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Home Collections Roasts

Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

By:Nagi
Published:9 Apr '21Updated:30 Apr '25
693 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

This slow-roasted pork belly cooks confit-style in its own fat, yielding ridiculously juicy, tender meat and crowned with the most amazing crispiest crackling of your life. It comes down to 3 game-changing tips: 1) Don’t score the skin; 2) Roast low, then finish hot; 3) Keep the pork level with foil balls.

Perfect meat, perfect crackling … Every. Single. Time! Bonus: Make-ahead friendly.

Overhead photo of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly with Apple Sauce and Jus

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Side photo of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly with Jus and Apple Sauce

Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

Now that you’ve scrolled past the photos above, is it fair to say I have your attention? 😉

When we’re talking about roasted pork belly, I feel like the pursuit of bubbly, perfectly crispy pork crackling goes without saying. And I assure you, the simple steps in this recipe are designed around delivering that end goal reliably, every single time!

So, we can all agree on what defines awesome crackling, but what about the meat? For me, it’s about cooking it to that perfect point where the fat is oh-so-soft, the meat is extremely tender, but not so tender that it falls apart “at a touch” like pulled pork. I specifically want it to be sliceable (what is a roast, if it can’t be carved?) so it presents nicely, but is beautifully tender when you start eating it.

We achieve this by firstly cooking slowly at a low temperature, while using a trick with foil to get a confit effect that keeps the flesh parts bathed in fat as it cooks. Finally we hit the pork with maximum heat to develop the amazing crackling!

Like THIS. ↓↓↓ The best of both worlds!!

Fine dining restaurant plating of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
Slices neatly (pictured here with vermouth jus) ….
Showing how tender the meat is of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
… but the flesh is incredibly tender!!

How to make Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly: Overview

Here is how to make the best pork belly of your life, in 5 simple steps (read further below for the why):

  1. Dry the skin, preferably leaving it uncovered overnight in the fridge;

  2. Oil and season both the flesh and the skin, then wrap the flesh sides with foil, leaving skin exposed. DO NOT SCORE (Game-changing tip #1);

  3. Roast in a slow oven for 2 1/2 hours at 140°C/285°F so the flesh becomes tender;

  4. Level the pork so the skin is level (ie. as horizontal as possible) by propping up the belly with balls of foil beneath. This makes the crackling cook evenly = perfect crackling. (Game-changing tip #2); and

  5. Blast it finally at 240°C/465°F for 30 minutes to make the skin bubble and form the crackling!

See below for my usual full instructions along with process photos!

The secret to the best perfect pork crackling is to level the skin!
The secret it perfect crackling is to level the skin so there’s even heat distribution. Otherwise, the highest point burns before the lowest part has a chance to crisp up to crackling!

The result: The crackling will be ultra-crispy from edge to edge. What’s more, the crackling will have the perfect texture that we are looking for: Bubbly, puffy and crispy skin that shatters into a thousand porky shards in your mouth when you bite into it. Not that rock-hard, smooth-surfaced crackling you sometimes encounter that feels like is going to dislodge a tooth! Sure it’s crispy but it’s hard – and that stuff is just not pleasant to eat.

Meanwhile, beneath our perfect crackling is ridiculously tender meat interspersed with layers of nicely rendered fat that’s soft and giving, so that each mouthful is a juicy, porky joy.

My method is so insanely simple, yet yields such exceptional results, that it’s almost unbelievable. Let me reiterate again. You are 5 simple steps away from THIS!!! ↓↓↓

Close up photo of crispy crackling of Slow Roasted Pork Belly

What you need to make the best Roasted Pork Belly of your life

Here’s what you need to make slow-roasted pork belly. Yes, really, this is ALL you need! Pork belly is such a flavourful and rich cut, that all we need is simple seasoning and some slow-roasting magic – you don’t need anything more!

Ingredients in Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
  • Pork belly – Here’s what to look for to find the perfect piece of pork belly!

