If you have never had Pork Belly strips before, what are you waiting for?
If you love bacon, you simply owe it to yourself to get your hands on some pork belly as soon as possible.
And if you do love it – this recipe for Pork Belly Strips is the way you should be eating it.
How to cook pork belly strips on the grill
There are several secrets to cooking up pork belly this insanely good.
First off, you have to start off with this Dry Rub, which combines sweet, salty, and smoky along with other wonderful seasonings.
The next secret is the way you slow-cook your seasoned pork belly for hours on the grill or in the smoker until the fat renders down and the meat gets nice and tender.
Next, you slice it and get your favorite barbecue sauce involved before letting your pork belly cook just a bit longer.
By the time your Pork Belly Strips are ready to eat, you’ve had time to make some great side dishes and build up a good appetite.
Better yet, make these the “star of the show” at a summer or autumn backyard potluck.
After all, when you cook up something this delicious, don’t you want to share it with friends?
What is pork belly anyway?
If you haven’t had pork belly and are wondering about the cut of meat, it’s aptly named.
It’s usually eaten as bacon.
It is a meaty cut taken from the belly of the pig.
Pork belly can be roasted, smoked, or braised.
How is pork belly different from bacon?
While bacon and pork belly are the same cut of meat, the difference lies in how it’s prepared.
Bacon is typically cured while pork belly is usually smoked, roasted or braised.
What side dishes go with pork belly strips?
There are many different side dishes that can be served with pork belly strips.
Some of the most popular options include mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and rice.
However, there are many other possibilities as well.
A simple salad, cole slaw, or grilled vegetables can be a light and refreshing accompaniment to the rich and fatty pork belly.
Alternatively, some people might prefer a heartier dish like cornbread or biscuits to go with their pork.
Let your cravings be your guide.
Pork belly is awesome for tailgating
And of course, if you’re tailgating, pork belly will undoubtedly be the star of the show.
Serve it up with some yummy loaded baked potato footballs.
Or maybe some bacon and cheese stuffed jalapeno poppers tickle your taste buds?
And if you want to mix in another type of barbecue flavor, try some bacon wrapped Gochujang asparagus.
If you would like some additional ideas, be sure to check out our Bacon Recipes that Everyone Loves. And of course, be sure to check out our tips for hosting a great tailgating party!
Now, serving some delicious grilled pork belly is quite an indulgence.
It’s not the kind of thing you want to eat everyday if you’re watching your waistline, so be sure to factor that into the serving.
We’ve calculated the calories based on 8 servings, but you don’t have to eat a full serving.
But we certainly understand why you would want to eat it all!
Ingredients to make pork belly strips
4 lbs pork belly, sliced into strips
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 cup dry rub
Ingredients for the homemade dry rub:
If you’ve never cooked with a dry rub, you are in for a treat!
Dry rubs are a great way to add flavor to meat, poultry, or fish.
They are also a healthy way to cook because they don’t require any added oil or butter.
A dry rub is simply a blend of herbs and spices that is rubbed into the meat before cooking.
There are endless combinations of herbs and spices, so you can create your own unique blend.
I like to at least double the recipe for this rub so that I have some left for using on other meats later on.
It keeps well in an air-tight container, just like your other kitchen spices.
You can use this on chicken or beef too! It’s even great on fish tacos!
You need:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
4 tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tbsp. black pepper
1/2 tbsp. cumin
1/2 tbsp. onion powder
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
How to make pork belly strips
Dry Rub Directions:
In a small bowl add all dry rub ingredients and stir to combine.
Transfer to an air tight serving container.
Directions:
Preheat the grill to 225 – 250 degrees.
Trim excess skin and fat off the pork belly.
Add olive oil and the dry rub to the pork belly liberally.
Place the pork belly on a foil lined baking tray.
Wrap tightly to endure it is sealed. Place the foil wrapped pork belly on the grill.
Place the tray to the side.
Cook the pork belly for 4 hours.
Remove the pork belly from the smoker / grill.
Place it back on the tray.
Remove the foil.
Slice your pork belly into 4 inch strips.
Add your BBQ sauce and coat evenly on the pork belly slices.
Cover the pork belly again with the aluminum foil and place back in the grill like you would put it in the oven.
Cook for an additional 45 minutes.
Remove from smoker and serve.
try it and share!
Please let us know how you enjoy our Pork Belly Strips recipe.
Pork Belly Strips
Equipment
- Measuring Spoon
- Jar or other airtight container
- Grill
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Baking Tray
- Aluminum Foil
- Silicone Brush
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork belly sliced into strips
- 3 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup dry rub
- 2 cups barbecue sauce or to taste
- Ingredients to Make the Homemade Dry Rub:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup kosher salt
- 4 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
Dry Rub Directions
- In a small bowl add all dry rub ingredients and stir to combine.1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup kosher salt, 4 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tablespoon black pepper, 1/2 tablespoon cumin, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Transfer to an air tight serving container.
Pork Belly Strips Directions
- Preheat the grill to 225 – 250 degrees.
- Trim excess skin and fat off the pork belly.4 pounds pork belly
- Add olive oil and the dry rub to the pork belly liberally.3 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup dry rub
- Place the pork belly on a foil lined baking tray.
- Wrap tightly to endure it is sealed. Place the foil wrapped pork belly on the grill.
- Place the tray to the side.
- Cook for the pork belly for 4 hours.
- Remove the pork belly from the smoker / grill.
- Place it back on the tray.
- Remove the foil.
- Slice your pork belly into 4 inch strips
- Add your BBQ sauce and coat evenly on the pork belly slices.2 cups barbecue sauce
- Cover the pork belly again with the aluminum foil and place back in the oven.
- Cook for an additional 45 minutes.
- Remove from smoker and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Jennifer. I love to cook and entertain. I have a lot of fun sharing traditional food and drink recipes as well as putting a new spin on the classics. I strive to provide easy to make recipes that are perfect for the home cook, bartender and entertainer.