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Sides · American

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Cubes of pork belly smoked, then glazed in butter, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce until candied.

Serves
8
Prep
20 min
Cook
4 hr
Storage
Freeze & reheat
Freezer
up to 3 months

Sweet, sticky, candied cubes of pork belly — an appetizer that disappears fast. The foil-pan braising stage is where the magic happens.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb pork belly, cut into 1.5" cubes
  • 3 tbsp Smokehouse rub
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  1. Toss the pork belly cubes with the Smokehouse rub. Smoke at 250°F for about 2.5–3 hours until nicely bark-crusted.
  2. Transfer the cubes to a foil pan, dot with the butter, and sprinkle with the brown sugar and honey. Cover with foil and return to the smoker for 1–1.5 hours until tender.
  3. Uncover, toss with the BBQ sauce, and smoke 15 minutes more to set the glaze.

Make-Ahead & Storage

Freeze up to 3 months; reheat gently in a covered pan so they stay moist. Great on their own, over the smoked mac, or piled into the baked beans.

Notes

Pork belly renders a lot of fat — drain some before glazing if it pools. Adjust the honey and sugar to how candied you like them.

Equipment
smoker8-inch foil pan
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