    • Even thickness – Look for a piece that is even in thickness as possible and at least 3.25 cm / 1.3″ thick, with nice layers of fat between the flesh. If it’s too thin, the flesh will cook faster and may become too tender before the required cook time needed to soften the skin in preparation for becoming ultra-crispy crackling;

    • Even shape – A nice even rectangle or square shape presents nicer. But unlike the thickness, it is not as important for even cooking and great crackling;

    • Flat skin – Seek out a piece of pork belly with dry, flat, and smooth skin as opposed wrinkled and wet like you can get with vac-packed belly. This is important for consistent crackling, and especially true where there are wrinkles – crackling never goes crispy inside the wrinkles;

    • NO SCORING! That’s right, I’m busting one of the top myths out there about developing great crackling. There’s NO need to score the skin for perfect crackling! Not only is it unnecessary, it’s downright dangerous to the end result. Why? Well if you make even a small mistake with scoring you can compromise the crackling due to meat juices rising up and flooding the skin. And believe me, inexperienced butchers make that mistake all the time! More on my anti-skin-scoring philosophy below!

    • Avoiding vac-packed belly is better – Freshly cut pork belly from the butcher is better than supermarket pork belly that’s been sitting in a vacuum pack for who-knows-how-long. Butcher meat is not only typically better quality, but as mentioned, vacuum-packed meat = skin soaking in wet juices + wrinkled skin = inferior crackling. While fresh pork belly = nice and dry, flat skin = amazing crackling. (This concludes my pork crackling maths lesson … 😂)

      You will still get awesomely crispy crackling with supermarket vac-packed pork belly IF you leave the pork uncovered overnight in the fridge to dry the skin out properly. But it’s still better if you get non vac-packed belly!

    • Better quality pork = a better result – Not all pork is equal. The happier the pig, the better the quality of pork, and the better the end result. This means better flavour, more tender and juicier meat, and better crackling. So if you can afford it, source high quality free-range pork or the best pork you can afford from a butcher. Cheap pork belly can also sometimes be injected with stuff like brine which, contrary to belief, actually doesn’t roast up as tender (as I found out first hand once). One cheap supermarket pork belly took over 3 1/2 hours to become tender!

  • Fennel powder – This is ground fennel seeds, either pre-bought or you can grind whole seeds yourself. Fennel is a classic pairing with pork, and the addition here adds a subtle floral, aniseed flavour that doesn’t overpower. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t have it, by the time the roast is done it has mellowed to a background flavour. The pork itself is the key taste here, especially because you get such great flavour development with the slow roasting!

  • Oil – This is to make the seasonings stick to the flesh and skin, as well as encourage the crackling. Pork belly is so fatty, you don’t need to add extra fat! Any oil will work fine. I use olive oil; and

  • Salt – This is so important for great crackling! You see all those bubbles on the skin? That’s caused by the application of salt. While I cannot explain the exact mechanism here, I can tell you that no salt = no bubbly crackling! You’ll just be left with a flat and hard sheet of skin, like you see on the side of rolled pork loins (because salt doesn’t stick to it).

    Sprinkling the salt evenly across the surface of the skin, from edge to edge, is key for great crackling!

How to make Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

Don’t score skin for perfect crackling!

Yes, you read that right. Don’t score the skin, for the best crackling!

All your life, experts have been telling you that scoring pork skin is the trick to great crackling. I’ve heard explanations ranging from greater heat exposure to the need for fat to drip out and fry the skin. Well, all your life, these experts have had it wrong!

Firstly, I do believe that the fat bubbling out from under the skin helps to make the crackling crispy. This is true. But a light rub of oil does the same job. And literally, I mean 1/2 tsp for 1kg / 2lb of pork belly.

But secondly and frankly more importantly … People (home cooks, inexperienced butchers) botch the scoring all the time and this compromises the crackling. How? Well, the problem is if you cut through the skin and fat down into the flesh by mistake, even the tiniest prick can doom your crackling. This is because as the meat roasts, juices from the flesh will bubble up through that tiny hole and spread on to the pork skin. All that careful work to ensure dry skin is now wasted as the skin parts touched by those juices no longer can crisp and will end up rubbery! Even a small slash into the flesh can create a rubbery patch of 3 – 4cm / 1.5″+.

The takeaway: Don’t score! It’s not necessary and it’s RISKY!

How to make Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly: In detail

I’ve summarised how to make this pork belly in a few short steps earlier. Here is now my usual process step description and photos with plenty of detail so you can be confident you’ll nail your perfect belly first go!

Part 1. Preparation

How to make Slow Roasted Pork Belly with crispy crackling
  1. Dry skin overnight – If time permits, it is highly recommended you leave the pork belly uncovered on a plate overnight in the fridge, to let the skin dry it. This is the biggest insurance for excellent crackling quality, and especially if you are using vac-packed supermarket pork belly (ie. where the skin is soaked with juices).

