Pan-Fried Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze
Tender pork belly caramelized in a rich sweet soy sauce, served with steamed rice for a comforting meal. This Asian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs pork belly, soy sauce, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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 lb pork belly
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 2, thinly sliced green onions
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place 1 lb pork belly, trimmed and cut into 1-inch thick slices, in a bowl. Season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the pork belly slices in a single layer and cook for 5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, then add 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1 tsp minced ginger to the skillet. Stir to combine, ensuring the sauce covers the pork.
- Step 4: Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes, turning the pork occasionally, until tender and the sauce has thickened to a glossy glaze.
- Step 5: Remove the lid and increase heat to high, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 6: Transfer the pork belly to a plate and garnish with 2 green onions, thinly sliced. Serve immediately with steamed rice.








