Pork Belly in the Oven Recipe: Crispy Spanish Roast Pork 2026

This oven-roasted pork belly delivers everything you want from a Sunday centerpiece: a deeply savory, crackling-crisp skin over meat that stays tender and juicy, all with barely any hands-on work. The only part that asks for your attention is the final blast under the broiler, so the skin turns golden instead of burnt.

We season the pork simply, with coarse salt, apple vinegar, and a rub of fresh rosemary, letting the flavors stay clean and pork-forward. Underneath, halved golden apples and a whole head of garlic roast in the drippings, then get blended into a sweet, tangy sauce that cuts right through the richness of the meat.

The garnish is wide open, but sweet or acidic sides work best against the unctuousness of the pork belly. Think roasted potatoes and a sharp green salad, or anything with a little vinegar or citrus in it.

Ingredients for Pork Belly in the Oven

This makes 8 servings.

• 1 fresh pork belly, about 1.3 kg (roughly 3 lb)
• Coarse salt
• Apple vinegar
• Rosemary
• 2 Golden apples
• 1 head of garlic

How to Make Pork Belly in the Oven Step by Step

1. Score the Skin

Take 1 fresh pork belly, about 1.3 kg, and cut parallel lines into the skin, spacing them roughly one finger apart. Cutting through the skin (but not into the meat) helps the fat render and the surface crisp evenly.

2. Salt and Rest Overnight

Place the meat in a dish skin-side up, cover the skin completely with coarse salt, and let it rest in the fridge uncovered, ideally until the next day. This pulls moisture out of the skin so it can turn properly crunchy in the oven.

3. Brush with Vinegar and Rosemary

Before roasting, wipe the salt off well with paper towels. Brush the skin with apple vinegar and rub it with a few rosemary leaves.

4. Roast Skin-Side Down with Apples and Garlic

Set the pork belly on a rack with the skin facing down. On the tray below, place 2 Golden apples cut in half and 1 head of garlic. Roast for 1 hour at 180 °C (350 °F).

5. Flip and Broil the Skin

After that hour, take the tray out of the oven and raise the temperature to 220 °C (425 °F) with the broiler on. Move the apples and garlic to a plate and save the juices from the bottom tray. Brush the pork belly with apple vinegar again, turn it skin-side up, and put it back in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to brown the top.

6. Make the Sauce

While the skin browns, blend the reserved juices with the flesh of the roasted apples and the peeled garlic cloves until smooth. If it comes out too thick, loosen it with a splash of water. Season with salt and set aside.

7. Rest the Pork Belly

Once the skin is golden and crisp, pull the pork belly from the oven, transfer it to a plate, and let it rest for a couple of minutes.

8. Slice and Serve

Serve the pork belly hot with the sauce and whatever garnish you like, such as roasted potatoes and a green salad. To cut clean slices, follow the lines you scored into the skin at the start.

Tips for the Best Pork Belly in the Oven

Seasoning and Spice Variations

The seasoning here is deliberately simple, but you can swap in whatever spices you enjoy most to push the flavor in a different direction. Just keep the salt-and-vinegar base, since that is what builds the crackling.

Choosing the Right Sides

The garnish is very flexible, but sweet or acidic options balance the unctuousness of this cut best. Roasted potatoes, a sharp green salad, or extra apple sauce all work beautifully.

Watch the Final Broil

The only tricky moment in this recipe is the last few minutes under the broiler. Stay close to the oven and pull the pork belly as soon as the skin is golden and crisp, before it can burn.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything—cozy comfort classics, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I'll reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this sophisticated Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

Come breakfast time or when I'm after a lighter bite, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean-inspired spreads, I'll bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion calls for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is a favorite of mine to serve.

Hearty midday meals and slow, cozy suppers are where these shine: the warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Craving something even more substantial? I'll bake up this hearty Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultimate comfort plate, this French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

When street-food cravings hit or I'm feeding a crowd, out come this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These fuss-free Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when I'm mixing drinks and planning a whole spread for company, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To tie the whole meal together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

These are the recipes I find myself making over and over—whether it's a fast solo meal or a festive spread for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the beloved Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture really helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and effortless, I'll typically make the traditional Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. When I want a heartier comfort dish, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner, this One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes rooted in tradition from all over the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's classic Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture without eating up time. My regular lineup includes the 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 completely satisfying without any gluten.

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