    If you don’t have time for this, pat the skin dry very, very well using paper towels and/or tea towels. Your fingers should glide across the skin smoothly and there should be no sweaty, tacky feel to it at all;

  2. Oil and season flesh – Set belly flesh-side up. Drizzle the flesh (only, for now) with oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and fennel powder. Then rub the flesh to distribute, including the sides, being sure to get right into all the cracks and crevices;

  3. Wrap flesh with foil – Flip the belly over so the skin side is up. Use 2 sheets of foil to make a little open box enclosing the belly tightly, while leaving the skin exposed. Fold the sides, pinch and seal the corners to encase it as snugly as you can while ensuring it won’t leak. The purpose of this is twofold:

    a) Protect the exposed flesh of the pork belly to ensure it doesn’t dry out during the 2 1/2 hours slow roasting time; and

    b) Catch the pork belly fat as it melts so the flesh almost cooks like confit. Confit is an age-old French technique where duck, pork and other meats slowly cook submerged in their own fat until incredibly tender. The fat moderates temperature, while preventing moisture and flavour loss. The extra flavour and juiciness you get simulating this method with this pork is outrageous. Outrageous! 🙂

    Then place the foil-enclosed pork belly on a small (or regular) baking tray; and

  4. Sprinkle salt EVENLY across skin – Rub the skin lightly with just 1 teaspoon of oil. Then sprinkle the salt evenly across the whole surface, from edge to edge. This is essential to ensure you get a nice, bubbly and crispy crackling, rather than a rock-hard flat sheet of impenetrable skin. Salt = bubbles and perfect crunch. No salt = flat and hard skin!

Part 2. Roasting

How to make Slow Roasted Pork Belly with crispy crackling
  1. Slow roast 1 1/2 hours – Roast the pork in a 140°C/285°F oven (120°C fan) for a total of 2 1/2 hours. Keeping the temperature this low allows the meat to become tender, for the fat to render (melt) so we get the “confit” cooking effect, and also to dry out the pork skin yet keep it supple.

    As counterintuitive as it might sound, keeping the pork skin initially soft is super-important during the slow roast phase. Without this, the bubbles that develop and harden into great crackling cannot form.

    If the pork skin becomes too hard too early during the slow roasting phase, the bubbles cannot expand to form the kind of crackling we’re after when we get to the high heat final stage. And it’s a very sad occasion indeed, when this happens. (I found out myself first hand that this occurs at around 170°C/340°F when I got impatient one day and tried to fast-track crackling – failing miserably!)

    2 1/2 hours is the amount of time it takes for a 1 kg pork belly that is 3 cm / 1.2″ thick to roast so the flesh is very tender, but not to the point that it “falls apart at a touch” and is no longer slice-able. We’re not going for pulled pork here, this is a roast! But of course, we do want it beautifully tender. 🙂

  2. Tighten foil wrapping midway through cooking – At the 1 1/2 hour mark, remove the pork from the oven and tighten the foil. We do this because the pork will have shrunk considerably by this time, leaving a gaping space around the pork. We want the foil snug. As mentioned above, this is for flesh protection and to keep the fat levels up as high as we can, for our confit effect;

  3. Return to oven – Once you’ve tightened the foil, return the pork to the oven for a further 1 hour. So a total of 2 1/2 hours slow roast time;

  4. Check flesh – At the end of the 2 1/2 hours, remove the pork from the oven. Use two forks to gently prise apart the meat on the side of the belly to ensure it comes apart without too much effort. Remember, there’s another 30 minutes cooking to come!

Part 3. Get cracklin’ – Level skin and final heat blast!

Level the pork skin – This is my not-so-little secret anymore for perfect pork crackling, tried and loved by readers from all over the world with my crispy Roast Pork Shoulder recipe!

In this step, we use scrunched up balls of foil stuffed under the roast to get the the skin of the pork belly as horizontal as possible. An oven is always hottest at the top and cooler the further down you go, so this encourages even heat distribution of heat across the skin and in turn, evenly developed crackling. Without it, your crackling will be patchy, with some parts more likely to be burnt while other parts are underdone.

It’s something I started doing after observing whenever I was roasting pork shoulder or belly. The meat would inevitably become a bit warped and skewed as it roasted, causing the skin to present a sloped surface even if it started out flat. When I then increased the heat to very high to crisp up the crackling, the highest points of the skin surface would crisp up the best, but would become burnt before the lower parts were done.

