These air fryer maple glazed pork belly bites are one of the best snacks I have ever made. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a sweet and savory glaze that is absolutely delicious.
The air fryer does all the heavy lifting here. It gets the pork belly perfectly crispy without any deep frying, which means way less mess in the kitchen.
The maple glaze is the real star though. It has just the right balance of sweetness from the maple syrup and a little kick from red pepper flakes.
You only need a handful of simple ingredients and about 25 minutes to have these ready. They work great as an appetizer, a snack, or even as part of a bigger meal.
If you have never made pork belly in the air fryer before, this is a great recipe to start with. Trust me, you will want to make these again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Irresistibly Crispy Outside and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Inside – The air fryer gets these pork belly bites perfectly golden and crunchy while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
The Glaze Is Absolutely Addictive – The sweet maple syrup mixed with savory soy sauce and a little kick from red pepper flakes creates a flavor you will not stop thinking about.
Ready in Under 25 Minutes – From start to finish this recipe takes less than 25 minutes which makes it perfect for a quick appetizer or snack.
The Perfect Sweet and Savory Combo – The balance of maple sweetness with soy sauce and apple cider vinegar gives every bite a rich and layered flavor that tastes restaurant-quality.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Pork Belly, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
- 2 Green Onions, sliced
How To Make
Step 1
Pat pork belly cubes dry and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Arrange pork belly cubes in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 15-18 minutes, shaking basket every 5 minutes, until crispy and golden.
Step 3
While pork cooks, whisk together maple syrup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 4
Transfer cooked pork belly bites to a large bowl. Pour maple glaze over and toss until all pieces are coated.
Step 5
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Tips
Dry the Pork Belly Really Well
This is the single most important step for getting crispy pork belly bites. Use paper towels and press down firmly on every side of each cube to remove as much moisture as possible.
If the surface is still wet when it hits the air fryer, the pork will steam instead of crisping up. You’ll end up with soft, chewy bites instead of that golden crunchy exterior you’re going for.
Don’t rush this part. It takes an extra minute but makes a huge difference in the final result.
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
Pork belly has a lot of fat, and when the pieces are packed too close together, the fat renders out and pools around them. That means the bites sit in grease instead of getting hit by hot air, and they won’t crisp up properly.
Leave a little gap between each piece so air can flow around all sides. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, cook them in two batches instead of trying to squeeze everything in at once.
It takes a few extra minutes, but every single piece will come out evenly crispy and golden.
Drain the Grease Between Shakes
When you shake the basket every 5 minutes, take a quick look at the bottom. Pork belly releases a lot of fat as it cooks, and that grease collects underneath the bites.
If you notice a pool of fat building up, carefully pour it out into a heat-safe bowl before putting the basket back in. This keeps the bottom pieces from basically deep frying in rendered fat, which prevents them from getting that dry, airy crispiness on the outside.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Caramelized Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs
- Air Fryer Sticky Honey Soy Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove the skin from the pork belly before air frying?
You don’t have to, but it depends on the texture you want. Leaving the skin on can result in extra crispy, almost crackly bites, which a lot of people love. Just make sure the skin side is facing up in the basket so it gets direct heat.
If you prefer a more evenly tender bite all around, you can trim the skin off before cubing. Either way works great in the air fryer – it’s really a personal preference.
Air Fryer Maple Glazed Pork Belly Bites
- air fryer
- 1.5 lb Pork Belly, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
- 2 Green Onions, sliced
- Pat pork belly cubes dry and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Arrange pork belly cubes in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 15-18 minutes, shaking basket every 5 minutes, until crispy and golden.
- While pork cooks, whisk together maple syrup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Transfer cooked pork belly bites to a large bowl. Pour maple glaze over and toss until all pieces are coated.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.