• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sassy Chopsticks
  • Flavorful Asian-inspired Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Pantry
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Pantry
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Pantry
    • How-To
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Chinese shredded potato 1
      Sichuan Stir-Fried Chinese Shredded Potato (酸辣土豆丝)
    • air fryer frozen Brussel sprouts
      Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts: The Easiest Recipe
    • no bake halloween treats
      35 No Bake Halloween Treats: Spooky and Delicious Fun
    • green onions feature 2
      How To Cut Green Onions (Scallions): 4 Easy Ways!
    • white sugar sponge cake
      White Sugar Sponge Cake Recipe (Bai Tang Gao – 白糖糕)
    • broccoli and mushroom stir fry 1
      Broccoli and Mushroom Stir Fry: Quick and Healthy
    • chili pepper vs jalapeno
      Chili Pepper vs Jalapeno: A Detailed Comparison
    • Taiwanese recipes
      13 Delicious Taiwanese Recipes Everyone Must Try
    • Chinese roast chicken recipe
      Chinese Roast Chicken Recipe (Simple and Delicious)
    • make spicy mayo
      How To Make Spicy Mayo Without Sriracha - DIY Guide
    • Peking spare ribs feature 1
      The Easiest Peking Spare Ribs (京都排骨): Peking-Style
    • radish vs beet feature
      Radish Vs Beet: Exploring The Differences And Facts
    Home » Recipes » Pork

    Air Fryer Char Siu

    Published: Feb 22, 2023 by Yuan

    82 shares
    • Facebook40
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What is Char Siu(叉燒)?

    Char siu is a sweet and savory Chinese roasted pork often glazed with oyster sauce, soy sauce, fermented beans, garlic, sugar..etc. I am sure you have seen it in most China towns, those red-roasted meats hanging on hooks that are char siu! Char siu can be made with chicken or duck instead of pork, most associated with pork belly, pork shoulder, or pork butt.

    air fry char siu

    It is a trendy dish in Cantonese cuisine that consists of barbecued pork. It is often served in restaurants but can also be made at home.

    There are many variations of char siu, but the basic recipe is traditionally cooked in an oven. However, you can also make it using an air fryer. An air fryer is one of the best ways to make your homemade char siu. This cooking method will allow you to enjoy the same taste and texture of char siu without spending hours in the kitchen!

    This easy recipe will satisfy your craving for Chinese food without all of the grease or guilt that comes with it. In this recipe, I'll show you how to make char siu in an air fryer; read on:

    Ingredients

    Pork: This Chinese barbecue recipe is traditionally made with pork belly, but you can use any cut of pork with higher fat content, fattier cuts such as boneless pork shoulder or pork belly. All of them work! The "marble-looking" pork will create a juicy, delicious char siu! You can also use lean boneless pork loin or pork tenderloin if you want a healthier alternative to pork belly.

    ingredients

    Asian seasoning: Asian seasoning and spices include Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, light and dark soy sauce, fermented red bean curd, and Chinese five-spice powder.

    The fermented red bean curd, found in most Asian grocery stores, adds a natural red color to the pork. Some people like to add red food coloring to substitute it; that's fine too if you want that "red China town looking char siu."

    Sweeteners: You can use brown sugar, white sugar, or honey. I use white sugar to marinate the meat and raw honey to brush on for extra glaze.

    Garlic: I use fresh minced garlic. You can also use garlic powder for a quick fix-up.

    Salt and white pepper to taste.

    How to Make Air Fryer Char Siu at Home?

    Char siu is easy to make at home with an air fryer. First, let's start with marinade ingredients. In a large bowl, mix all the sauce and transfer to a ziplock bag or any airtight container to keep in the refrigerator overnight. You can skip this step if you don’t have time, but it will make a big difference in flavor. I strongly suggest you marinate the meat overnight for the best result.

    char siu steps

    Put the marinaded pork butt in the air fryer basket. Use liners for easy cleanup. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees, and brush the marinade sauce every 10 minutes for 40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Cook until golden brown; use tongs to turn the pork over each time you brush the sauce so that both sides get well-cooked equally. Add extra 5 minutes if you like me or prefer a burnt-crispy texture!

    Please immediately turn off the air fryer and transfer the char siu to a plate.

    Let the char siu cool down for 10 minutes before you cut it. Slice it and brush some more honey for a quick touch-up for a sticky glaze texture.

    Serve the char siu with steamed white rice and various green side dishes, such as stir fry Taiwanese spinach or Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Enjoy!

