Faster, and much easier to make, these crispy air fryer chicharrones are the perfect snack or meal for air fryer lovers. Enjoy this lighter alternative with my recipe with video.
By - Reviewed: . Original: Nov 12, 2020
❝ This is my favorite recipe for pork belly to follow.. ❞
Why we ❤️ it
Chicharrones are our national guilty pleasure not something we make at home or consume often. Personally, the main reason I avoid it is that I hate frying and the mess that comes with it. With an air fryer, you can make a quicker, easier chicharrón without the mess, and enjoy one of our most popular recipes, also great for people on a paleo, keto, or gluten-free diet.
While not exactly the same as the traditional chicharrones, I think the savings in time and effort make up for the small sacrifice in texture and flavor.
Enjoy golden brown crispy pork belly Dominican-style made from scratch, with simple ingredients and all the criollo flavor, with no greasy mess left to clean.
Air fryer cooking
This is a recipe I wrote because many of our readers suggested I do so it's one of our favorite air fryer recipes.
So far, we've added many air fryer recipes, like air fryer tostones, one for chicharrón de pollo, one for yaroa that you can make in the air fryer, air fryer piononos, air fryer croquetas, air fryer chicken drumsticks, and crispy air fryer potato. Check them out.
All of those and this recipe have instructions for alternatives if you do not have an air fryer.
Air fryer pork rind.
Serving suggestions
Tostones, Yuca fries, or Batata frita are the perfect companions for Chicharrones, and we also have air fryer tostones and air fryer mofongo, if you want to go that route.
Some lemon wedges are great for drizzling over the chicharrones, and while this is not typically served with a dipping sauce, you can make our flavorful Wasakaka to serve with it.
Una fría (very cold beer) is typically found next to this dish, you can also pick one of our juices, and I served it here with our Dominican limeade.
And if you're looking for the perfect dessert, look no further than Dulce de leche cortada or a Dulce de leche dominicano.
Top tips
- Line the base: Since a mixture of fat, seasonings, and meat juices will accumulate at the bottom of the air fryer's base, I suggest you line the bottom (not the basket, just the base where the basket sits) with a circle of aluminum foil or parchment paper to make cleaning easier later.
- Cutting: In this recipe, we fry the pork rinds without cutting them all the way through the first time; this allows the skin to brown and become crispy while the meat stays juicy.
There's a second step if you want it to brown completely. - Time: Cooking times may vary depending on the specific model of air fryer and the size and thickness of the pork belly.
- Preheat: It's important to preheat the air fryer before placing the meat in the basket to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
About this recipe
Bear in mind that the super crispy chicharrón that we know and love is produced by a time-consuming, arduous process, which is why the vast majority of Dominicans simply buy chicharrones, instead of making them at home.
This recipe simplifies the process but does not yield exactly the same result as fried chicharrones. But they are very enjoyable in their own way.
Video
Recipe
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Air Fryer Chicharrones [Video+Recipe] Easy, Quick Pork Rind
Ingredients
- 2 pound pork belly, [0.91 kg]
- 1 teaspoon oregano , (dry, ground)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 limes, (cut into wedges)
Instructions
1. Season
In a pot, combine oregano, salt, and garlic. Place the pork meat skin-side up.Add enough water to cover the meat, but not quite up to the skin.
2. Boil
- Boil the meat, covered, over low heat for 40 minutes; add water as needed to maintain the original level.After this time, remove the meat from the water and let it cool to room temperature.
3. Refrigerate
- Place the meat in a container with a little of the cooking liquid and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight or for a few hours.💡 This helps dry out the meat so it becomes crispier when cooked.
4. Score the skin
- Score the skin into small squares without completely separating the meat.💡 This helps keep the meat juicy while making the skin nice and crispy.
5. Cook
- a) To cook in an air fryerPreheat the air fryer to 400 ºF [200ºC]. Place the pieces of meat in the air fryer, skin-side up.Cook for 20–25 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.b) To cook in the ovenPreheat the oven to 400 ºF [200ºC]. Place the meat on a wire rack, skin-side up.Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
6. Cut and Cook Again
- Cut the meat into cubes. The meat will be very juicy (though pale) and the skin crispy, but if you want to brown the meat further, after cutting return it to the air fryer and cook again until the meat takes on a slightly golden color (10 to 15 minutes).⚠️ Don’t overcook it, or the meat will dry out.
7. Serve
- Remove from the air fryer and serve garnished with lime wedges.
Cook's Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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More pork recipes
Pork recipes are some of the most popular ones on our blog, with recipes like Puerco asado, Puerco guisado, Chuletas (pork chops), and Costillitas (ribs).
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