Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin
Slow-roasted pork belly featuring a sweet maple glaze and crackling crispy skin, perfect for a savory centerpiece. This pork ready in about 190 minutes pairs pork belly with skin, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 6, 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 kg pork belly with skin
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Score the skin of 1 kg pork belly in a crosshatch pattern with a sharp knife.
- Step 2: Rub 2 tbsp kosher salt evenly over the skin and flesh, then sprinkle 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp smoked paprika over the meat side.
- Step 3: Place pork belly on a wire rack over a roasting pan skin side up. Roast for 2.5 hours until the meat is tender.
- Step 4: Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Brush 3 tbsp pure maple syrup over the skin and drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Step 5: Roast for an additional 20-25 minutes until the skin is blistered and crisp, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Step 6: Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into portions and serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin take to make?
Total time is about 190 minutes (15 min prep + 175 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 Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin?
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 with skin from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin?
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 Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Skin?
Pork 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.
