Interested in a tasty low-carb appetizer that will fulfill your protein needs too? Check out my air fryer pork belly bites – they're perfectly seasoned and ready in 30 minutes or less.
Why you'll love it
Pork belly is a keto dieter's best friend – at least when it comes to protein sources.
I've prepared this fatty cut into crispy, seasoned pork belly bites that make an excellent appetizer or main dish.
They're baked in the air fryer for quick preparation and minimal cleanup.
Plus, this pork belly air fryer recipe is super versatile, with several serving options, creative variations, and drool-worthy pairings!
Ingredients needed
Here are the few simple ingredients that go into this air fryer pork belly bites recipe.
Pork belly
The star of this dish is obvious – pork!
In this recipe, I use pork belly chopped into bite-sized pieces for easy eating and dipping.
When picking protein sources for a low-carb diet, fatty cuts are always preferable. Pork is an excellent choice for quality protein and high-fat content.
It's also good for your wallet!
You can buy pork belly for a far better price than beef or chicken alternative. It's also a readily available cut - you should be able to find pork belly at any grocery chain.
Olive oil
For some additional fat content, I love adding olive oil to my keto meals.
In this recipe, the olive oil will also prevent your pork from sticking to your air fryer; it'll also make the pork belly bites super crispy!
Seasoning
I kept the seasonings simple but effective for this recipe.
Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper bring out the flavor potential in this dish.
I also include a low-carb brown sugar substitute for a bit of sweetness that pairs perfectly with pork.
Tips
Here are a few quick tips for the perfect air-fried pork belly:
- Use an air fryer tray or a layer of parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Marinate your pork belly for even more flavor.
- Flip your pork belly bites halfway through cook time for evenly browned bites.
Instructions
The genius of using an air fryer to prep your pork belly bites is in the process – it's so easy!
Here's how to make them:
Prep your elements
Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees.
Then, grab your cutting board and get chopping. Chop pork belly pieces so that they are bite-sized.
Season your pork belly bites
Next, it's time to season. Drizzle your pork belly pieces with olive oil, add your seasonings, and toss to coat evenly.
Bake and enjoy!
Now, all that's left is to air fry your pork belly bites.
Add your seasoned bites to the preheated air fryer basket and bake for 20 minutes until crispy. Flip your pork halfway through the cooking time to ensure an even cook.
And there you have it – crispy air fryer pork!
Serving suggestions
These pork belly bites make an awesome appetizer or snack food. Serve them along with your favorite dipping sauce. For a keto option, try my Keto Bang Bang Sauce or my Jalapeño Ranch Dip.
You can also eat this recipe as a main meal if you'd like – just beef it up with a couple of harmonizing extras! I recommend serving them alongside some delicious low-carb veggies like my Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries or Oven Roasted Asparagus.
And if you have leftover pork belly bites, re-crisp them in the air fryer for five minutes and enjoy them as an additional protein to your lunch. Add them to any complimentary dish like my Baby Kale Salad With Avocado or Cheesy Cauliflower Rice.
Variations
If you're feeling creative, use one (or more) of these recipe variations to change things up:
- Use fresh garlic, rosemary, and thyme for a more complex taste.
- Get creative with your seasoning blend for a custom recipe.
- Use a keto dipping sauce for even better flavor.
FAQs
These are a few common questions I get about my air fryer pork belly bites recipe. If you don't see your question answered, please leave it for me in the comments down below.
Cooking pork belly in the air fryer is super quick and easy to do! I cook my pork belly bites for 20 minutes, flipping them once at the halfway point.
Cooking time may differ slightly based on how you chop your pork.
The trick to crispy pork belly bites is to coat them with a bit of olive oil; this will help them brown.
Setting your air fryer to a high temperature also helps this process.
Pork belly is suitable for a keto diet; it's actually one of the preferred keto protein sources because it has a high-fat content.
On ketogenic diets, fatty meats are recommended over leaner sources like chicken or fish. Pork belly skin adds even more fat content if you choose to leave it on your dish.
Store any leftover pork belly in an airtight container and refrigerate; they should keep for a couple of days.
If you want to re-crisp your bites, simply pop them in the air fryer for an additional 5 minutes before eating.
You can safely cook pork belly in the air fryer from frozen. As a general rule, it's recommended that you cook frozen pork belly for double the normal cook time.
Related recipes
Interested in more air fryer recipes? I have lots of delicious recipes that are quick and convenient to make for you to try:
- Keto Air Fryer Fried Pickles are super crunchy and hot and juicy on the inside – the perfect game-day appetizer!
- Air Fryer Turnips make an incredible potato alternative with a keto-friendly carb count.
- Keto Frozen Cauliflower in Air Fryer is quick, convenient, and coated in flavorful seasonings.
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are stuffed with a rich, creamy filling and are super addicting to eat.
- Air Fryer Quesadillas use just six ingredients for a complete and tasty Mexican-inspired main dish.
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Recipe
Keto Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Pork belly cut into pieces
- 2 tbsp. Olive oil
- 1 tsp. Garlic powder
- ½ tsp. Paprika
- 2 tbsp. Swerve brown sugar substitute
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the pork belly pieces into a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with the olive oil.
- Add the Swerve, paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste to the mixing bowl, and toss to coat and combine well.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Place the bites onto a basket or baking pan, and cook for 20 minutes or until crispy, turning halfway through.
- Serve and enjoy!
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
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