My Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites prove that good things come in small packages. This bite-sized recipe is crispy, caramelized, and chock-full of flavor. It features plump pork belly bites infused with a beautiful blend of my signature seasonings. I smoked the meat until crisp on the Recteq 700, giving it a hint of smoke. The meat was then wrapped in a decadent blend of butter, BBQ sauce, and glaze, making each bite too good for words.
If you’re looking for a game day, backyard cookout, or just because these Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites are bound to put a smile on your face. Give this recipe a try, and let me know what you think!
Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites | Heath Riles BBQ
Many pitmasters reserve pork belly for special occasions. It's a favorite cut of meat because it’s full of fat, making it one of the most moist cuts. When appropriately smoked, the fat renders, giving the pork belly a golden exterior with a juicy interior. The natural marbling makes every bite as good as the last! When paired with a sweet and spicy glaze, pork belly becomes a treat that’s impossible to resist.
The Ingredients
Want to cook an outstanding plate of Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites? Here’s what you need to make it happen.
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Pork belly slab. Pork belly is the same cut that makes bacon, giving this dish unbeatable flavor. You can purchase pork belly at your local butcher, where they can give you the right amount for your needs. My pork belly was about 3 pounds, so adjust the quantity of other ingredients as needed to cover your pork belly cubes.
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Heath Riles BBQ Apple Rub. This tasty apple-infused rub combines the best elements of sweet and savory. With a little heat on the back end, it’s the perfect way to reinvigorate your taste buds. It’s particularly great on pork, but you can also use it on chicken, fish, or ribs.
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Heath Riles BBQ Competition Rub. My signature Competition Rub was a key part of my 1st place ribs at the 2022 & 2024 Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest! It features a delicious blend of salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and pecan flavor.
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Heath Riles BBQ Sweet BBQ Sauce. This ketchup-based sauce is one of my bestsellers. You can use it alone or with a vinegar-based sauce for a tangy kick! Use it to top chicken wings, ribs, pulled pork, hamburgers, or quesadillas.
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Heath Riles BBQ Apple Habanero BBQ Glaze. My BBQ glazes add brilliant color to pork and are the perfect base for homemade butter baths/wraps. You can use them on pork belly bites, but they also give ribs and roasts a bold, irresistible flavor.
The Smoker Setup
Here’s the main equipment I used for this recipe. The Equipment and Tools section contains more of my grilling favorites.
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Pellet grill/smoker. I cooked the Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites on my Recteq 700. This versatile pit is great for backyard cooking, but I can also see it winning the gold at competitions. The star of the show is Recteq's exclusive app, which allows you to take notes on each cook so you can determine what worked best.
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Charcoal. I used Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets to fuel the grill. This is my favorite brand of charcoal because it uses high-quality ingredients. You can find Royal Oak at your local home improvement and big-box stores, like Walmart, so give them a try!
The Process for Making Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites
You can find a detailed demonstration of this recipe in the video. Here is a brief introduction to how I created these delectable Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites.
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Fire up the grill. I stoked the Recteq 700 with Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets and fired it up to 325℉.
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Prep the pork belly. I cut my pork belly into strips, then cubed it. You want your pork belly cubes to be the same size so everything cooks evenly.
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Add seasoning. I set a cooling rack above a baking tray, then placed my pork belly cubes in a large bowl. I seasoned the meat with Heath Riles BBQ Apple Rub and Heath Riles BBQ Competition Rub, tossing the meat and seasoning with my gloved hand to coat evenly. Then, I placed the meat on the cooling rack, spacing each piece equally to ensure proper airflow.
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Start cooking. I set the Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites on the pit and let them go for an hour.
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Wrap the pork belly bites. I placed the butter pats in an aluminum pan to create a simple butter bath and set the cooked pork belly bites on top. Then, I drizzled Heath Riles BBQ Sweet BBQ Sauce and Heath Riles BBQ Apple Habanero BBQ Glaze over the top. I mixed everything and arranged the meat in a single layer.
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Finish cooking. I covered the pan with aluminum foil, then set it back on the Recteq 700 to cook for 1 hour and 5 minutes. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 200℉. I had a total cook time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. The only thing left was to remove the meat from the grill and let it cool before digging in.
The Results
My Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites were finger-lickin’ good! My fruity apple rub and glaze perfectly offset the bacon flavor of the meat. This recipe is one for the books and will be a crowd-pleaser.
Serving Suggestions for Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites
My Candied Apple Pork Belly Bites are great on their own, but you can always serve them with roasted potatoes, a side salad, and a cold one.
Storing Leftovers
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days or freeze them for up to four months. To reheat from frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then cook until warmed through on the grill, allowing extra time to crisp up.
Equipment and Tools
Recteq 700, Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets, mixing bowls, metal tongs, ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE.