The solution? Use balls of foil to prop the meat up to make the skin as level / horizontal as possible. This gives us crackling that cooks evenly, and perfect crackling every time!

How to make Slow Roasted Pork Belly with crispy crackling

With this explanation out of the way, here are the roasting steps.

  1. Crooked pork – Here is what the pork belly looks like after the 2 1/2 hours of slow roasting. Though it started out flat, the skin surface is now sloped down and to the left relative to the tray. Without levelling the pork skin, the right side will crackle up beautifully while the left part won’t. If I kept cooking it the highest points on the right would eventually burn!

  2. Prop up with foil to correct – Use balls of foil stuffed under the roast to prop up the lowest points of the pork belly to make the skin as level and horizontal as possible;

  3. Pork belly now straightened – And this is what it looks like after straightening it up;

  4. Hot oven 30 minutes to develop crackling – Crank oven to 240°C/465°F and put pork back in for 30 minutes, observing and rotating as needed to encourage even cooking, until the skin is golden, puffy and super-crispy;

  5. Rest 10 minutes – Rest the pork belly for 10 minutes before slicing. This is absolutely essential for the pork belly because it’s soooo crazy-juicy, that resting allows the pork juices to redistribute throughout the meat. If you skip this step, the juices that should be in your mouth will just run everywhere when you slice it. However note that since belly is so much juicier (and fattier!) than most cuts of pork, you will still get quite a lot of meat juices running out onto the cutting board regardless when you slice it! Nothing to worry about.

  6. Slice and serve – After resting, the pork is ready for slicing. Are you ready to hear the insane crispiness of the crackling when you start slicing through it??

    You don’t have to wait until you cook it – Turn on your sound and hit PLAY below for a quick preview!

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Close up photo go crispy crackling of Slow Roasted Pork Belly

Notice how this pork belly can be neatly sliced, as opposed to the meat shredding when sliced. If you roast for a total of 3 – 4 hours, you will get a “fall-a part tender”, pulled pork-type result. It still has great flavour but was just not what I was after here.

Side photo of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

But if you’re at all concerned about how tender the flesh is, it’s THIS tender!! ↓↓↓

Showing how tender the meat is of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

Pork belly this good with meat this juicy actually doesn’t need a sauce. You have plenty of flavour in the flesh already – remember we seasoned it well, and it was cooking in its own fat which locks in tastiness.

But I know there are many of you around these parts who are sauce fanatics (like yours truly!). Thus I wanted to go the extra mile to make a couple of special sauces, worthy of an amazing dish like this pork belly. So today, we’re going all the way and I’m sharing two beautiful sauces specifically created for this pork belly:

  • Apple Sauce; and

  • Vermouth Jus

Freshly made Apple Sauce in a saucepan
Apple Sauce for Crispy Slow Roasted Pork Belly
Overhead photo of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
Close up of spoon drizzling Vermouth Jus
Vermouth Jus for Pork Belly

Two special sauces for Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly!

  1. Apple Sauce! Apple is a time-honoured partner for pork on the plate, and Apple Sauce is one of the most classic expressions. This Apple Sauce is made with just fresh apples, vinegar, sugar and water and is as fine as they come.

    Delicious as this thick puree of apple is, I did however feel that the Apple Sauce and pork needed a third player – some kind of meat-based sauce – to truly bring this pork belly dish together. I settled on Vermouth Jus, which is intended to be served with the Apple Sauce. Served as a trio, this is a stunner of a dish!

  2. Vermouth Jus – If the word jus calls to mind fine dining French restaurants, you’d be right. Jus can be thought of as the premium version of gravy. It’s more savoury and intense than gravy, with a natural thickness from the meat stock it’s made from. And it’s clear and shiny, whereas gravy is more “clouded” because it’s thickened with flour.

    Usually it is drizzled sparingly (and artfully) over carefully prepared plates of meat at pricey high end restaurants. Made with a heavily concentrated homemade beef stock with extra flavour and complexity thanks to the addition of vermouth, this jus catapults pork belly from “just” excellent home cooking into the echelons fine dining restaurant kitchens (in my humble opinion!). See this mouthwatering recipe here.

    Side note: If you’re wondering why it’s made with beef stock instead of pork stock, it’s because beef stock has a cleaner savoury flavour, whereas pork stock is quite… porky. Too porky. Especially in concentrated jus form!

