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Home » Recipes » Dry Rubs & Seasonings

Pork Belly Rub

Modified: Oct 29, 2025 · Published: Jul 27, 2022 by Nicole B. · Leave a Comment
Total Time: 5 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
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This pork belly rub adds just the right amount of seasoning without taking away from the delicious flavor of the meat itself. It's made with smoked paprika, pepper, garlic and onion powder, ground fennel seed, oregano and salt.

Pork belly seasoning being stirred in a bowl.

What does it taste like:

  • This dry rub adds lots of umami and a light smoked paprika flavor. What makes the rub special is the hint of fennel. It provides a very subtle background flavor that adds complexity and works beautifully with the pork.
  • Note that I don't use sugar in this dry rub. Many pork belly rub recipes contain brown sugar but I personally prefer a purely savory flavor here. Not using sugar also allows roasting the meat at high temperature to get a very crispy crust without the danger of burning it.
Oregano, salt, fennel seed, pepper, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder.

Full Recipe

Pork belly seasoning being stirred in a bowl.
Author: Nicole B.

Pork Belly Rub

Makes enough rub for a 6-ounce piece of pork belly.
Print Version (does not include images) Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Chill time: 4 hours hrs
Total Time: 5 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Servings: 2
Course: Dry Rubs and Seasonings
Cuisine: World
Calories: 445
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Equipment:

  • measuring spoons
  • mixing bowl
  • paper towels
  • cast iron pan
  • kitchen tongs
  • knife and cutting board
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Ingredients:
  

For the dry rub:
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked hot paprika
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground fennel seed
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the pork belly:
  • 6 ounce piece of pork belly

Method:
 

How to make the dry rub:
  1. Add all ingredients to a small bowl. Stir until well combined.
How to roast the pork belly in the oven:
  1. Pat the pork belly dry using paper towels, then rub evenly with the seasoning on all sides. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4 hours.
    Raw, seasoned pork belly.
  2. Very lightly oil a cast iron pan, then set the pan into the cold oven. Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. with the pan in it.
  3. Once the oven has reached 450 degrees, set the pork belly into the hot pan using kitchen tongs. Roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F. Continue to roast the meat uncovered until tender, turning every 15 minutes. (This will take another 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the thickness of the piece.)
    Roasted pork belly in a cast iron pan.
  5. Transfer the roasted pork belly to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up excess fat. Transfer to a cutting board and slice.
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!

Nutrition (estimate only):

Calories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 8gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 173mgPotassium: 177mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 137IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

More spice rub and seasoning recipes for pork:

  • If you're making ribs try this pork rib rub with mustard or this country style ribs dry rub.
  • This bulk pork sausage seasoning recipe makes delicious breakfast sausage patties.
  • For a spice blend with a prominent fennel flavor try this fennel dry rub. It's great on pork chops!

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Hi there!

I'm Nicole, the cook and photographer behind this website (which I started all the way back in 2013). You'll find lots of delicious recipes here, all centered around spices.

More about me

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