Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Backyard Barbecue Hero: Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Transform your next barbecue into a legendary event with these insanely addictive Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends. This recipe is a surefire crowd-pleaser, offering a symphony of flavors in every tender bite. Get ready to impress your guests with the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, savory, and a touch of boozy warmth.

What Makes These Burnt Ends the King of the Grill?

• Low and Slow Smoky Perfection: Imagine incredibly tender pork belly that practically melts in your mouth. This is achieved by slow-smoking the pork belly over fragrant hickory wood chips. The low and slow method infuses the meat with deep smoky goodness, creating an unforgettable flavor profile.
• Sweet and Savory Glaze Symphony: A sticky and irresistible glaze made with real maple syrup, bourbon, and your favorite BBQ sauce takes these burnt ends over the top. As the glaze caramelizes over the pork belly, it creates a delightful dance of sweet and savory flavors, with a touch of bourbon warmth adding a surprising complexity.
• Crispy on the Outside, Tender on the Inside: The unique cooking method ensures a textural contrast that's pure joy for your taste buds. The caramelized glaze creates a crispy, flavorful exterior, while giving way to incredibly tender and juicy pork belly inside. It's a textural explosion in every single bite!

Ingredients to Make You a Backyard Barbecue Legend:

For the Smoked Pork Belly:

• 2 pounds pork belly, cut into 1-inch cubes (approximately)
• Maple Bourbon Seasoning (or your favorite pork rub)
• High smoke point oil (like canola or avocado oil)
• Cowboy Charcoal (or your preferred charcoal)
• 1-2 Cowboy Hickory Pit Logs (or similar wood chips for smoking)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Maple Bourbon Glaze:

• ⅓ cup BBQ sauce (of your choice, preferably a thick and flavorful variety)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons bourbon

Step-by-Step Guide to Burnt End Bliss:

1. Marinate the Pork Belly: Get ready to infuse the pork belly with flavor. In a large bowl, toss the cubed pork belly with a generous amount of high smoke point oil. Season it thoroughly with your favorite pork rub, or for an extra special touch, use the recommended Maple Bourbon Seasoning. Let the seasoned pork belly marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. This allows the flavors to develop and meld beautifully.
2. Set Up Your Smoker: Time to create some smoke magic! Fill a chimney with your preferred charcoal (Cowboy Charcoal is recommended) and light it. Let the coals preheat until they are hot and glowing red. Carefully add the preheated coals to your smoker and establish a low heat of around 250°F (120°C). Now, for that smoky goodness, place 1-2 Hickory Pit Logs (or similar wood chips) on top of the coals.
3. Smoke the Pork Belly: Arrange the marinated pork belly cubes on your smoker grate, ensuring they are spaced evenly to allow for proper smoke penetration and air circulation. Smoke the pork belly for 2.5 hours. This low and slow cooking process is key to achieving that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and infusing the meat with deep smoky flavor.
4. Glazing for Perfection: Once the smoking time is complete, remove the pork belly from the smoker and transfer it to a disposable aluminum foil pan. Here comes the base for that irresistible caramelized glaze: Top the pork belly with generous amounts of brown sugar and butter.
5. Back to the Smoker: Place the aluminum foil pan with the pork belly and glaze base back into the smoker and continue cooking for an additional 1.5 hours. You're also looking for the internal temperature of the pork belly to reach 205°F (96°C). This ensures the pork belly is cooked through for safety and achieves the perfect level of tender deliciousness.
6. Craft the Glaze: While the pork belly finishes cooking in the smoker, it's time to create the flavor bomb that is the glaze. In a saucepan over low heat, whisk together your favorite BBQ sauce, maple syrup, and bourbon. Simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes, allowing it to thicken into a rich and flavorful glaze. The aroma alone will have your mouth watering!
7. Caramelized Perfection: Remove the pork belly from the smoker and generously coat it in the prepared maple bourbon glaze. Now, for the final touch, increase the smoker temperature to high heat. Let the pork belly cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. This step is where the magic happens. The high heat caramelizes the glaze onto the pork belly, creating a delightful crispy and sticky exterior that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
8. Serve and Savor: The moment you've been waiting for! Once the pork belly is beautifully caramelized and reaches an internal temperature of 205°F (96°C), remove it from the smoker and it's ready to serve. These Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends are guaranteed to be the star of your next barbecue! Serve them on their own, or with your favorite barbecue sides like coleslaw, baked beans, or potato salad. For an extra touch of decadence, a drizzle of additional BBQ sauce or a sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives can add a pop of color and flavor.

Tips for the Perfect Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends:

• Choosing the Right Pork Belly: Select a pork belly with good marbling for the best flavor and tenderness. Aim for a piece that has a nice balance of meat and fat.
• Don't Skip the Marinade: Marinating the pork belly allows the flavors to penetrate deeply, resulting in more flavorful burnt ends.
• Maintaining Smoker Temperature: Try your best to maintain a consistent low heat throughout the smoking process. This ensures even cooking and prevents the pork belly from drying out.
• Internal Temperature is Key: Don't rely solely on time. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork belly. It should reach 205°F (96°C) for safe consumption and optimal tenderness.
• Glaze Consistency: The glaze should be thick and sticky, not runny. If it seems too thin, simmer it for a few additional minutes.

With these Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends in your grilling arsenal, you're guaranteed to become the envy of the neighborhood. So fire up your smoker, gather your friends and family, and get ready to experience a taste sensation that will leave everyone wanting more!