Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Tender pork belly slow-cooked and finished with a sticky honey-soy glaze, paired with a crisp and tangy pickled cucumber salad. This asian-inspired pork ready in about 195 minutes pairs pork belly, skin removed, soy sauce, honey for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 180 min Serves 4 Asian cuisine 600 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Place 2 lbs skinless pork belly in a roasting pan. In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp grated ginger, and 2 tsp sesame oil. Pour mixture over pork belly.
  2. Step 2: Cover the pan tightly with foil and roast pork belly for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until tender and fork-tender.
  3. Step 3: Meanwhile, make the pickled cucumber salad by combining 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes in a bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add 1 large thinly sliced cucumber and toss to coat. Let sit at room temperature.
  4. Step 4: Remove pork belly from oven and increase oven temperature to 425°F. Brush pork belly with extra honey-soy glaze from the pan and roast uncovered for 10-15 minutes until caramelized and sticky.
  5. Step 5: Slice pork belly into 1/2-inch thick pieces and serve topped with 2 tbsp sliced green onions alongside the pickled cucumber salad.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad take to make?

Total time is about 195 minutes (15 min prep + 180 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 Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad?

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, skin removed from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad?

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 Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad 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 Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Belly with Pickled Cucumber Salad?

Asian 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.

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