Fine dining restaurant plating of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
Pork Belly, plated up fine dining restaurant style! Here we have a smear of Cauliflower Puree, topped with slices of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly, served with Vermouth Jus and Apple Sauce.

More sauce options for Pork Belly

Of course, don’t feel limited to these two suggestions. There are plenty of other sauce options. Here are some more (simpler!) sauce suggestions for this Pork Belly.

  • Honey Mustard Sauce – Use the dipping sauce in Note 2 of my Chicken Tenders recipe. This sauce is a little bit sweet, a bit savoury, and goes perfectly with all pork!

  • Dijon Mustard – Keep it simple with just a dab of good, plain mustard, straight out of the jar. Make sure it’s at room temperature and use the best you have!

  • Salsa verde – The tangy profile and fresh herbs in this dazzling green sauce is perfect with rich pork belly.

  • Cauliflower Puree – Typically I serve Cauliflower Mash as a side dish, but if you puree it up thoroughly so it’s completely smooth (as pictured in post), it will easily function as a delicious and elegant serving sauce.

  • Pea Puree – Similarly, pea puree can do double duty both as a side dish and as a sauce. The colour looks particularly stunning against the golden brown, crispy crackling!

  • Honey Garlic Sauce – Use the sauce in Note 6 of this recipe, but simmer it on the stove for a few minutes on low heat to reduce and thicken.

  • Mushroom Gravy or plain Gravy – Because who can say no to pork with gravy, ever??

  • Chimichurri Sauce – Take this pork in a South American direction with this piquant parsley/garlic sauce. It’s an excellent match with all kinds of proteins, and pork is no exception!

  • BBQ Sauce – Go Southern USA-style by making a batch of the BBQ Sauce in this recipe and serve with the pork.

Bonus: How to plate up Pork Belly, fine dining-style!

Given I’d gone to all the effort of making two restaurant-style special sauces especially for this pork belly, I figured I may as well go all out and shoot for some poncy restaurant-style presentation too! You’ll see me putting the above plate together in the recipe video below. Here are the elements on the plate, in order of plating:

  • Cauliflower Puree – This is simply my Cauliflower Mash, pureed until completely smooth using a stick blender. Simply dollop a big spoonful on the plate, then smear in one fluid motion in a semi circle across the plate;

  • Slices of Pork Belly – Slice about 1.5cm / 3/5″ thick, then trim so they are neat and all the same size. Fan a few slices on top of Cauliflower Puree ;

  • Vermouth Jus – Just about 1 1/2 tablespoon is all you need here as it’s an intensely flavoured sauce. Spoon a little over the pork, and the remainder pooling next to the pork slices;

  • Apple Sauce – Three little dollops, piped on using a squeeze bottle (or ziplock bag with the corner snipped). Alternatively make a single quenelle using two spoons. I am not huge on fruit with savoury foods, so this is enough for my taste. Bear in mind that you get plenty of flavour from the Vermouth Jus so the Apple Sauce is just to add a touch of fruity sweetness;

  • Edible flowers – Over-excitement about my newly planted herb garden = excessive use of edible flowers lately! You do have to admit it looks pretty, right?? A small edible flower plant costs less than buying a container of edible flowers from the grocery store, and will keep producing. Get down to your local nursery! 😇

  • Watercress – Just a littering of small watercress sprigs to add a touch of green to the plate.

Fine dining restaurant plating of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

And there you have it! My attempt at bringing a little fine dining class into my home, and hopefully demystify it for you too!

How’d I do? 🙂 – Nagi x

PS. Just for reassurance, you can bypass everything above but the pork belly and still be left with a plate of knee-buckling deliciousness. Make no mistake, the pork is the star of this recipe! Slice the pork belly, serve with mash, a green bean salad with a dab of Dijon Mustard or a simple homemade gravy as the sauce, and you’ll be eating as well as anyone tonight. Swoon!!!


Watch how to make it

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Side photo of Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly with Jus and Apple Sauce

Slow-Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

Author: Nagi
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 3 hours hrs
Drying skin in fridge: 1 day d
Main
Western
4.99 from 347 votes
Servings4 – 5 people
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above. This is a pork belly that's slow-roasted so the fat renders and cooks the belly confit-style in its own fat. The result? Ridiculously juicy, impossibly tender yet still-sliceable meat, crowned with the most amazing crispy crackling of your life. It comes down to three simple, game-changing techniques: 1. Do NOT score the skin; 2. Low heat followed by high heat; 3. Keep the pork level using balls of foil.
Perfect meat, perfect crackling … Every. Single. Time! (Read the post for all the details on how to do it right!)
Bonus: Excellent for make ahead, reheats 99% perfectly the next day. See notes.

