If you’re craving big flavor with minimal effort, this Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites recipe is about to be your new favorite! Each bite is perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and packed with sweet, smoky, and salty flavor. Made easily in an air fryer with 4 simple ingredients, this recipe is perfect for an appetizer, game day snack, or indulgent weeknight treat.

Close-up of glazed, caramelized pork belly burnt ends in a white bowl with a skewer. The meat looks juicy and tender.

Why these pork belly bites are the best

  1. The flavor and texture! The crispy texture of pork belly cooked in an air fryer is so delightful, while the sticky sweet glaze and my famous BBQ seasoning give it the best flavor.
  2. They’re easy to make! You only need 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time to make these delicious pork belly bites.
  3. They’re great for every occasion! Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, game day, or just a weekend snack, these air fryer crispy pork belly bites are delicious anytime.
ingredients for smoked pork belly burnt ends on a white wood board

Ingredients

Here I explain the best ingredients for this air fryer pork belly bites recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For the exact ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Pork belly – you’ll want 2 pounds of pork belly to make this recipe. A whole pork belly sold at your local butcher shop, or stores like Costco, will be between 8-10 pounds. You can cut it into 2 pound pieces and freeze the rest for later. At my local grocery store, they sell it in 4 pound pieces, so you could buy one of those and make a double batch of these pork belly bites! If the pork belly still has skin attached, be sure to remove that before slicing up the pork belly into bites.
  • BBQ seasoning – I love this homemade dry rub. It’s a delicious combination of spices including black pepper, salt, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, mixed with brown sugar. And it’s easy to mix up in just 5 minutes. You can also use another bbq spice rub or seasoning, if you already have a favorite in your kitchen.
  • Pepper jelly and bbq sauce – I like to combine these two ingredients to make the perfect sticky-sweet glaze for the pork belly. For this recipe, I used Jackie’s Jams Jalapeno Jam. You can omit the pepper jelly and simply use bbq sauce to glaze the pork belly bites, but I love the zippy flavor the jam adds to the dish. You can also replace the pepper jelly with the syrup from these candied jalapenos. I’ve done this and oh-my-gosh, it’s good! You can also mix things up and use Korean BBQ sauce instead of traditional bbq sauce to give the recipe an Asian flavor!

Instructions

I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Cubed pork belly pieces, seasoned with spices, are evenly spread in the basket of an air fryer. The meat is pink and golden, ready for cooking.
Crispy, golden-brown pork belly pieces in an air fryer basket, showing a rich glaze and succulent texture.
  1. Cube the pork belly. Use a sharp knife to slice the pork belly into 1/2 inch cubes. It’s very important that they’re all cut the same size, and they’re no larger than 1/2 inch. I tested this recipe with 1 inch cubes and the pork belly turned out chewy, instead of crispy. Cutting them all the same size, means they’ll all crisp up perfectly in the same amount of time.
  2. Season and air fry the pork belly. Once you have your pork belly cubes, toss them in bbq seasoning. Place them in an air fryer basket in an even layer. You will probably have to do this in two batches if using a standard-sized air fryer. I used this Cosori air fryer for the recipe. Air fry the pork belly for 16 minutes, tossing halfway through the cooking time. When you toss the pork belly, be careful, as there will be a lot of grease in the bottom of the air fryer.
  3. Glaze the pork belly. After 16 minutes in the air fryer, open the air fryer basket. Use kitchen tongs to move the cubes of pork belly from the air fryer to a bowl. (Note: if you’re cooking the pork belly in two batches, wait until both batches are cooked and in the bowl together before proceeding with the next step.) Toss the pork belly with bbq sauce and pepper jelly until they’re fully coated. Place all of the pork belly bites back in the air fryer. It’s okay if they’re overlapping at this point. Cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F to caramelize the sauce on the outside. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
A hand with red nail polish holds a toothpick, picking up a glazed, caramelized pork belly bite from a bowl filled with similar pieces. Red-striped cloth is in the background.

Ways to serve them

I like to serve these pork belly bites as an appetizer at parties with toothpicks for little bite-sized snacks. But you can also add them to tacos, sandwiches, pasta, and more. I promise you’ll want to make them over and over again and try them in each way!

  • Tacos – toss these air fryer pork belly bites in a tortilla with some pineapple salsa and you’ve got a sticky sweet, delicious dinner!
  • Sandwiches – add the pork belly bites to a toasted roll with an extra drizzle of bbq sauce and coleslaw for a simple, tasty meal.
  • Mac and cheese – toss these bites on top of mac and cheese for an incredible comfort food meal.

More air fryer recipes

Utilize your air fryer every day of the week with all of these delicious recipes!

Air Fryer Steak

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Air Fryer Meatloaf

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Close-up of glazed, caramelized pork belly bites in a white bowl
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Air Fryer BBQ Pork Belly Bites

These Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites are crispy outside, tender inside, and packed with sweet, smoky flavor. Made with just 4 ingredients, they're easy to make for an appetizer or game day snack!
Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds pork belly, diced into ½ inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons bbq seasoning, click link for my homemade recipe
  • ¼ cup bbq sauce
  • 1 tablespoon pepper jelly

Instructions

  • Slice the pork belly into ½ inch cubes, then toss them with the bbq seasoning until they're fully coated. Place the seasoned cubes of pork belly in a single layer in an air fryer basket. (You'll probably have to do this in two batches.)
  • Air fry at 400°F for 16 minutes, tossing halfway through the cooking time.
  • Open the air fryer basket, use kitchen tongs to move the cubes of pork belly from the air fryer to a bowl.
    Note: if you’re cooking the pork belly in two batches, wait until both batches are cooked and in the bowl together before proceeding with the next step. 
  • Toss the pork belly with the bbq sauce and pepper jelly until they're fully coated. Place all of the pork belly bites back in the air fryer. It’s okay if they’re overlapping at this point. Cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F to caramelize the sauce on the outside.

Notes

  • Store leftover pork belly bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend reheating them in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-4 minutes.
  • This recipe makes approximately 64 cubes of pork belly. I put the serving amount at 8, which means each person would get 8 bites. You can adjust this depending if you’re serving them as a meal, or as an appetizer at a party with several other snacks.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten free when made with my homemade BBQ seasoning (or a packet of gluten-free bbq seasoning).

Nutrition Facts

Calories 626kcal (31%)Carbohydrates 9g (3%)Protein 11g (22%)Fat 61g (94%)Saturated Fat 22g (110%)Polyunsaturated Fat 7gMonounsaturated Fat 28gCholesterol 82mg (27%)Sodium 131mg (5%)Potassium 268mg (8%)Fiber 1g (4%)Sugar 5g (6%)Vitamin A 194mg (4%)Vitamin C 1mg (1%)Calcium 64mg (6%)Iron 3mg (17%)
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