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This Air Fryer Char Siu recipe is absolutely the BEST, delivering sweet, savory flavors and a beautifully sticky glaze—in just 15 minutes of cook time! Check out my video guide and tips to get tender, caramelized BBQ pork every time!
Best Chinese BBQ Pork Recipe
This Air Fryer Char Siu is the BEST recipe you’ll find online—bold, sweet-savory flavor without the long wait. The marinade does all the work, making the pork juicy, flavorful, and perfectly caramelized in just 15 minutes. No oven, no hassle—just an easy way to get delicious Char Siu at home.
My Char Siu sauce is as simple as it gets, but it’s packed with flavor. It coats the pork belly beautifully, giving you tender, flavorful bites every time. I usually serve it over rice, but honestly, I could eat it straight from the cutting board. Once you try this, you’ll keep coming back to it!
For more air fryer recipes, check out my Air Fryer Pork Belly (Siu Yuk) and Air Fryer Honey Garlic Shrimp.
Why This Will Be Your New Favorite
This recipe is a total game-changer—delicious and ready in no time. Here’s why it’ll be your new go-to:
- All the flavor, none of the hassle. No roasting, no constant basting. The air fryer locks in that bold, sweet-savory glaze with almost zero effort. Just marinate, cook, and you’re done.
- Fast and foolproof. Traditional Chinese BBQ Pork takes time, but this? Just 15 minutes in the air fryer for tender, caramelized bites. Perfect for when you want something delicious without the wait.
- That perfect sticky glaze. The honey-based marinade clings beautifully, giving you deep, rich color and caramelization—just like the best takeout, but better.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pork belly
- Garlic
- Sesame oil – It’s best to use sesame oil for its rich, nutty flavor, but if you don’t have it on hand, vegetable oil works as a neutral substitute.
- Five spice powder
- White pepper
- Soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Dark soy sauce
- Honey – I used honey for the glaze, but you can substitute it with maltose.
- Shaoxing wine – If you don’t have it, dry sherry is the best substitute.
- Sugar
For the full ingredient list and exact measurements, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Shopping Guide: Pork belly is the best cut for this recipe—it’s rich, flavorful, and stays incredibly juicy as it cooks. If you’re looking for a leaner option, pork butt or pork shoulder are solid choices since they still have enough fat to keep the meat tender. I wouldn’t recommend pork tenderloin—it’s too lean and won’t give you the same melt-in-your-mouth texture.
How To Make Air Fryer Char Siu
Alright, first, cut the pork belly into strips so it fits in your air fryer. Then, toss the pork belly, garlic, and all the Char Siu Sauce ingredients into a bowl and mix it all together. Let it marinate for about 30 minutes to really soak up those flavors.
Lay the pork belly in the air fryer basket and spoon a bit of the extra marinade on top. Set it to 190°C (375°F) and let it cook for 10 minutes. Keep the rest of the marinade—we’ll use it in the next step!
Flip the pork belly, spoon the rest of the marinade over the top, and air fry at 190°C (375°F) for another 5 minutes until it’s beautifully caramelized.
Now, move the Char Siu to a chopping board lined with parchment paper—makes cleanup way easier. Slice it up into pieces and serve. Don’t forget about the drippings in the air fryer! Pour them into a small bowl. If it’s too greasy, just spoon off the excess oil, and then serve the drippings with the pork.
Secrets To Perfectly Caramelized BBQ Pork
- To ensure even cooking, cut the pork belly into equal-sized pieces that fit well into the air fryer basket.
- Let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes, but if you’ve got the time, 1–2 hours is even better. The longer it soaks, the more flavor it picks up!
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket so the hot air can circulate around the pork, giving it an even cook and that perfect crispy, caramelized finish.
- I skip the brush and just spoon the marinade over the pork before air frying. It helps build up that glossy, sticky glaze without thinning it out.
- Save the drippings and pour them into a small bowl. If they’re too greasy, spoon out the oil from the top. These drippings make a perfect dip for the pork or a delicious drizzle over rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but make sure to fully thaw the pork belly and pat it dry before marinating. Frozen meat won’t soak up the marinade as well, and the cooking times might vary.
Yes! Marinating the pork belly overnight (up to 24 hours) will really deepen the flavors and make the meat extra tender. Just make sure it’s covered and stored in the fridge.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, pop it back into the air fryer or microwave until it’s warmed through. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it for up to 2 months.
This recipe is 430 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
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Air Fryer Char Siu
Ingredients
- 300 g pork belly, skin removed, cut into 3 strips
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Char Siu Sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey, or maltose
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Cut the pork belly into strips to fit your air fryer. In a bowl, mix the pork belly, garlic, and all the ingredients in Char Siu Sauce until well combined. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Place the pork belly in the air fryer basket, spoon over some of the leftover marinade, and air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 10 minutes. Reserve the remaining marinade.
- Flip the pork belly, spoon over the remaining marinade until it is all used up, and air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the Char Siu to a chopping board lined with parchment paper for easier cleanup. Slice into pieces and serve. Save the dripping in the air fryer by pouring it out into a small bowl. If it’s too greasy, spoon out the oil from the top and serve the dripping with the pork.
Video
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, cut the pork belly into equal-sized pieces that fit well into the air fryer basket.
- Let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes, but if you’ve got the time, 1–2 hours is even better. The longer it soaks, the more flavor it picks up!
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket so the hot air can circulate around the pork, giving it an even cook and that perfect crispy, caramelized finish.
- I skip the brush and just spoon the marinade over the pork before air frying. It helps build up that glossy, sticky glaze without thinning it out.
- Save the drippings and pour them into a small bowl. If they’re too greasy, spoon out the oil from the top. These drippings make a perfect dip for the pork or a delicious drizzle over rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
