A delicious collection of easy pork belly recipes! Discover recipes from China, Japan, Greece, Vietnam, and Korea, as well as low carb and keto recipes. Roasted, grilled, braised and smoked, you’ll find an uncured bacon recipe that you love here!
Pork belly is such an amazing cut of meat, if you haven’t tried it before I’ve got so many great recipes here for you! It’s layers of fat make this meat so succulent and juicy and the skin crisps up wonderfully for crackling.
These pork recipes are perfect for main courses and appetizers, and a lot fit into low carb and keto diets.
What Is Pork Belly?
Pork belly comes from the underside of the pig and is a boneless and fatty cut of meat. It can be slow braised, grilled and roasted, and when thinly sliced and smoked it becomes bacon or pancetta. It is generally a relatively cheap cut of meat.
Is Pork Belly the same as Bacon?
Yes and no. It’s the same cut of meat, but pork belly is raw, and unprocessed. In contrast, Bacon has been cured, usually with salt or brine, and then smoked.
So put simply, pork belly is raw bacon . To become bacon, pork belly is cured in some fashion.
But they aren’t exactly interchangeable in cooking. Uncooked Pork Belly is more versatile since it functions like fatty flavoring but also meat. In contrast, Bacon lends a distinctive salty, smoky flavor to the food.
What does pork belly taste like?
A lot of the flavor of the pork belly comes from the layers of fat. It tastes similar to a pork chop, with a little sweetness, but it is slightly richer.
What cuisines is it found in?
Pork belly is a particularly popular ingredient in Asian recipes, especially Chinese , Korean , and Filipino . You can also find it in Hispanic cuisine. It has more recently become popular in Western cuisine and often used in BBQ or roasted.
How do you know when the pork is cooked?
Pork belly generally requires a long slow cook so that the fat and meats break down to make it wonderfully tender. The best way to know when it is done is to use a meat thermometer , it should register at 165F. The juices should run clear if it is pierced with a fork.
The Best Pork Belly Recipes
Low Carb and Keto Pork Recipes
Pork Belly Cabbage Soup
This keto Pork Belly Cabbage Soup is a delightfully hearty and warming soup that’s perfect for a cold day. It’s low carb, and can be made in under 30 minutes.
Pork Belly Adobo (Keto/Low Carb)
This Filipino-style Pork Belly Adobo is slightly sweet, slightly tangy and reimagined for low carb, sugar-free diets. Keto-friendly, this caramelized pork belly is worth the effort for a memorable meal.
Pork Curry Slow Cooker Recipe (Keto, Paleo)
Flavorful, rich stew inspired by the flavors of India and slowly cooked to a tender bite. This Pork Curry is low carb, gluten-free, keto and Paleo!
Homemade Pork Lard Scratchings
Those Homemade Crispy Pork Lard Scratchings are a perfect Snack, that can be used in baking, cooking or just on its own.
Crispy Pork Belly Recipes
Cider & Chilli Pork Belly
A beautiful sweet and salty pork belly recipe. Pork belly is slow cooked and then pan fried for the crispiest crackling. Easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.
Crispy Pork Belly | Filipino Lechon Kawali
I love meat that is crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside and this Crispy Pork Belly Lechon Kawali is just that and it will literally melt in your mouth. It’s crunchy, delicious, and full of flavor from the garlic and soy sauce.
Crispy Pork Belly Wrapped Roast
Meat seasoned with herbs wrapped around a pork tenderloin and cooked to juicy, tender perfection. A crazy impressive meal to your guests, but you’ll know how simple it was to make!
Crisped pork belly with whisky-soy sauce
This crisped pork belly may be a decadent appetizer, but it’s easy to make and so full of flavor. And don’t forget the slightly sticky sauce: you’ll be in food heaven.
Pancetta and Bacon Recipes
Easy Pancetta Recipe: Make Pancetta in 60 Seconds
Curing pork belly is so easy, you can do it at home without any additional equipment. You’ll wonder why you spent so much money buying it!
Homemade Applewood Smoked Bacon
Making your own bacon is easy with this simple cure. Use your smoker or grill to smoke it with real applewood chips for an amazing deep wood flavor and aroma.
Asian Pork Belly Recipes (Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese)
Steamed Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens (梅菜扣肉)
Say hello to the ultimate Steamed Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens recipe! Find that irreplaceable flavour from home you all know and love!
