Oven-Baked Pork Belly with Honey & Mustard: Effortless Enjoyment

Some dishes smell like home. From the moment they go into the oven, they fill the kitchen with enticing aromas and whet your appetite before the table is even set.

Pork belly slices are just the thing. Juicy, flavorful, and perfect for a family meal or a relaxed Sunday lunch with friends.

With a few simple ingredients and the right combination of honey and mustard, you can make pork belly slices with a crispy crust on the outside and tender, juicy meat inside.

If you’re looking for an easy oven recipe that always turns out delicious, you’ve come to the right place.

Pork belly slices have enough fat to stay juicy as they cook, but also enough meat to make a filling, flavorful meal.

When cooked properly:

• develop a crispy surface,
  
• stay moist inside,
  
• and pair perfectly with sweet or spicy marinades.

The honey and mustard combination is one of the best, balancing sweetness with a bold kick and creating an irresistible caramelized finish.

What you’ll need

Ingredients for 4 people

• 1.5 kg pork belly slices
  
• 2 tablespoons honey
  
• 2 tablespoons mustard
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  
• Juice of 1 lemon
  
• 2 crushed garlic cloves (optional)
  
• 1 teaspoon oregano
  
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  
• Salt
  
• Pepper

How to prepare the marinade

In a bowl, mix together:

• the honey,
  
• the mustard,
  
• the olive oil,
  
• the lemon juice,
  
• and the spices.

The texture should become thick enough to “stick” well to the pork belly slices.

Once it’s ready, spread the marinade all over the meat and, ideally, leave it in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

If you’re short on time, you can cook them straight away. The flavor will simply be even more intense if you have time to marinate them.

How to cook juicy pork belly slices

The biggest mistake many people make is cooking pork belly slices too quickly or at too high a temperature. The secret is to cook them gradually.

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  
• Place the pork belly slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or on a rack.
  
• Cover the baking tray with foil for the first stage.
  
• Roast for about 1 hour.
  
• Remove the foil and continue cooking for another 20-30 minutes, until they’re browned and caramelized.

At the end, you can switch on the grill for 3-5 minutes to make them even crispier. Just be careful not to let them burn because of the honey.

How can you tell when they’re ready?

Properly cooked pork belly slices:

• a golden color,
  
• a crispy edge,
  
• and the meat slices easily without drying out.

If you see that they’re releasing a lot of liquid, leave them a little longer uncovered.

What sides go well with them?

Honey mustard pork belly slices pair perfectly with:

• roast potatoes,
  
• baby potatoes with herbs,
  
• Greek salad,
  
• coleslaw,
  
• grilled vegetables,
  
• or even refreshing lemon rice.

For a summer meal, a tomato salad with some refreshing yogurt on the side is enough to balance the flavors perfectly.