If you can't stand deep frying and messy kitchen, try something very different - Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites in Hot Honey Cajun Glaze. Richly tender, crispy and flavorful, they are ridiculously easy to make in the air fryer!
For more easy Air Fryer recipes, try Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Fish Sandwich.
Cajun food style pork belly tastes great in the air fryer because the hot circulating air crisps the outside of pork belly while keeping the inside juicy and tender. The air fryer also caramelizes and develop deeper Cajun taste without excess oil, making the pork belly crispy, flavorful, and healthier compared to frying. This method also cooks it quickly and evenly, locking in the spices and producing restaurant-style pork belly bites at home.
Why you'll love this recipe
Air fryer pork belly bites require less oil and absolutely zero mess compared to the traditional frying method. They are perfectly seasoned with Cajun Creole blend, and then glazed with Hot Honey and Apple cider vinegar to help cut the richness of pork with some spice and acidity.
One of things everyone loves about their air fryer is how it can make foods crispy without using a ton of oil. Go crispy air fryer pork belly bites!
What is pork belly exactly
Pork belly is where bacon comes from, pork belly bites are uncured cuts of pork belly so you can call them uncured bacon.
When cooked right it turns out tender, flavorful, and you can't really tell that it's a fatty cut of meat. No wonder it's a staple in so many ethnic cuisines: Japanese Chashu (popular in ramen dishes) and Taiwanese Gua Bao (braised pork belly in a steamed bun), just to name a few.
Pork belly bites are super versatile and very affordable! You can sear them, roast them or pressure cook them. They are also excellent when braised, air-fried and even grilled, something that a thin strip of bacon just can't do.
Pork belly doesn't contain the additives often found in bacon. However, because it's high in fat it should be enjoyed in moderation.
Ingredients and why you'll need them
- Pork belly: I love this ingredient! Although bacon also comes from the pork belly, the two are very different. Pork belly is not processed and not cured, it's completely natural.
- Cajun: It essentially means 'cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt'. However, there are endless variations. The 'cayenne black pepper salt' combo is the core of pretty much ALL of them though, and is what I think most people 'taste think' when they think of Cajun spice.
- Granulated Garlic: Using fresh garlic isn't always best. Honestly I like to cut corners and am incredibly lazy. The convenience of the dried garlic with a busy lifestyle is pretty hard to resist.
- Granulated Onion: I prefer onion powder over fresh onions. Different flavor, convenient, more concentrated. Also, no matter how many times people helpfully explain to me how easy it is to peel and cup onions and garlic, sometimes I'm in a real rush and have to triage.
- Olive oil: I also like to use avocado oil or non stick olive oil.
- Hot Honey: It's spicy honey. I really like it on pork belly bites. The sweet and spicy really adds to the savoriness of pork belly a lot better than just hot sauce alone.
Here's How to Air Fry Pork Belly Bites
1. Cut Pork Belly into Bites
Cut your pork belly into bite sized chunks and toss them with Cajun seasoning, granulated garlic and granulated onion.
2. Air Fry and Shake
Arrange the pork belly cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and ai fry for 13 minutes at 400 F., shaking halfway through to ensure even cooking.
3. Make Hot Honey Sauce
While the pork belly bites are cooking, combine honey, hot sauce, lemon pepper and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth and slightly runny.
4. Pour the Sauce and Toss
Once you transfer the cooked pork belly bites into a mixing bowl, pour the warm glaze from the saucepan over the pork and toss to coat evenly.
Return the glazed pork belly bites to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
5. Return Pork Belly Bites to Air Fryer
Once cooked & crispy on all sides, remove the pork belly bites, add to a separate bowl with the remaining sauce (discard the air fryer sauce completely if it loses its taste).
Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites in Hot Honey
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Ingredients
- 1 lb pork belly cut into 1-inch bite-sized cubes
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss pork belly with Cajun seasoning, salt, black pepper, and oil.
- Arrange the pork belly cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 13 minutes, shaking halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Hot Honey sauce
- While the pork belly bites are cooking, combine honey, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth and slightly runny.
- Transfer the cooked pork belly into a mixing bowl.
- Pour the warm glaze from the saucepan over the pork and toss to coat evenly.
- Return the glazed pork belly to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve hot.
How to make pork belly in the oven
If making pork belly bites in the oven, cut them into strips, place fat side up, and cook them on a baking sheet at 400°F for 42-45 minutes. When they are tender I cut them into cubes and toss in sauce of choice and cook for another 15-20 minutes. Do not overcrowd.
Glaze with Hot Honey sauce immediately upon removing them from the oven, when hot.
Air fryer tips
- Don't use aerosol oils: Please don't use cooking spray in your Air Fryer. Doing so can ruin the coating, making it hard to use less oil during future air-frying endeavors.
- You need a good pair of tongs. Silicon tipped tongs are my go to when making air fryer pork belly. These protect the air fryer's non-stick coating from scratches, unlike metal tongs that can cause damage.
- You don't have to use liners, as the nonstick is already ridiculously easy to clean. They also reduce air flow, and airflow is the whole reason air fryers work. Even if the liners have holes in the bottom, it's still stopping air flow.
- Your air fryer may need slightly more time to cook. Keep in mind that air fryers have different power levels so a recipe made for one machine may take a little more or less time in yours. In time you will get an idea where yours is on the spectrum.
- Use it to cook bacon. 8-10 minutes at 400°F depending on thickness. No need to turn. Easy pour-off of the residual bacon fat for use in making every other dish you cook awesome.
- Clean your air fryer after every time you use it. It'll save you a lot of time in the future. I've seen some nasty air fryer pics out there. Personally, I wash it after every use. The less often you clean it, the more likely you'll get burnt buildup which then gets harder and harder to remove as times goes on. And since it's all supposed to be non-stick, you can't go to town with a hardcore sponge once a month to remove it all since it'll most likely remove the non-stick too :).
Kaylee says
Love these
Olya says
Thank you!