21 Pork Belly Recipes for Rich, Decadent Meals

Just like the name implies, pork belly is the fatty cut of meat taken from the belly of the pig. When cured and smoked, it becomes the bacon we all know and love. When uncured and unsmoked, it’s a versatile cut of meat that can be used in everything from sandwiches and sliders to this rich, satisfying adobo. Garlic, onion, peppercorns and soy sauce work together to create a complex, savory flavor that only gets better with time—so don’t be afraid to make this dish a day ahead and store in the refrigerator, alloowing the flavors to develop. When you’re ready to serve, simply pair with jasmine rice and you’ve got dinner.

Dim sum fans will love how easy it is to make this restaurant staple at home. The steamy buns get stuffed with tender pork belly, which means this filling dish is perfect as an appetizer or entrée. The recipe yields 15 buns, so serve it at your next dinner party to really impress your guests.

Pork belly is fatty and rich, so smothering it in a sweet, tangy glaze is the perfect way to balance out the flavors and textures. This sauce recipe relies on ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and mustard powder to create a bold, complex flavor that’s the perfect topping for the tender pork belly. Make sure to brush the sauce all over the pork throughout the cooking process to achieve a caramelized, crunchy skin.

A pork dinner made entirely in the rice cooker? Yes, please! This hands-off recipe yields steamed pork belly that’s packed with classic Chinese flavors. Serve with napa cabbage for some added crunch.

Thanks to tangy homemade tzatziki, these gyros strike a perfect flavor balance. The rich, fatty pork belly is complemented by the acid in the pickled turnips and zesty dressing. Serve inside warm, homemade pita with spicy arugula for the perfect lunch or dinner treat.

This Filipino dish is traditionally made with pig face and ears as a way to eliminate waste and enjoy the whole animal. While this iteration uses pork belly instead, it retains the heartiness and complex flavor of the original. First braise and grill the pork belly, then chop and sauté until crisp. Serve over rice and top with sliced Thai chiles.

This popular Chinese street food is easy to make at home thanks to this detailed recipe. First make the pancake dough from scratch, then roll into circles and fry in hot oil. Crack an egg directly over the pancake, scramble gently, then top with pork belly and scallions. Flip and fry egg-side down until the pork is crispy and some fat is rendered. Lastly, drizzle on some mayo and sambal then roll and serve.

For an easy way to achieve expertly-crisped pork belly, look to the handy air fryer. The convenient gadget helps streamline the frying process and avoid splatter, making clean-up much easier. Serve the fried pork belly over white rice with a side of kabocha squash.

The best parts of pork belly are the crispy ends, so we love that this recipe puts them on display. Use your smoker (or set up a smoke box in your grill) to achieve smokey, savory flavor. Let the pork belly cook for about two hours, until they’ve developed a deep, caramelized color, then cover with butter and sugar and cook until tender. Cover with BBQ sauce and serve.

For a bright curry that’s bursting with sour flavor, try this Kang Hung Lay. Popular in Northern Thailand, this recipe has multicultural influences from places like Burma, India and China. Tamarind, fish sauce, and pickled garlic sauce help bring about a complex intensity of flavor.

Pork belly is perfect for sandwiches because—when prepared properly—it has a crispy skin and tender inside. This recipe is comprised of two steps: first braise the pork with Shaoxing rice wine, vegetables and spices, then slice it and fry until golden brown. Top with homemade peach hoisin sauce for a savory, spicy, and sweet sandwich everyone will love.

The secret to making this pork belly extra crispy is poking holes all over the skin, then seasoning it with a mixture of baking powder and salt to help it crisp up. After you’ve prepped the skin, cover it with the spice rub made of thyme, mustard powder, coriander, garlic and red pepper flakes. Bake until the pork is cooker through—it should be tender on the inside and golden brown and crispy on the outside.

A crunchy, tangy salad is the perfect match for rich, heavy pork belly. In this recipe, papaya salad gets punched up with fermented fish sauce and salted crab. Serve it with perfectly crispy fried pork that gets its crunchy texture from a light dusting of tempura flour.

This hearty dish is perfect for a holiday meal. Rooted in Nordic tradition, pork belly gets cooked with the skin-on to achieve delightfully crispy results, then served with red cabbage and sugar-browned potatoes. The potatoes are creamy and sweet which makes for a perfect accompaniment to the crisp and salty pork.

Pork belly on a biscuit is a delightfully rich and decadent sandwich to serve at your next backyard barbecue. The strawberry-bourbon preserves add sweetness and acidity that’s the perfect match for the pork belly’s rich, savory flavor. This recipe yields 24 biscuits, so it’s perfect for serving a crowd.

Twice baked potatoes aren’t fancy, but they are decadent and indulgent. Adding crispy pork is an easy way to elevate this simple dish. Top with melty cheddar cheese and garnish with fresh, zippy green onions.

This taco recipe takes inspiration from Southeast Asian cooking. The kale gets sautéed with fish sauce and sambal oelek, and the brined pork belly gets braised until tender. Serve the two together on crispy fresh tortillas for a fun way to elevate taco Tuesday.

Jerk pork belly and sweet potato hash is the perfect idea for a special, celebratory brunch. Serve it with crispy fried eggs and a drizzle of hot sauce for a dish your guests won’t forget. Keep in mind that the pork needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least eight hours, so make sure to plan ahead when preparing this recipe.

If you’ve never thought of making your own bacon, this recipe makes it easy to do so right in your own home. The secret to the breakfast favorite is a spice rub made of salt, brown sugar, honey, paprika and cumin. The flavors develop over the course of a week in the refrigerator, which imparts the smoky, savory flavor of bacon that we all know and love.

This sweet, caramelized pork belly stir fry is the perfect cooking project for a long weekend. It can take up to eight hours to marinate, so make sure you have ample time for flavors to develop and soak into the meat. Cook in a hot nonstick skillet, then top with scallions and serve over rice.