Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade
Tender pork belly slices marinated in a flavorful Korean gochujang sauce, grilled to perfection with a spicy-sweet finish. This Korean-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs pork belly slices, gochujang (Korean chili paste), soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork belly slices
- 3 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 stalks, thinly sliced green onions
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 3 tablespoons gochujang, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, and 1 teaspoon grated ginger. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Step 2: Add 1 pound pork belly slices to the marinade, tossing to coat each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 4 hours, to develop flavors.
- Step 3: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Remove pork belly from marinade, letting excess drip off, and grill for 3-4 minutes per side until edges are caramelized and meat is cooked through with a slight char.
- Step 4: Transfer pork to a serving plate and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds and 2 sliced green onions before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork belly slices from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Grilled Korean-Style Pork Belly with Spicy Gochujang Marinade?
Korean pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
