Candied Pork Belly Cubes

Smoked candied pork belly cubes, often referred to as “meat candy,” are a rich and irresistible BBQ treat that combines sweet, savory, and smoky flavors in every bite. The process begins with thick slabs of pork belly that are generously seasoned with a dry rub. These are placed in the smoker and cooked low and slow, allowing the fat to render and the exterior to develop a flavorful bark while the inside stays buttery and tender.

After a few hours of smoking, the pork belly is cubed and then transferred to a foil pan, where it is coated with a sticky, sweet glaze. This stage gives the cubes their signature glossy finish and caramelized edges as the sugars bubble and fuse into a delicious candy-like crust. The cubes are returned to the smoker to finish cooking, basting in their own sweet and savory juices until they’re melt-in-your-mouth perfect.

These smoked candied pork belly cubes are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish, ideal for BBQ platters, game day spreads, or any outdoor occasion that calls for bold, indulgent flavors. Their bite-sized form makes them easy to serve and even easier to devour.

Swipe to see all photos
Browned cubes of pork belly sitting in liquid in foil.
The final cook has the pork belly in the BBQ sauce but exposed to the smoke.
A stack of candied pork belly cubes served on a white plate.
The pork belly can be served as a finger food with toothpicks or as the meat part of a meal.
Looking into slices of cooked pork belly on a white cutting board.
The pork belly is smoked then cubed and tossed in sauce to finished cooking.

Candied Pork Belly Cubes Recipe

0
reviews
Candied pork belly cubes are the perfect appetizer for your next game night, neighborhood get-together, or tailgating party. Sweet, salty, and spicy, everyone will love these pork bites.
Preparation 15 minutes
Cook 1 hour 30 minutes
Dry Marinade 2 hours
Ready in 3 days 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 16 Servings
CourseAppetizer
InfluenceGlobal
DifficultySeasoned
MethodSmoke
Similar Recipes

Ingredients

Dry Marinade

  • 5 pounds skinless pork belly
  • 1/8 cup BBQ rub

BBQ Orange Marinade

  • 1 cup hot and spicy BBQ sauce
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup cherry cola

Smoked Pork Belly

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/8 cup BBQ rub

Equipment

  • oak charcoal briquettes
  • cherry wood chips
  • 1 disposable half pan
  • toothpicks

Directions

Dry Marinade

  • Slice pork belly into eight equal pieces, about 1 pound each.
  • Rub all sides of the belly with BBQ rub, then place in a bag or wrap in plastic. Chill for 2 to 72 hours.

BBQ Orange Marinade

  • Mix together the BBQ sauce, orange juice, and cola.

Smoked Pork Belly

  • Remove the pork belly from the cooler 1 hour before smoking.
  • Prepare a smoker for indirect heat with briquettes and wood chips at 225 degrees F (107 degrees C).
  • Smoke the pork belly, fat side up for 90 minutes.
  • Liberally drizzle the BBQ orange marinade over the pork belly three times during the cooking process (every twenty-five minutes).
  • Remove the pork belly from the smoker and let rest for 1 hour. Increase the smoker temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  • Slice and cube the pork belly into 1-inch (2 1/2cm) cubes.
  • Place the cubed pork belly in a disposable half pan and toss lightly with the remaining BBQ orange marinade.
  • Return the pork belly to the higher heat smoker until the desired doneness is achieved. Typically, this is a soft, melt-in-your-mouth, texture.
  • To serve, mix the BBQ rub, salt, and sugar together. Sprinkle lightly over the pork belly cubes and serve with toothpicks.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 774kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 14gFat: 75gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 375mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 91IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

More Pork Belly Recipes

Pork Belly Nachos

Quick brined red onion pickles, sticky and sweet pork belly, tortilla chips, and melted queso are combined in the ultimate…

by Tim Scheer

Popular Recipe Ideas

About Kathy Pullin

Hailing from legendary BBQ oasis Kansas City, it should not be any surprise Kathy Pullin has a love for barbecue.

Learn more about Kathy Pullin
fire background
Signup to our newsletter today!

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.