Level up your next taco night with these crispy Pork Belly Tacos! The air fryer makes the meat super crunchy and juicy with way less work. I’ve paired it with a homemade taco seasoning with just the right amount of heat and a vibrant pickled slaw for one epic meal your family will rave about.
The Taco Tuesday Upgrade You Need
If you’re like my family, you’ve done the whole ground beef tacos routine a thousand times. It’s easy and reliable, but sometimes you just want something more… exciting. These succulent, crispy, and spicy pork belly tacos? Now that’s an upgrade.
If you’ve ever cooked with pork belly, you know that the general rule of thumb is to cook ’em low and slow. But with an air fryer, rules go out the window. It’s an easy way to get that perfectly crispy pork belly in a fraction of the time. No long wait, just crispy, juicy goodness ready to go!
Want more taco recipes? Try my Best Damn Pork Tacos, Best Damn Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, and Mouthwatering Fish Tacos with Lime Crema.
Ingredients
- Pork belly: Grab a premium-quality cut without the skin. This is where all that juicy flavor comes from!
- Brown sugar: A little sweetness to help everything caramelize and get those delicious, crispy edges.
- Spice mix: Boost spice levels with smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper for a bold, smoky kick.
- Shredded cabbage: Green and red both work! It adds freshness to balance out the rich pork.
- Fresh herbs: Throw in some green onions and cilantro for a little bit of color and a burst of freshness.
- Olive oil: Just a drizzle to help the spices stick and get that skinless pork belly extra crispy.
- Lime juice: Always use fresh lime juice for some bright acidity.
- Corn or flour tortillas: I’m a fan of flour, but corn tortillas work too! Warm them up on a hot skillet or in the oven before serving.
Optional Toppings
- Chopped cilantro
- Jalapeno slices
- Crema sauce
- Hot sauce
- Lime wedges
- Pickled red onion
Preparation
Let’s start by making the slaw. Add the cabbage, green onion, cilantro, olive oil, and lime juice to a large bowl and toss to combine. You’ll want to taste and season with salt as needed. Once you’re done, set it aside.
Next, add your pork belly slices to a large bowl. Sprinkle on the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Use a spoon or spatula to toss the meat with the seasonings until all of the pieces are evenly coated.
Cooking
Now that everything’s prepped and ready to go, preheat your air fryer to 400℉ for 4-5 minutes. Once preheated, add the pork belly to the basket in a single layer.
Note: This recipe can get smoky. To help prevent your fire alarm from going off, place a piece of stale bread in the bottom of the air fryer basket. It will absorb excess fat drippings and reduce smoke.
Air fry at 400℉ for 15 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, open the air fryer basket and flip each piece of pork belly over to ensure they cook evenly. When the pork belly is done, it should be brown and crispy with some charred bits at the edges.
Serving
Time to assemble the tacos! Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame for a light char. Then fill your tortillas with slaw and pork belly, and add your favorite toppings.
Enjoy!
Sides to Pair with Pork Belly Tacos
Once your pork belly is cooked and your taco station is ready, it’s time to choose the perfect sides. I love pairing these tacos with my Best Damn Instant Pot Spanish Rice and Refried Beans. Other great options include Best Damn Air Fryer Street Corn or a Sweet and Chunky Mango Salsa. To finish, wash it all down with a Spicy Mockarita Mocktail!
Storage & Reheating
Store your leftover pork belly separately from your toppings and tortillas in airtight containers. The pork will last up to 3-4 days in the fridge. To reheat, microwave the pork belly on medium power for 1-2 minutes, or air-fry at 300°F for 4-5 minutes to prevent the meat from drying out.
PrintRecipe
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly Tacos
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Upgrade taco night with these crunchy, juicy air fryer pork belly tacos! Tossed in a spicy seasoning and topped with zesty slaw, they’ll spice up any normal weeknight.
Ingredients
For the pork:
- 1 ½ lbs. pork belly (without skin), diced into 1.5’’ cubes
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the slaw:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage (green and red both work!)
- ¼ cup green onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt, to taste
To assemble the tacos:
- Corn or flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: chopped cilantro, jalapeno slices, crema sauce, lime wedges, pickled red onion
Instructions
- Make the slaw. Add the cabbage, green onion, cilantro, olive oil, and lime juice to a large bowl and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt as needed. Set aside.
- Add the pork belly to a large bowl. Sprinkle on the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Use a spoon or spatula to toss the meat with the seasonings until all of the pieces are evenly coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ for 4-5 minutes. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the pork belly to the basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 400℉ for 15 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, open the air fryer basket and flip each piece of pork belly over to ensure they cook evenly. When the pork belly is done, it should be brown and crispy with some charred bits at the edges.
- Assemble the tacos. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame for a light char. Fill tortillas with slaw and pork belly, then add your favorite toppings.
Notes
This recipe can get smoky. To help prevent your fire alarm from going off, place a piece of stale bread in the bottom of the air fryer basket. It will absorb excess fat drippings and reduce smoke.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
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