Authentic Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Belly (Thit Kho Tau)
Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Belly (Thit kho tau) is classic comfort food of Viet families. This recipe features the authentic and traditional way to cook this dish in Vietnam. Pork belly is slowly braised until it has a beautiful caramel color and becomes so flavorful and tender.
Braised Pork Belly with Caramel Miso Sauce
A delicious melt-in-your-mouth Pork Belly recipe with a Japanese inspired glaze.
Sticky Pork Belly with Pineapple and Soy Sauce
This sticky pork belly with pineapple hits the salty, sour, sweet and spicy flavour profiles and tastes spectacular!
Spicy Filipino Bicol Express
This spicy Filipino bicol express is an indulgent treat. The pork belly is amazing and tender, but it is heavy, which makes this for an indulgent treat.
Easy Pork Belly Recipes
BBQ Pork Belly Slices Recipe
BBQ Pork Belly slices are an easy-to-make alternative to slow-roasted pork belly, with all the finger-licking satisfaction.
Slow Roast Pork Belly
Learn how to make Slow Roast Pork Belly from the Greeks. Fennel, paprika, marjoram and mustard takes this piece of meat to new heights!
More Pork Recipes
- Pulled Pork - loaded with delicious Mexican flavor.
- Pork Carnitas - Make these in your Instant Pot .
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - tacos seasoned with Indian spices.
- Smoked Mexican Pork Shoulder - lovely smoked flavors.
- Pressure Cooker Carne Adovada - a low carb delight.
- Schezuan Pork Soup - Sichuan cuisine made at home.
- Chile Verde - a quick and easy pork recipe.
- Instant Pot Pork Stew - a hearty low carb soup .
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
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Pozole Rojo is a traditional Mexican pork-and-hominy soup/stew made with pork shoulder, posole (hominy), onion, garlic, and red chile flavor from chipotle in adobo plus spices like oregano and cumin. It’s traditional and weeknight-friendly and works well for a cozy family dinner when you want bold, comforting flavors without an all-day simmer. Unlike classic pozole rojo recipes that simmer pork with dried chiles for hours, this version uses the Instant Pot and a “dump-and-cook” shortcut with chipotle in adobo for a rich red broth in under an hour.
What Is Posole?
First of all, it’s delicious. So you could stop reading right there and know you should make this recipe. However, I know you probably actually want to know what is in it.
Posole is a pork-based soup that is loaded with meat, vegetables, spices, and lots of hominy to make it a hearty, comfort food.
What Makes ThisInstant Pot RecipeSo Good?
The secret to this Pozole Rojo recipe is the shortcut. What’s the short cut you ask me? Well, there’s two of them.
One, I wanted to make something without dried guajillo and ancho chiles because they aren’t sold in every part of the country.
Two, I wanted to see if I could approximate the taste of a Pork Pozole recipe without creating the sauce with the guajillo/ancho blended sauce, which is one additional step. You know how I love " pour it in a pot and go " type of cooking.
Pozole Ingredients
- Pork Shoulder meat - cut into bite-sized pieces
- Chopped Onion - enhances the flavor of the dish.
- Garlic - 3-4 cloves, but who is counting?
- Canned Hominy (White Pozole) - avoid using dried hominy.
- Red Chile Sauce - I used chipotle chile in adobo.
- Chicken Broth - I used water, but chicken broth is good too. Add more than directed for this to eat more like soup.
- Lime Wedges - add some extra flair for finishing.
- Radishes - add some freshness with a sliced radish topping.
- Shredded Cabbage - Another great topping.
How Does This Differ From A Traditional Red Pozole Recipe?
Traditionally, you’d use dried guajillo chiles, dried chiles de Arbol, and/or dried ancho chilis. You’d heat these in hot water, blend the chilis and the water once the chilis are softened, and that would be your sauce.
I used canned chipotle chilis in adobo sauce to approximate the taste of this in my Pozole recipe .
Be warned, I put in 3 chilis because I wanted it spicy. If you want to go easy on the spice, use only one and see how it tastes to you. You can always add more later.
I also used canned posole in this Instant Pot Pork Posole recipe because I didn’t have dried ones. And I used pork shoulder (also called pork butt) because it is a cheap cut of meat that is fatty and can be tough, but very tender when pressure cooked.
In fairness, I do think those shortcuts impact the taste a bit, but not enough to prevent me from making this Pozole Rojo again. A Mexican friend, as well as my husband who ate a lot of Pork Posole in Mexico, felt it was authentic enough, and it is still very tasty!
