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Air Fryer Pork Belly Strips are seasoned in paprika, garlic salt and brown sugar then cooked in the air fryer to properly render the fat and crisp the pieces.
Traditional pork belly is lovely and fatty, and by cooking it in the air fryer, each bite becomes wonderfully crispy and tender. It’s an awesome combination of textures that is amplified by the mix of spices used to season it.
If you haven’t tried cooking pork belly in the air fryer, you should start with these strips because they are easy to do. It will give you insight into how to make other delicious variations, like pork belly bites and pork belly skewers that can get perfectly crisp and delicious in the air fryer.
Why You’ll Love It
- The rapid air circulation ensures that the pork belly becomes irresistibly crispy on the outside while retaining its juicy tenderness inside.
- No need to spend hours slow-roasting or dealing with the mess of splattering oil from frying. The air fryer efficiently cooks pork belly slices to perfection in a fraction of the time.
- Enjoy easy clean up after preparing pork belly. The air fryer’s design often includes removable, dishwasher-safe components, making post-cooking cleanup a breeze.
monica says: 
I shared this recipe with all of my friends and family.
annalisse says: Wow, just wow!! So good!
donovan says: I’ve always been intimidated by cooking pork belly, but your clear instructions and tips made it so easy.
What is Pork Belly?
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of cooking with pork belly and you’re wondering what it is. That’s an easy one.
Pork belly is a cut of meat that comes from the fatty portion of a pig’s under belly, not to be confused with bacon. It’s a favorite among chefs and home cooks because of its rich flavor and versatility. You can get pork belly most often from the butcher counter. It’s usually sold with the skin-on and has a generous layer of fat on top and throughout the meat that melts as it cooks.
Pork belly can be used in a variety of dishes. There are also many ways you can cook it (my favorite is crispy pork belly). The possibilities are endless! So why not give it a try and see which ways you like to eat it.
Ingredients You Need
- Pork Belly Strips: Cut the pork belly strips so that they fit in the air fryer flat without bending.
- Olive Oil: will prevent the pork from sticking to the air fryer and help crisp up the pork belly.
- Salt & Ground Black Pepper: brings out the other flavors, and feel free to adjust the amount used to fit your tastes.
- Paprika: adds a nice smoky flavor to the pork belly strips without making it spicy.
- Brown Sugar: a bit of sugar helps balance all the savory flavors of the pork and spices.
- Garlic Salt: you can use garlic powder if you’re trying to cut down on sodium.
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use the 5.5-quart Ninja MaxXL basket-style air fryer. Angie uses this 5-quart Cosori Pro LE air fryer. We also both occasionally use the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill that has an air fryer setting.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
- Meat thermometer: The only way to tell if meat is fully cooked to the right temperature is to use a meat thermometer. I use this Instant Read thermometer. It’s so quick to open the basket and check the temp.
Helpful Tips
- Overcooking the strips will lead to dry and tough meat, so be careful not to overcook it.
- The outside should be crispy and golden, and slightly browned, but not charred. The meat should not start to look dry on top.
- Each air fryer cooks differently, so keep an eye on the pork and adjust the cooking time as needed.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Belly Strips
Step One: Season the pork belly
Pat dry the pork belly strips to remove excess moisture before cooking. Brush or spray the pork with olive oil.
Mix the spices together in a bowl and sprinkle the seasoning mix on both sides of the strips.
Step Two: Air fry
Place the pork belly strips in the air fryer basket. Try not to overlap them. Cook at 400° F(200°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping once or twice to ensure even cooking.
The cook time will vary based on the thickness of the strips. Cook until the internal temperature is 190° F(90°C). The safe internal cooking temperature for pork is 145° F(65°C), but we continue to cook these strips longer because the fat needs to properly render and we like the meat to be more tender.
Where to Get Pork Belly Strips
You can purchase pork belly strips that have already been cut. I prefer a thickness of around 1 inch. Any thicker and it takes longer for the fat to render.
Look for strips that have an even amount of fat to meat ratio. That way, they won’t end up too fatty or too dry.
If you can’t find pork belly strips in your grocery, you can purchase a full slab and cut the strips yourself. You could also ask the butcher to cut strips for you. Nearly every butchers counter will have a slab of pork belly they can cut, if you ask.
If all you can find is pork belly cut into squares, that’s fine too. Depending on their size, they may take more or less time to cook.
