Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze

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

Tender pork belly slowly braised in a savory soy sauce and brown sugar glaze, yielding melt-in-your-mouth meat with a caramelized finish. This filipino-inspired pork ready in about 135 minutes pairs soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic cloves, smashed for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 120 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 2 pounds pork belly pieces skin side down and sear for 5-6 minutes until golden and caramelized. Flip and sear the other sides for 3 minutes. Remove pork and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 5 smashed garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Return pork belly to the pot and pour in 3/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, and 1 cup water.
  3. Step 3: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours until pork is fork-tender and sauce has thickened and coats the meat. Garnish with 2 tablespoons sliced scallions before serving.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze take to make?

Total time is about 135 minutes (15 min prep + 120 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 Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze?

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 soy sauce from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze?

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 Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze 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 Pork Belly with Soy and Brown Sugar Glaze?

Filipino 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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