Ingredients

  • 1kg / 2 lb pork belly with skin on , NOT SCORED. Look for 3 – 3.5cm / 1.2 – 1.6" thick, even thickness with flat, unwrinkled skin, preferably not vac-packed (Note 1)
  • 1 1/2 tsp olive oil , divided
  • 1/2 tsp fennel powder / ground fennel seeds , optional, Note 3
  • 1 tsp salt , cooking/kosher salt (or 7/8 tsp table salt), divided
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

For serving (as pictured in post):

  • Apple Sauce
  • Vermouth Jus
  • Cauliflower Puree , (Note 2)
  • See in post for more Sauce options
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Dry skin overnight: Place pork belly on a plate. Pat skin dry with paper towels. Leave uncovered in fridge overnight to dry out the skin. (If you don't have time, pat the skin dry as best you can).
  • Preheat oven to 140°C/285°F (120°C fan).
  • Season flesh: Drizzle flesh (only) with 1 tsp oil. Sprinkle over 1/2 tsp salt, the pepper and fennel powder. Rub all over the flesh, including on the sides, being sure you get right into all the cracks and crevices.
  • Wrap in foil: Place 2 pieces of foil on a work surface. Put the belly in middle of foil, skin side up. Fold the sides in to enclose the belly, forming an open box, pinching corners to seal tightly and make it as snug as possible. Place meat on a tray.
  • Season skin: Pat skin dry with paper towels. Rub with 1/2 tsp oil then sprinkle remaining 1/2 tsp salt evenly all over the skin surface, from edge to edge.
  • Slow roast 2 1/2 hours: Place in the oven and roast for 2 1/2 hours. After 1 1/2 hours, remove and tighten the foil (pork will have shrunk), and continue cooking. This keeps the pork fat level up as high as possible, and the flesh protected so it stays moist.
  • Increase heat: Remove pork from oven, then increase heat to 240°C/465°F (all oven types).
  • Level pork: Remove pork from foil and place on a rack set over a tray (using rack is best, but optional). Use scrunched up balls of foil stuffed under pork to prop up so the skin surface is as level and horizontal as possible (see photos in post).
  • 30 minutes on high heat! Place the pork back in the oven for 30 minutes, rotating after 15 minutes as needed, until the crackling is deep golden, puffy and crispy all over. If some patches are browning faster, protect with foil patches. ⚠️ Open oven with care as it will be smokey – open your windows!
  • Rest 10 minutes: Remove pork from oven. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
  • Serving: Slice into 2cm / ⅘"-thick slices using a serrated knife. Pictured in post with Apple Sauce and Vermouth Jus, with a side of Cauliflower Puree (Note 2)! See directions in post for how to plate it up as pictured (fine dining style!), as well as a list of more sauce options.

Recipe Notes:

