a few simple ingredients, you’ll be hooked after your first bite.
Course Appetizer, Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer pork belly bites, air fryer recipe, pork belly
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 46 pieces
Calories 73kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pork belly (organic - pat dry with a paper towel. Cut in 1 inch cubes)
  • 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin (ground)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (pure syrup)

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, add the rub ingredients. Mix together with a fork or whisk.
    1.5 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • Place pork belly pieces in a medium mixing bowl.
    1 pound pork belly
  • Add combined spices to the pork, along with the olive oil and maple syrup. Blend well with rubber spatula, making sure the pork belly cubes are completely covered.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • Remove trays from the air fryer, preheat air fryer to 395 and set the cooking time to 15 minutes.
    If you have the basket type of fryer, leave the basket in while you preheat it.
  • Add the pork belly to the trays, leaving room between each cube.
    If you have the basket type, you may have to cook them in batches to leave room between each pork belly cube. You will add the pork belly to the basket once it comes to temperature.
  • Once the air fryer comes to temperature, add the trays to the air fryer.
  • At 7 minutes, switch the top tray to the bottom level and the bottom tray to the top level.
    If you have the basket type, shake after each 5 minutes of cooking (so twice), but don't worry that they're not touching after this point.

Notes

Helpful tips
  • Buy organic pork bellies because they don't contain antibiotics or hormones. The pork belly I buy is also humanely sourced and derived from free-range pigs.
  • Pork belly is the underside of the hog; the cut that remains after the loin and spareribs are removed. Want to read more about this cut of meat? Click here.
  • You can get pork belly from a butcher or in the meat section at your local grocery store.
  • When you cut the pork belly in squares, some of your cubes will be all fat. Cook these pieces along with the meaty ones, because these crispy little morsels are delicious. I also feed a few to my dog as a treat.
  • I bought pork belly with the skin still attached because I like to eat it. If you don't want that skin, just trim it off.
  • Even though I've yet to do this, pork belly can be cut into strips, smoked, and eaten like bacon.
  • If you want your bites to be on the spicy side, double the amounts of chili powder and chipotle powder.
  • I use maple syrup in this recipe but you can substitute brown sugar if you prefer.
  • I am using a tray type of air fryer but even if you have a basket type, the timing and temperature are the same. The only difference is you need to shake the air fryer basket twice during the cooking time.
  • Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to do this recipe in batches. My air fryer is 10 quarts, which is big, so I cook it in one batch.
  • When you put the pork belly on the trays or in the basket, try not to let the pieces touch each other. That may mean you will need to cook them in batches.
  • Try dipping some crisp pork belly in warm bbq and other sauces for even more flavor.
  • Store any leftover bites in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 6pieces | Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg