Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly
Tender pork belly with a crackling skin, glazed in a bright, tangy orange sauce inspired by Midwestern Chinese-American flavors. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 375 minutes pairs skin on pork belly slab, divided kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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
- 2 lbs, skin on pork belly slab
- 2 tbsp, divided kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp, grated ginger
- 1 tsp mixed with 2 tsp water cornstarch
- 2, thinly sliced for garnish scallions
Instructions
- Step 1: Score the skin of the 2 lb pork belly in a crosshatch pattern and rub 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1 tsp black pepper all over the meat side.
- Step 2: Flip the pork belly and sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp kosher salt evenly on the skin. Place on a wire rack over a baking tray and refrigerate uncovered for at least 4 hours or overnight to dry the skin.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 375°F. Rub 2 tbsp vegetable oil over the skin and roast the pork belly for 1 hour until the skin puffs and crisps.
- Step 4: While roasting, combine 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1 tbsp orange zest, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp honey, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp grated ginger in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8 minutes until syrupy.
- Step 5: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water) and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
- Step 6: Remove pork belly from oven and brush generously with orange glaze. Return to oven and roast for an additional 10 minutes.
- Step 7: Let pork belly rest 10 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces. Garnish with 2 thinly sliced scallions and serve with steamed rice or steamed buns.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly take to make?
Total time is about 375 minutes (300 min prep + 75 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 Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly?
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 skin on pork belly slab from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly?
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 Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly 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 Niles-Style Crispy Orange Glazed Pork Belly?
Chinese 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.