Substitutions & Variations
- Sugar: instead of brown sugar, feel free to use maple syrup. It will give the same caramel-like flavor of brown sugar.
- Garlic salt: for those watching their sodium intake, replace the garlic salt with a combination of garlic powder and onion powder.
- International: take these air fryer pork belly strips on a trip by using spices from other countries! Some great international spices to use are Chinese Five Spice (China), gochugaru (Korea), curry powder (India), etc.
Storing & Reheating Information
Let the pork belly strips cool completely, then put the strips in an airtight container with a paper towel over the pork. They’ll last in the fridge for 3 days. To heat up the pork belly strips, reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes.
What Side Dishes to Serve?
You can serve some really easy side dishes with your main dish cooked in the Air Fryer. Sometimes, you can cook them together in the air fryer to make it even faster.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve include:
- Air fryer cauliflower
- Air fryer baked potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Corn on the cob
- Crispy smashed potatoes
- Cottage fries
Here are 30 more air fryer side dishes to try
Questions About the Recipe
Can I use this recipe for pork belly bites?
Yes! Simply cut the strips into smaller bites before adding them into the air fryer. Since the pork will be smaller, the cook time may differ, so keep an eye on them while they cook. Try this recipe for perfect pork belly bites.
Is it possible to overcook pork belly?
Yes there is a point at which you can overcook pork belly and it becomes dry and tough. That point is when the fat layer has completely rendered down into nothing. The cooking process is long for pork belly because of the amount of fat in the layers. This fat needs to break down and render so it’s not thick and rubbery when you eat it, but if you cook it too long, there won’t be any fat left.
Should I boil the pork belly first?
There is no need to boil the pork first in this recipe. Your pork belly will be just as crispy and tender without boiling it first.
What can I do with leftover pork belly strips?
There are numerous ways you can use leftover pork belly strips other than reheating them. Dice the strips into small pieces and sprinkle them over a salad or pasta to add a nice bit of meaty crunchiness to the dish. Or, leave them as strips and add them to a sandwich! We love these pork belly tacos with crunchy slaw! Anywhere you can use bacon, you can use these pork belly strips.
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Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly Strips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) pork belly strips
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) garlic salt
Instructions
- Pat dry the pork belly strips. Brush or spray on olive oil.
- Mix together the spices in a bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of the strips.
- Place the strips in the air fryer basket. Try not to overlap them. Cook at 400° F(200°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping once or twice during to ensure even cooking.
- The cook time will vary based on the thickness of the strips. Cook to 190° F(90°C) internal temperature.
Notes
- Overcooking the strips will lead to dry and tough meat, so be careful not to overcook it.
- The outside should be crispy and golden, but not browned. The meat should not start to look dry on top.
- Each air fryer cooks differently, so keep an eye on the park and adjust the cooking time as needed.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
Should this be cooked at 200°C?
Yes. Cook at 200° F for 12-15 minutes, flipping once.
If you’re cooking at below the boiling point of water, it’s not possible for it to get crispy. I’m pretty sure you mean 200°C (390°F) and NOT 200°F.
The safe internal pork cooking temperature for fresh pork cuts is 145°F (63°C), so there’s no need to get the internal temperature up to 190°F (88°C).
Yes, you’re right. We have lived in the UK or a long time and use 200°C so much that I typoed it. It’s fixed now. We do cook it to 190 though, because that helps to render the fat and make it tender.
I shared this recipe with all of my friends and family.
Thanks Monica!
The air fryer is definitely the way to go for cooking pork belly strips.
We agree!
Wow, just wow!! So good!
I’ve always been intimidated by cooking pork belly, but your clear instructions and tips made it so easy.
Glad to hear it Donovan!
What’s the best way to reheat these pork belly strips without losing their crispy texture?
You can reheat them in the air fryer at 350° F for 2-3 minutes. Check them at that point and see if they need more time.
Used this recipe last night adjusted for 2 lge pork strips. Cut them in half. Just fitted in my Phillips air fryer (the basic model) which only goes up to 200Degrees C. Turned them
Once halfway through cooking. Came out scrumptious.
Thank you for this recipe. Just right for two 80 yr olds!
Did creamy potato mash and steamed broccoli with cheese sauce.
Glad to hear you liked them, Edith.
Does the fat get rendered enough cooking it this way?
Absolutely! You will have to try cooking pork belly this way. It’s so easy!
I dream about these pork belly strips. They get cooked perfectly in the air fryer.
Me too, Marcus!