Air Fryer Pork Belly

These crispy air fryer pork belly bites are absolutely perfect! Sink your teeth into this crunchy treat and top with a little lime juice to give your snack a light Caribbean vibe. I have to be honest, we enjoy these pork belly bites all the time in Brazil. We call them torresmo and they have to be extra crispy. That’s why the air fryer is the best kitchen appliance to use for this recipe. All of the pork belly fat drops down into the air fryer basket leaving you with the crispiest snack ever. If you enjoyed this air fryer pork belly recipe, then you have got to try this Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp. And don’t forget about dessert which you can also make right in your air fryer. This Air Fryer Dulce de Leche Cheesecake is my absolute favorite air fryer dessert recipe.

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Are These The Same As Chicharrones?

Some of us may know pork belly as chicharrones. And yes, chicharrones are the same thing as pork belly. Air fryer chicharrones with a little lime juice on top is such a popular appetizer dish in almost every Caribbean island. My husband is from the Dominican Republic and when he found out how delicious chicharrones in the air fryer was, he just couldn’t get enough. Needless to say, this is the only way we make our chicharrones from now on!

If you have never made pork belly or cracklings in the air fryer, don’t worry! This recipe is so easy that even if you’re a beginner, you will have no problem making it all on your own.

• Pork Belly – Ask the butcher to cut the pork belly into bite sized pieces to make this process easier.
• Baking Soda – Rubbing baking soda on the pork will help you achieve that crispy texture.
• Lime Juice – Tenederize the pork belly bites with freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Sazon – Because you can’t have chicharrones without a little Sazon in the mix!
• Granulated Garlic – You know that garlic is a must in every recipe I make.
• Ground Black Pepper – Add some black pepper for a little kick.
• Salt – This ingredient is self explanatory people! But make sure you always add salt to taste.

How To Make Air Fryer Pork Belly

1. First, start by cutting your pork belly into bite sized pieces. Each piece should be about 1 inch. If you want to save time, ask the butcher at your local grocery store to cut it for you before purchasing.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. You want the air fryer nice and hot when you place the pork belly bites in there.
3. In a bowl, squeeze lime juice over the chopped pork then pat dry with a paper towel. The pork should be very dry to ensure you achieve that crispy texture.
4. Next, season the pork belly with Sazon, salt, ground black pepper, baking soda and granulated garlic. Make sure to coat each piece of pork with the seasoning blend.
5. Place the seasoned pork into the preheated air fryer in one layer and air fry for 45 minutes at 400 degrees F. Trust me, if you want very crispy pork belly, this is the perfect time and temperature. Open the basket every 10 minutes throughout the cooking process and give everything a good shake.
6. Finally, remove the pork belly bites from the air fryer, serve with a few slices of lime on the side and enjoy!

Where Can I Find This Specific Cut Of Pork?

You can find pork belly in almost any grocery store. I like purchasing my pork belly from grocery stores that have a butcher. I ask the butcher to cut the pork for me into bite sized pieces before purchasing and explain that I am making pork cracklings with them. The reason I like making that comment is so they know what size to cut the pork.

Where Can I Find Sazon?

Sazon is found at most Latin American grocery store and even most large super market chains carry it. However, you can also buy Sazon by clicking here.

Storing Suggestions

Store leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend freezing pork cracklings because once they defrost, they will not have that same crispy texture.

Tips & Variations

• It’s important that your pork is very dry before adding it into the air fryer. To achieve a crispy texture, you must dry all of the excess lime juice from the pork belly by patting it dry with a paper towel. I do this before adding the dry spices.
• The baking soda is optional but it will give the pork a nice, crispy texture.
• I know that 45 minutes may seem like a long time but my pieces of pork were very chunky. If you have smaller pieces, I recommend checking on them at 25 minutes and only cooking until you have achieved your desired texture.
• When opening the air fryer every 10 minutes to shake the pork, some of the pieces may be stuck to the bottom of the air fryer. Use a wooden spoon to move the pork bites around if you need to.
• Air fry the pork belly bites in one layer at the bottom of the air fryer. If they don’t fit, cook in separate batches. I don’t recommend stacking them on top of each other.
• Always read your air fryer manual before using it.