How To Make Pozole Rojo
Place all ingredients except cilantro in your Instant Pot , stir well, and set for 30 minutes at High Pressure.
Allow to release pressure naturally, check pork for doneness, check stew for flavor, add chilis or salt as needed, garnish with cilantro and serve.
Is It Spelled Posole or Pozole?
Both. It seems that in Mexico, the preferred spelling is Pozole . However, in other countries, Posole tends to be commonly used as well. My recipe for Pozole Rojo will be so delicious you’ll be too busy eating to worry about how it’s spelled.
How To Make Pork Pozole In A Slow Cooker
With the help of your slow cooker, this is a totally easy posole recipe . Here’s how you do it:
- Cut pork into bite-size pieces.
- Add all ingredients except for cilantro to your slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours or 8 hours on slow.
- Add cilantro to finish.
Tips And Tricks For Making Instant Pot Posole
- If you like your hominy stew to have a little bite, I suggest you put in half the can while cooking so it flavors and thickens a bit, and save the other half to add after cooking. I put all mine in.
- You can also use hominy grits (with liquid) if you’d prefer.
- If you’d prefer to make this pozole with chicken, I suggest you use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cook for 10 minutes under pressure. At the end of the cooking time, allow the pot to rest undisturbed for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure. Just like that, you will have a fabulous pozole de pollo, or a chicken pozole.
For Instant Pot pozole rojo, the best pork cut is pork shoulder (also called pork butt/Boston butt) because its fat and collagen break down under pressure, giving you tender, shreddable meat and a richer pozole rojo broth. If you prefer a leaner soup, pork loin works, but it can turn dry and less flavorful in a pressure cooker, so keep pieces larger and avoid overcooking. For the most authentic, cozy instant pot pork pozole with hominy, shoulder is the most forgiving and delivers the best texture every time.
To thicken Instant Pot pozole rojo without ruining it, the safest method is to simmer it uncovered on Sauté for a few minutes so the broth reduces and concentrates. This keeps the flavor true without making it gummy. If you need more body, stir in a small amount of masa harina slurry (mix masa harina with cool water first) and simmer gently until it thickens. Start with a little because it can go from silky to pasty fast. You can also blend a cup of the hominy + broth and stir it back in for natural thickness. This is great for instant pot pork pozole with hominy while keeping that classic red chile flavor intact.
Yes, it’s a good idea to rinse and drain canned hominy before making Instant Pot pozole rojo. Rinsing washes off the canning liquid, which can taste a little starchy or “tinny,” so your pozole rojo broth tastes cleaner and the hominy texture stays pleasantly chewy. Just dump the hominy into a colander, rinse under cold water, and drain well before adding it to your instant pot pork pozole with hominy.
Looking For More Delicious Mexican Food Recipes?
- Low Carb Taco Chile Relleno Casserole - Takes the best of both tacos and Chile Rellenos and molds them into one.
- Mexican Pulled Pork . A traditional pulled pork recipe that adds a Mexican twist.
- Mexican Corn Eloté - Sweet, savory and you’ll want to eat up every bit of it.
Pozole Rojo | Easy Instant Pot Pork Posole Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 pound ( 453.59 g ) Boneless Pork Shoulder , cut into bite size cubes
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Onion , chopped
- ▢ 3-4 cloves ( 3 cloves ) Garlic
- ▢ 25 ounces ( 708.74 g ) posole , or hominy grits with liquid
- ▢ 1-3 ( 1 ) Chipotle Chile in Adobo Sauce , chopped, and with 1-3 teaspoons of the sauce (about half a small can)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Dried Oregano
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ( 2 teaspoons ) Ground Cumin
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ( 2 teaspoons ) Ancho Chile Powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 3/4 cup ( 187.5 g ) Water
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 4 g ) Cilantro , chopped
Instructions
Place all ingredients except cilantro in your Instant Pot , stir well, and set for 30 minutes at High Pressure.
Allow to release pressure naturally, check pork for doneness, check stew for flavor, add chilis or salt as needed, garnish wth cilantro and serve.
If you like your hominy to have a little bite, I suggest you put in half the can while cooking so it flavors and thickens a bit, and save the other half to add after cooking. I put all mine in.
You can also use hominy grits (with liquid) if you’d prefer.
If you’d prefer to make this with chicken, I suggest you use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cook for 10 minutes under pressure. At the end of the cooking time, allow the pot to rest undisturbed for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure. Just like that, you will have a fabulous pozole de pollo, or a chicken pozole.
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Nutrition
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
First Published April 2017
