Spicy Maple Keto Pork Belly Bites

Name: Spicy Maple Keto Pork Belly Bites
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound pork belly, rinsed and patted dry; 3/4 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 - 4 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published December 23, 2020 • Updated June 2, 2025

A keto pork belly recipe that is an absolute crowd pleaser!

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Reader Rating

4.9 Stars (9 Reviews) 11 Comments

Air Fryer Easy

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Keto pork belly bites are dusted with a spicy seasoning, tossed in the air fryer to get juicy and crispy then coated with a sweet sugar-free maple syrup for the ultimate crowd-favorite low-carb appetizer.

a small dish with bites of pork belly in them

picking up a chunk of seasoned pork belly with a toothpick

13 Mins

Nutrition Facts

Servings

303

Calories

30.1g

Fat

5.2g

Protein

0.4g

Net Carb

Total Carbs

Disclaimer: The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

These keto pork belly bites will disappear quickly if you serve them at your next tailgating event, holiday party or family gathering. They are the perfect balance of spice with sweet and fat from the juicy flavorful pork belly and wonderful treat on the keto diet.

The air fryer allow for crispy pork belly on the outside, but juicy meat on the inside.

Serve these bite sized keto appetizers alone or with your other low-carb favorites!

juicy pork belly bites

Table of Contents [ click to toggle ]

What is pork belly?
Recipe Details
Similar recipes others love
Where can you buy pork belly?
What's the difference between pork belly and bacon?
How to cook pork bell in the air fryer?
How to cook pork belly strips & chunks in the oven?
FAQs
Nutrition information: facts & macronutrients

What is pork belly?

Pork belly is a cut from the underside or ‘belly’ of a pig.

It is a boneless cut of pork that is served fresh and not cured or smoked. It is succulent and is rich in flavor thanks to all the fat.

Some pork belly cuts include the skin which can crisp more than the meatier part of the pork belly.

Keto Pork Belly Bites Recipe Video

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Crispy Pork Belly Ingredients

1 pound pork belly, rinsed and patted dry
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 - 4 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup

Spicy Maple Keto Pork Belly Bites Directions

STEP

1

Preheat

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for about 4 minutes
STEP

2

Cut the pork belly

Cut pork belly into 1/2 inch chunks and place in a bowl. An alternative to chunks would be pork belly slices.
STEP

3

Season it

Sprinkle in seasonings. Toss to coat evenly.
STEP

4

Prep the pork bell for cooking

Add pork belly to air fryer tray or basket in an even layer. Air fry at 400 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes. May need to cook longer if you chunks are larger.
STEP

5

Coat with syrup

Pour on sugar-free maple syrup. Mix to evenly coat.

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Where can you buy pork belly?

Sourcing different food and meat ingredients to complete your latest keto recipe can be interesting.

Finding a place pork belly is sold takes some creativity.

Costco

First off, we have found pork belly at Costco. We have found that Costco is an excellent source for harder to find, yet also higher quality cuts of meats.

Local meat shops

Do a search for local meat shops and give them call to see if they have pork belly in stock. Some carry it, while others might have to order it in.

Local grocery stores

Similar to the local meat shops, we have see chain grocery stores carry pork belly. Many times, this pork belly has been prepared with seasoning, but not always. If you don’t see it in the meat case, ask behind the counter. There are also times that some stores can order it in for you.

Online meat shops

There are numerous places online that sell pork belly. Doing a search for “order pork belly online” will give you numerous options. We have had great success ordering from Snake River Farms but I should be clear, that SRF sells a premium pork that is 5 – 7x the cost of sourcing locally. With that said, they are amazing high quality cuts.

What's the difference between pork belly and bacon?

Pork belly and bacon both come from the same region of the hog.

In fact, bacon comes from pork belly, but pork belly is not bacon. The main difference between pork belly and bacon is that bacon is smoked or cured while pork belly is uncured and not smoked – it is fresh.

Spicy seasoning

To achieve the spicy flavor of this rich pork belly dish, we use 6 spices:

chili powder
paprika
cayenne pepper
black pepper
salt
garlic powder

If you wish to increase the level of heat, just add more chili powder or cayenne pepper.

Sugar free maple syrup

To offset the spicy flavor, we toss our final cooked keto pork belly bites in a couple tablespoons of sugar-free maple syrup.

There are lots of keto approved maple syrups available to purchase. You may also find some at your grocery store. Here are some of my favorites.

Alternative coatings or additions could be:

BBQ sauce
Soy sauce
Fish sauce

How to cook pork bell in the air fryer?

For the most crispy pork belly bites, I recommend frying these keto appetizers in the air fryer.

The benefit of using an air fryer is that it keeps your pork bites juicy in the inside but gets they crispy on the outside. Plus they don’t take as long to cook and clean up is easier too.

How to cook pork belly strips & chunks in the oven?

If you don’t own an air fryer, you can bake these keto pork belly bites in the oven!

I recommend placing your pork belly chunks on top of a wire rack that sits on top of a baking tray. This will allow the fat to drop down as the pork belly bakes and allows for air to reach underneath the bites for even cooking.

Make sure you line your baking tray with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Then bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Of course, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your pork belly.

Spicy Maple Keto Pork Belly Bites: FAQS

Can I use a different type of meat instead of pork belly?

Absolutely! While pork belly gives a rich flavor and texture, you can substitute it with chicken thighs or beef short ribs for a different but still delicious result.

What if I don’t have all the spices listed?

No worries! You can customize the spice blend based on what you have. Just keep the chili powder as a base and add any other spices you enjoy. A little cumin or onion powder could work well too!

How long can I store the leftovers?

You can store leftover pork belly bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to regain their crispiness.

Is there a sugar-free syrup alternative I can use?

Yes! If you don't have sugar-free maple syrup, you can use sugar-free barbecue sauce or even a homemade mixture of erythritol and a bit of water to create a sweet glaze.

How can I make this dish less spicy?

To reduce the heat, you can simply cut back on the cayenne pepper or omit it entirely. You can also add a bit of extra paprika for flavor without the spice!

Nutritional information & Macros

Amount Per Serving
Calories	303
Fat	30.1g
Protein	5.2g
Total Carbs	4g
Net Carbs	0.4g

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About Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis and a Pharm.D., she has over 11 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism. She is the author of the Protein Packed cookbook, published by Victory Belt Publishing.

Learn more about Annie →

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