1. Pork Belly selection tips:
a) Best to get one not vacuum packed. Vac-packed = skin soaking in juices. You can still get great crackling with this recipe (I’m confident as have done so many times) but if yours is vac-packed, I really recommend doing the overnight drying uncovered in the fridge, or as long as you can (insurance policy).
b) Flat piece with skin that is not wrinkly crackles best (wrinkly skin = imperfect crackling because heat can’t get to it as well).
c) NOT SCORED – You don’t need it for perfect crackling. And risk of dodgy scoring by junior butchers is too high! Even the tiniest pin prick into flesh will cause meat juices to bubble up onto the skin and you’ll end up with rubbery patches. I am not exaggerating.
See in post for further information on what to look for when purchasing your pork belly.
2. Cauliflower Puree pictured in post is my Cauliflower Mash recipe. Pea Puree (side / sauce!) is also a stunner. If you use a rich buttery Mashed Potato, you won’t need much. Belly is rich!
3. Fennel powder – Ground fennel seeds. Fennel is a classic pairing with pork, and I love it, but it’s not critical for the recipe. Grind your own: Grind 1 tsp of lightly toasted fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to yield 1/2 tsp fennel powder. 
4. Roasting time for larger belly – 2.5kg/5lb took me 3 hours slow roasting (ie with foil). Smaller might take slightly less than 2 1/2 hours but not by much (there’s a minimum time meat fibres need to break down).
5. Storage and reheating – Leftover pork belly keeps and reheats well. Keep for up to  3 – 5 days. To reheat, it’s recommended you separate the crackling. Reheat meat in microwave, and crackling in a hot oven to retain crispiness. You can also slice and pan fry, or eat at room temperature on sandwiches or salads.
Make-ahead whole – Reheats 99% perfectly. Save all the juices/fat when you remove the foil boat. Pour into jug so fat rises to top (white/murky, the juices are brown and settle to base). Once belly is cooked (crackling and all), wrap meat with foil again (ie foil boat) but leave crackling exposed. Pour about 1/4 cup fat into the foil boat (confit style protection!). Fully cool, then fridge overnight. Ensure it’s 100% cool before covering (warm = sweaty crackling = softens = 😭). To reheat, remove from fridge 1 hour prior and uncover (important), leave to de-chill on counter. Reheat in the foil boat at 140°C fan (160°C/325°F standard) for 20 – 30 minutes or until meat is warmed through and tender. You’re welcome!
6. Nutrition information – The calculation assumes all fat including discarded rendered out fat is counted. Real calorie values are lower! But this is not a diet food, to be sure 😉

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 1313cal (66%)Carbohydrates: 1gProtein: 23g (46%)Fat: 135g (208%)Saturated Fat: 49g (306%)Cholesterol: 180mg (60%)Sodium: 661mg (29%)Potassium: 464mg (13%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Vitamin A: 26IU (1%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 13mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Keywords: Crispy pork belly, pork belly, pork belly crackling, slow roasted pork belly
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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Currently in Derby in Tasmania on a holiday with friends! So Dozer is on his own holiday – with the golden retriever boarder.

This is how they start off every morning!

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693 Comments

  1. Ann Williams says

    May 31, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve done this twice with super results both times. The second time I tried it with a vac-pac loin and it was still amazing. I dried out the skin in the fridge overnight, wrapped the bottom in foil, rubbed with the fennel mixture and slow roasted it just like for the belly and the meat was moist and luscious, not dry like loin can be. The crackling was the perfect texture though it was a little salty (my fault). I will never do loin or leg any other way again – there’s no need!

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth Baranecki says

    May 14, 2025 at 11:20 pm

    I used Nagi’s recipe to make pork belly for the first time and it turned out great. The crackling was crisp and the meat was moist and delicious. I halved the recipe for 2 people and the recipe worked perfectly with half the meat. I will definitely make this again.

    Reply
  3. Jeffrey Platts says

    February 9, 2025 at 8:24 pm

    Used the airfryer on bake
    Bake, lowest setting, 120 minutes
    Then blasted on highest for 20 and rested.
    Turned out great.

    Reply
  4. Maria Reeves says

    February 5, 2025 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    I made this as written last night and it was amazing. The crackling was crunch and not rock hard or leathery as has been sometimes my experience in the past. The meat was pull apart tender and juicy. Because I live alone, I halved a regular sized pork belly so the amount I cooked does 2 meals, and the other half went into the freezer. Lots of bang for my pork belly buck.

    Reply
  5. David Law says

    February 5, 2025 at 3:54 am

    Once again you have come up with a WINNER! Followed your instructions implicitly and the roast turned out delicious. I’ll never dry rub and allow to sit again! A BIG Thank-you!

    Reply
  6. Mike says

    January 12, 2025 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    I followed your recipe exactly, however, I was cooking two pieces of pork belly at the same time….I decided to experiment slightly by scoring one as normal and the other one not , as per your recommendation. I have to confess the one I scored turned out the better of the two! It remains a great recipe though.

    Reply
  7. Chris says

    December 18, 2024 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and it was fantastic. Pork was super moist and the crackling worked a treat (possibly best I’ve ever made). I made the puréed cauliflower and also your puréed peas, and your apple sauce to serve it with. Five big bright stars to you.

    Reply
  8. Luke says

    November 10, 2024 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for my dad, he loved it! We are keen to make for more people, how much longer would you roast for a 2kg pork belly? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Alexandra Hurt says

      December 15, 2024 at 1:40 pm

      Did you end up working this out? As only one I could get was just under 2kg so not sure how long to cook 🤔

      Reply
  9. Miranda says

    November 3, 2024 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve done this three times now and works perfectly !!!