    Pro Tips

    Making char siu is relatively simple, although it requires some time for marinating and cooking. But if you have never tried cooking char siu at home, then here are a couple of pro tips for you:

    • Marinate for at least 24 hours before cooking. The longer you marinate your meat, the more flavor it will have when cooked in an air fryer! If you like, add some salt and pepper to help season the meat while it's marinating.
    •  For the marinade, do not add too much sugar, which will caramelize and burn quickly on high heat inside an air fryer. You can brush honey for the last 10 minutes of cooking time.
    • I use air fryer liners underneath the pork to prevent sticking. If you don't have it, you can just spread a thin layer of oil spray over the surface of the basket before placing the pork into it; this will prevent sticking and burning during the cooking process.
    • A cheat sheet for a premade sauce: "Lee Kum Kee Char Siu Sauce" is a premade char siu Chinese BBQ sauce to save time preparing an easy char siu recipe!

    Store and Reheat

    Store: If you plan on making char siu ahead of time, remember that reheating it can cause it to dry out or become harsh. Leftover char siu will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge before reheating. Cooked char siu can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. To freeze, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrapper and put it into a freezer bag.

    Reheat: To reheat, thaw completely at room temperature before heating in the microwave. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, flip over, then microwave on high for 2 minutes more, depending on the size of the char siu. You can also bake it at 350 degrees until heated through, about 20 minutes. If you prefer, heat the leftovers on the stovetop for 5 to 10 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.

    char siu

    Conclusion

    If you want a healthier alternative to fried pork, try making char siu using the air fryer method. Happy cooking!

    air fry char siu

    Air Fryer Char Siu

    Char siu is a sweet and savory Chinese roasted pork often glazed with sauces. An air fryer is one of the best ways to make your char siu.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Marinating time: 10 hours hours
    Total Time: 10 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 252kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds pork butt or any cut of pork with higher fat content, such as boneless pork shoulder or pork belly
    • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
    • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
    • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon white sugar or brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons raw honey for brushing
    • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
    • ½ cup fermented red bean curd or red food coloring, optional
    • ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder optional
    • salt and white pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, mix all the sauce and transfer to a ziplock bag or any airtight container to keep in the refrigerator overnight. You can skip this step if you don’t have time, but it will make a big difference in flavor. I strongly suggest you marinate the meat overnight for the best result.
    • Put the marinaded pork butt in the air fryer basket. Use liners for easy cleanup. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees, and brush the marinade sauce every 10 minutes for 40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Cook until golden brown; use tongs to turn the pork over each time you brush the sauce so that both sides get well-cooked equally. Add extra 5 minutes if you like me or prefer a burnt-crispy texture!
    • Please immediately turn off the air fryer and transfer the char siu to a plate.
    • Let the char siu cool down for 10 minutes before you cut it. Slice it and brush some more honey for a quick touch-up for a sticky glaze texture.
    • Serve the char siu with steamed white rice and various green side dishes. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.6g | Protein: 35.6g | Fat: 7.6g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 439mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 7.1g | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below, and tag me @sassychopsticks9 or tag #sassychopsticks9 on Instagram!

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    • baked Asian chicken wings 2
      Sticky Baked Asian Chicken Wings (Fall Off the Bone)
    • sushi bake recipe imitation crab 7
      Sushi Bake Recipe Imitation Crab (Sushi Casserole)
    • chicken breakfast recipes
      15 Easy Chicken Breakfast Recipes (Healthy Ideas)
    • hunan beef vs szechuan beef
      Hunan Beef vs Szechuan Beef- A Detailed Comparison

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    me

    Hello there! Welcome to sassychopsticks.com!

    I am Yuan, a US based writer, world traveler, Web developer and photographer behind this website. I was originally born in Kunming, which is the southern part of China, where every seasons is Spring! After attending 4 years of high school in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, I moved to Portsmouth, England where I spend 6 years and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I have lived in the United States for almost 2 decades now and currently live in Tennessee.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • 3 ingredient Nutella cookies c
      3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe (Quick and Easy)
    • feature pic soju vs sake
      Soju Vs Sake: Exploring These Two Asian Classics!
    • shrimp mei fun 1
      Easy Shrimp Mei Fun Recipe (Stir Fry Rice Noodles)
    • Chinese tea and cups
      What Tea Is Served In Chinese Restaurants: Full Guide

    Trending recipes

    • rolls
      Chinese Egg Rolls
    • stir fry Taiwanese spinach
      Stir Fry Taiwanese Spinach with Garlic
    • Creamy coconut shrimp buffet style
      Creamy Coconut Shrimp Buffet Style- Quick and Easy
    • Chinese sponge cake
      Chinese Sponge Cake Recipe (Chiffon Cake)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT