Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices
Tender pork belly braised in a sticky honey apple cider glaze until fall-apart tender, paired with sweet-tart caramelized apples for a comforting weeknight meal. This american-inspired one pot ready in about 150 minutes pairs pork belly, honey, apple cider for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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
- 1.5 lb pork belly
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 medium apples
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat pork belly dry with paper towels. Season with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat, then sear pork in batches until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side.
- Step 2: Add sliced apples to the pot and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Return pork to pot. Whisk together 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup apple cider, and 2 tbsp soy sauce in a small bowl. Pour mixture over pork and apples.
- Step 3: Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with lid, and transfer to a preheated oven at 325°F (160°C). Bake for 2 hours, or until pork is fork-tender. Uncover and bake for 15 additional minutes to thicken glaze.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices take to make?
Total time is about 150 minutes (15 min prep + 135 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 Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices?
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 from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices?
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 Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices 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 Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Belly with Caramelized Apple Slices?
American one pot 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
One-pot magic. Served it with mashed potatoes and everyone asked for seconds. The glaze was the star—simple but stunning.
- ★★★★★
My whole family devoured this! The honey-glaze made the pork belly melt-in-your-mouth perfect, and the apples added the ideal sweet-tart balance.
- ★★★★☆
The pork belly was tender, but the honey glaze was slightly overpowering for my taste. Perfect for a cozy family dinner though!