    Reply
    • Dellys says

      January 30, 2025 at 4:02 pm

      I’ve made this many times and use the same cooking times regardless of the weight

      Reply
  10. E Keith Tipton says

    October 27, 2024 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    I fixed this for some friends. One has had a career in F&B. They loved it. I feel a little guilty because it is so easy. Thanks for making me look good.

    Reply
  11. Andrew says

    October 21, 2024 at 8:34 am

    5 stars
    Wow, best pork belly ever!

    Reply
  12. Diane Gordon says

    October 20, 2024 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    In the words of my (adult) son,
    “oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!”
    “The best one yet,”
    “That crackling is insane!”
    I have done the slow roast crispy pork belly many times. I have used top notch, butcher grade pork belly, and, shock, horror! cheaper , scored supermarket meat. A no no in Nagi’s instructions. To me, it seems to make no difference.
    The instructions, particularly about levelling the meat, are foolproof.
    As my boy said, this one was the best yet. I had a huge piece of pork belly in the freezer, bought months ago for half price. I was going to save some and use tomorrow for banh mi.
    It didn’t make it.

    Reply
  13. Diane Gordon says

    October 20, 2024 at 7:10 pm

    5 stars
    In the words of my (adult) son,
    “oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!”
    “The best one yet,”
    “That crackling is insane!”
    I have done the slow roast crispy pork belly many times. I have used top notch, butcher grade pork belly, and, shock, horror! cheaper , scored supermarket meat. A no no in Nagi’s instructions. To me, it seems to make no difference.
    The instructions, particularly about levelling the meat, are foolproof.
    As my boy said, this one was the best yet. I had a huge piece of pork belly in the freezer, bought months ago for half price. I was going to save some and use tomorrow for banh mi.
    It didn’t make it…….

    Reply
  14. John Gathard says

    October 14, 2024 at 10:15 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this belly pork recipe yesterday, excellent, both meat and crackling first rate. I had bought the pork from an excellent farm linked butcher in our village. I had had it scored, they have the knives and skill to do it properly. So no poor effects. I had a long narrowish joint, So cut it in half at home to get it, still rectangular but nearer a square and cooked the two, wrapped individually side by side but separated. Worked a treat. My go to method now. Thank you.

    Reply
  15. John Cotter says

    October 14, 2024 at 1:16 am

    5 stars
    Another brilliant triumph Nagi. It is a favourite this time of year. Gone is the scoring and concrete crackling. Brilliant and enjoyable recipe to cook with no fuss! You are my go to food blogger.

    Reply
  16. Gary says

    October 13, 2024 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    This is the most awsomest pork roast recipe in the universe, the bees-knees, the real McCoy, the muts nuts. Dead simple, delicious and ultra-reliable: works like a charm every single time. I try to buy ‘flat’ joints to avoid the foil-balling, and having a fan oven helps. Tonight I’m trying a little splash of garlic oil and some dried fenugreek leaves on the meat side. By all means wish me luck …. although judging by the aroma from the kitchen, it won’t be necessary.

    Reply
  17. Robin says

    October 12, 2024 at 11:02 am

    I went to the butcher’s shop today and saw him slicing the rind from a pork back – ‘can you sell me some of that?’ I asked. He gave me a slab for free. What to do with it? I remembered this recipe and resisted the natural urge to score the skin even though there was no meat beneath to wet the rind. I put it in the oven on a grill mesh over a tray at 140C for an hour or so, then upped to 160 for 20 mins, then final blast at 240 for another 10 mins. Result was a massive slab of perfect crackling. So this technique works for the rind alone as well as for a joint. The rind I had did have a thick layer of fat below it though, which may be important.
    Thank you Nagi!

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth Bryson says

    October 7, 2024 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    O. M. G. Best. Pork. Ever!!! This is what I’m making for New Year’s Day. The Amish here sell pork belly in pre-cut, fresh strips. Worked beautifully.

    Reply
  19. Louise says

    October 5, 2024 at 12:11 pm

    5 stars
    What an amazing result!
    Thanks for doing all the heavy lifting Nagi to make this recipe so unbelievably easy.
    You are so appreciated.

    Reply
  20. Jenny says

    October 2, 2024 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    OMG I’m in heaven! Thankyou

    Reply
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