If you’re craving bold flavour with minimal fuss, this Asian-inspired air fryer Korean pork is a total game changer. Juicy pork mince is cooked to perfection in the air fryer, then coated in a rich, sticky, sweet-and-spicy gochujang sauce that packs a serious punch. It’s one of those meals that feels like you’ve ordered something special, but it comes together faster than a takeaway could ever arrive at your door.
What I love most about this dish is how versatile it is. You can spoon it over steamed rice for a comforting rice bowl, wrap it in crisp lettuce leaves for something light and fresh, or pile it into bao buns or wraps for a fakeaway feast. However you serve it, it always delivers on flavour. With just the right balance of heat, sweetness, and umami depth from the gochujang.
It’s also a brilliant way to show off what your air fryer can really do. We’re used to seeing air fryer recipes for crispy chips or chicken, but this one proves it can handle saucier, more layered dishes just as well. It gives the pork that perfect texture. Caramelised in places, juicy throughout. Without needing a frying pan or extra oil.
Best of all? It’s ready in under 15 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights when you want something exciting but don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding the family, or hosting friends, this dish is guaranteed to impress. And once you’ve made it once, I promise it’ll become a regular feature in your dinner rotation.
PREP 5 minutes
COOK 12 – 15 minutes
SERVES 2 people
KIT you will need an air fryer
Ingredients for Air Fryer Korean Pork
250g pork mince
A packet of microwave rice
1 tbs gochujang
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp honey (saving X 1 tbs for serving)
1 lime juice
1 tsp sesame oil
A tsp of garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
A spring onion chopped (for garnish)
Method
So start by making the sauce. This is where all the bold flavour comes from. In a small bowl, mix together the gochujang, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy, then set it aside while you prepare the pork. This sauce should be thick enough to cling to the meat, with just the right balance of heat, sweetness, and tang.
Place the pork mince into a large bowl and pour over the sauce. Use a spoon or clean hands to gently break up the mince and mix until it’s evenly coated in the marinade. You don’t need to leave it to sit, but if you have a few minutes, letting it rest will help the flavours soak in a little more.
Next, remove the crisper plates or trays from your air fryer so the base of the basket is flat and easier to stir the mince as it cooks. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C. So once it’s hot, tip the saucy pork mince straight into the basket. Use a spatula to spread it out in an even layer and break up any large clumps.
Then Air fry for 10–12 minutes, pausing halfway through to give the mince a good stir and break it up again. By the end of cooking, the pork should be cooked all the way through with some lovely crispy, caramelised bits around the edges. That’s where the flavour really builds.
Serve it hot over fluffy rice, and finish with a drizzle of honey, a scatter of toasted sesame seeds, and chopped spring onion for freshness and crunch. It’s so quick, satisfying, and absolutely packed with flavour.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Korean Pork
1. Don’t skip the sauce prep:
Mixing the sauce separately before adding it to the pork mince helps ensure the gochujang blends evenly with the soy, honey, and other ingredients. This way, every bite of mince is coated in that bold, balanced flavour.
2. Use good quality pork mince:
A little fat in the mince adds flavour and helps it crisp up nicely in the air fryer. If you’re using very lean mince, you might want to add a tiny drizzle of oil to keep it juicy.
3. Break it up well:
When you add the mince to the air fryer basket, make sure it’s broken up into smaller clumps. Stir it well halfway through cooking to avoid any big chunks. This gives more surface area for caramelisation and better texture throughout.
4. Watch your air fryer basket:
Air fryer models vary, and some may run hotter than others. Keep an eye on the mince towards the end of cooking. You want browning around the edges, not burnt bits. If needed, reduce the temperature slightly or check a minute earlier.
5. Double up the batch:
Cooking for more? You can double the recipe, but cook it in two batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Too much mince at once will steam rather than crisp.
6. Get creative with how you serve it:
It’s perfect over rice, but it’s just as good spooned into lettuce cups, bao buns, or even wrapped in a tortilla for a Korean-style taco. Add pickled veg, shredded cucumber, or kimchi for extra crunch and freshness.
7. Make it ahead:
The pork reheats really well. Store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer or microwave for a super quick lunch the next day.
Related Recipes
If you loved this Air Fryer Korean Pork, here are five more pork recipes that bring big flavour with minimal faff, all made in the air fryer:
Air Fryer Fried Rice
The perfect side or leftover upgrade. This egg-fried rice comes together so beautifully in the air fryer. Add bits of leftover pork, frozen peas, or chopped spring onion to make it your own. Great with a drizzle of sriracha or soy.
Air Fryer Pork Noodles
Quick, punchy, and so perfect for busy evenings. These sticky pork noodles are made with marinated strips of pork, cooked in the air-fryer, then tossed through saucy noodles with spring onion and chilli. A fake-away classic made easy.
Easy Air Fryer Pork Chops
Juicy, golden, and full of flavour, these pork chops are marinated in a garlic-soy mixture and air fried until perfectly tender inside with a little caramelised crisp on the outside. Serve with rice, greens or even air fryer potatoes for a hearty dinner.
Air Fryer Pork Meatballs
These juicy pork meatballs are packed with zingy flavour from lime, chilli, and fresh herbs. Air fried until lightly crisped, they’re ideal for noodle bowls, lettuce wraps or just dipped in a tangy sauce.
Juicy Air Fryer Pork Steak
Quick, sticky, and savoury-sweet, this pork steak is glazed in a sesame, soy and honey marinade, then cooked in the air-fryer in under 12 minutes. Serve it with rice, greens, or tucked into bao buns.
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