Pan con Chicharrón: Authentic Peruvian Crispy Pork Sandwich 59 2026

Pan con chicharrón is one of Peru's most beloved street foods: a soft, crusty roll piled with juicy, golden chicharrón, sweet fried sweet potato and a bright, tangy salsa criolla. It is the kind of comforting bite that is worth making at least once in your life, and once you try it, you will understand why it is such a classic.

The star of the show is the chicharrón, which is surprisingly easy to make at home from fresh pork belly. The meat is brined in salted water for at least three hours so it turns out especially tender, then simmered with aromatics and finally fried right before serving. The filling also includes salsa criolla and fried sweet potato, and together they create something truly special.

In Peru, pan con chicharrón is traditionally served as a breakfast on a special day, at family gatherings, or as one of the many popular street food options. This flavorful sandwich is also a fantastic choice for a special dinner at home. Try it and you will see why.

Ingredients for Pan con Chicharrón

Makes 4 servings

• 1 liter of water
• 100 g of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 500 g of fresh pork belly
• 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
• 4 garlic cloves
• Half a red onion
• 1 bunch of mint
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• Half a red onion, cut into thin julienne strips
• 1 chili or ají pepper
• Chopped mint, to taste
• Chopped cilantro, to taste
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt, to taste
• 1 tablespoon of lard
• 1 sweet potato
• 4 crusty round rolls or brioche buns

How to Make Pan con Chicharrón Step by Step

1. Brine the Pork Belly

Start by making the brine. Put 1 liter of water in a large bowl with 100 grams of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix very well until the salt dissolves. Add 500 grams of fresh pork belly, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or even better, overnight.

2. Simmer the Pork Belly

After the resting time, put plenty of water in a pot with 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika, 4 garlic cloves, half a red onion, 1 bunch of mint, 1 bunch of cilantro, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin and ground black pepper to taste. Add the drained pork belly and bring to a boil. Lower to medium heat and cook for 40 minutes.

3. Drain and Dry the Meat

Once cooked, remove the pork belly from the pot, drain it and dry it very well, because otherwise it will splatter a lot when fried. Set aside.

4. Soak the Red Onion

Now prepare the salsa criolla. Put half a red onion cut into julienne strips in a bowl and add water. This helps remove the strong flavor of the onion so it turns milder, although this step is completely optional.

5. Make the Salsa Criolla

After 10 minutes, drain the onion and mix it with 1 finely chopped ají pepper, chopped mint to taste, chopped cilantro to taste, the juice of 1 lime and salt to taste. Mix and set aside.

6. Fry the Pork Belly

Now fry the pork belly so it is served golden and piping hot. Heat 1 generous tablespoon of lard in a skillet. Fry the pork belly on all sides until it is nicely golden and crispy. Remove from the skillet and set aside on paper towels. You can cover it with an inverted soup plate to keep it warm.

7. Peel and Cut the Sweet Potato

Peel, wash and cut the sweet potato.

8. Fry the Sweet Potato

In the same lard used to fry the pork belly, fry the sweet potato on both sides until golden. Keep in mind that since it is so thin, it fries very quickly. Remove the sweet potato from the oil and place it on paper towels.

9. Add Sweet Potato to the Bun

Open a roll and place a few slices of fried sweet potato on the base.

10. Cut the Chicharrón

Cut the pork belly, which is the chicharrón, into thin slices.

11. Top with Chicharrón

Place a generous portion of sliced chicharrón over the sweet potato.

12. Add Salsa Criolla and Serve

Cover the chicharrón with the salsa criolla and serve this delicious sandwich freshly made.

Tips for the Best Pan con Chicharrón

Brine Overnight for Tender Meat

The brine is what makes the pork belly especially tender, so do not rush it. Three hours is the minimum, but leaving it overnight in the fridge gives even better results. Just make sure the meat is fully covered by the salted water.

Dry the Meat Before Frying

After simmering, drain the pork belly and dry it very well with paper towels. Any surface moisture will make the hot lard splatter badly and will stop the chicharrón from turning properly crisp and golden.

Fry Right Before Serving

Fry the pork belly and the sweet potato just before assembling the sandwiches so everything is hot and crunchy. Keep the fried chicharrón warm under an inverted plate, and add the salsa criolla at the very last moment so the bun does not get soggy.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of table, tents dogs, axe, hatchet, and flashlight. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of electric heater camper, truck camper tie downs, tent kayak, gifts couples, and camper van accessories. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.