5 Orange Chicken Side Dish Recipes That’ll Blow Your Mind

pork belly crackling side dish

Have you ever seen pork belly cracklings in the store and wondered what they are.

Why trust me?

I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.

They look like little pieces of bacon, but they’re made from pork belly.

What is pork belly, and which side dishes can you serve alongside this dish.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at pork belly cracklings and see what makes them so special.

Stay tuned!

What Are Pork Belly Cracklings?

Epic Artisanal Oven Baked Pork Rinds, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, 2.5 oz,...

Check Current Price

Pork belly cracklings are a delicious and easy-to-make snack.

But what are they, exactly.

 Cracklings, also known as chicharrones, are a delicious by-product of cooking pork belly.

Cracklings are made from fried pork skin, and they’re absolutely amazing when cooked properly.

You can use them as a great alternative to traditional potato chips or pretzels.

Pork belly cracklings are perfect for a party or just to munch on while watching TV.

They’re crunchy, salty, and addictive – once you start eating them, you won’t be able to stop.

They’re also really easy to make at home.

Keep reading to learn how to make pork belly cracklings!

What to Consider When Choosing a Pork Belly Cracklings’ Side Dish.

Pork belly cracklings are delicious and will be even more delicious when being served with an addictive side dish.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which one is right for you.

Here we’ll take a look at some of the factors you need to consider when making your decision.

What type of cuisine are you serving?

The first thing to keep in mind is the style of cuisine you want your meal to be.

If you’re serving a Southern-style meal, corn pudding would be a great choice.

If you want to have an Asian-inspired meal, then you can consider serving this main course with stir-fried vegetables, fried rice or steam rice.

Side dish’s flavor

The second thing is the flavor profile of the dish.

If you want to complement the smoky and salty flavors of the pork belly cracklings, you’ll want a side dish that is either similarly salty or has a strong complementary flavor.

Garlic mashed potatoes or braised greens would be good choices.

How hearty is your meal

Another factor to consider is how hearty the side dish is relative to the pork belly cracklings.

If you’re serving a light salad or vegetable side dish, it might not be enough to counterbalance the richness of the pork belly cracklings.

In that case, you might want to choose a heartier option like mac and cheese or chili.

What flavors would you like to highlight?Do you want a dish that is savory or sweet.

How many people will be eating.

Finally, how many people will you be serving.

And how many people will you be serving.

If you’re cooking for a large group, and you’re short on time, you may want to choose a dish that can be pre-made or requires a few ingredients.

A simple salad or potato salad would be a good option.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be able to choose the perfect side dish for your pork belly cracklings.

Enjoy!

5 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Pork Belly Cracklings

What sides do you serve with your pork belly cracklings.

Surely, not everyone enjoys the same thing.

Some like a good old-fashioned mac and cheese while others crave something a little more exotic.

What are some of your favorite side dishes to serve with this crispy, salty treat.

Let us know in the comments below.

We would love to try out some new recipes.

Mac and cheese

Beecher's World's Best Mac & Cheese, 20 oz (Frozen)

Check Current Price

So why not combine mac and cheese to this pork for amazing foods into one epic meal.

The crispy bacon-like texture of the pork belly cracklings is the perfect complement to the creamy mac and cheese, giving you a totally new and unique experience.

Plus, they are easy to make and affordable.

Once you try this combination, you’ll never look at mac and cheese the same way again!

Roasted potatoes

Pictsweet Farms Vegetables for Roasting Red Potatoes and Onions,...

Check Current Price

Roasted potatoes and pork belly cracklings are both simple dishes, but they’re both so tasty that you can’t help but love them.

The roasted potatoes went so well with the pork belly cracklings and added a delicious crunchy texture to the dish.

If you’re looking for an easy and tasty side dish to serve alongside your pork belly, then be sure to roast some potatoes!

Creamy sweet potatoes

Honest Earth Homestyle Sweet Potatoes

Check Current Price

Pork belly cracklings might sound like a strange dish to serve with creamy sweet potatoes, but it’s a match made in heaven.

The salty and crispy pork belly pairs perfectly with the sweet and creamy potatoes, making for a delicious and flavorful meal.

They’re also great when dipped in some hot sauce.

Your guests will love the interesting combination of flavors and textures.

Butternut squash

Real Food From the Ground Up Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Crackers...

Check Current Price

Cooks know that pork belly cracklings are the best part of a dish, but they can be overpowering.

That’s why many chefs serve butternut squash alongside pork belly cracklings – to provide a bit of sweetness and crunch to balance out the richness and the saltiness of the cracklings, making for a delicious and unique dish.

Plus, it’s a fun way to add some extra color and flavor to your plate.

So give it a try.

You won’t be disappointed.

Coleslaw

Taylor Farms Coleslaw, 14 oz Bag

Check Current Price

Why do we so often serve coleslaw alongside pork belly cracklings.

It’s a question that I’ve been pondering lately, and there are actually many possible reasons.

It’s because the two dishes have complementary flavors.

The crunchy cabbage adds more crunchiness to the main dish, while the tangy flavor complements the richness of the pork perfectly.

Also, they’re both relatively easy to make and crowd-pleasing.

Coleslaw and pork belly cracklings are a winning combination!

The Bottom Line

When you’re cooking a pork belly, one question you might ask is what to serve as a side dish.

We hope you will find our top picks of 5 side dishes helpful when searching for the ones tantalizing your taste buds.

What are you waiting for.

Start browsing our list of recipes today!