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Char Siu Pork

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This char siu pork is unbelievably juicy and tender. It’s loaded with traditional Chinese ingredients and is really easy to make.

Close up of char siu pork in a bowl with rice, carrots, spinach, and chopsticks

There are some recipes that I could eat over and over again and never get tired of. This char siu pork is one of them. Char siu is a Chinese BBQ pork that’s marinated in hoisin, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and five-spice powder.

This authentic Chinese char siu pork recipe is bursting with flavor, but it’s really easy to make. Because the pork is marinated for so long, it’s tender and moist every single time. So the next time you’re craving Chinese food, you’ve got to try making this recipe. 

Why You’ll Love This Chinese BBQ Pork

Char sui pork is one of my favorite foods to make and eat. Here’s why you have to give it a try. 

  • Incredibly juicy. It can be so easy to dry out pork, but you don’t really have to worry about that with this recipe. Marinating the meat overnight helps break down the pork, and it retains its moisture a lot better. The pork will be amazingly moist and tender every single time.
  • Super easy. This is a really easy recipe to make. It takes a lot of advance planning because you need to marinate the meat overnight, but the actual work required is quite minimal.  
  • Restaurant-quality. Char siu pork is a recipe that most people only eat when they’re out at a restaurant. But this recipe tastes every bit as delicious as what you’d find at your local Chinese spot. You’ll impress anyone you serve this to, because it tastes like it came out of a professional kitchen.
Overhead view of the ingredients needed for char siu pork: a plate of raw pork shoulder, a bowl of soy sauce, a bowl of hoisin, a bowl of garlic, a bowl of sesame oil, a bowl of brown sugar, a bowl of honey, and a bowl with salt, pepper, and five-spice.

Ingredients Needed

Here are all the ingredients that you’ll need to make this Chinese BBQ pork dish. Be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient. 

  • Pork shoulder
  • Soy sauce
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Garlic
  • Five-spice powder
  • Sesame oil
  • Salt
  • Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar.
  • Black pepper – Always use freshly ground black pepper. 
  • Red food coloring – This is an optional ingredient, but it will give the char siu pork its traditional color. 

How to Make Char Siu Pork

Here’s how to make this juicy pork dish. It’s really easy! 

  • Make the marinade. Add the soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, five-spice powder, sesame oil, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and optional food coloring to a ziplock back. Remove ½ cup of the marinade and set aside. 
  • Marinate the pork. Add the pork to the bag, and seal it tightly. Massage the pork through the bag to make sure that it’s well coated in the marinade. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 12 hours. 
Overhead view of an open plastic bag filled with pork shoulder and marinade
A plastic bag filled with marinating pieces of pork
  • Bring to room temperature. Before cooking, remove the pork from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature. This will make it quicer to cook the center of the meat, which means you won’t overcook the outer parts. 
  • Prep. Turn your oven on to 450F and place a wire rack over a backing sheet. Add the pork and some water to the baking sheet.
Overhead view of five pieces of marinated pork on a wire rack on a baking sheet
A hand pouring water onto a baking sheet that has pieces of uncooked pork on it
  • Bake. Put the baking sheet in the oven and cook the pork for 20 minutes.
  • Flip. Drop the temperature of the oven to 375F, and flip the pieces of pork over. Cook for 15 more minutes. 
  • Make the sauce. While the pork is cooking, add the honey and a little bit of hot water to the marinade. Stir to combine. 
  • Baste. Remove the pork from the oven, and baste it with the sauce. 
A kitchen brush painting sauce on top of pieces of pork on a wire rack
Close up of char siu pork pieces on a wire rack on a baking sheet
  • Finish cooking. Put the pork back in the oven and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 145F, which should take about 10 more minutes. 
  • Serve. Let the meat rest before cutting into it, then serve with the rest of the sauce. 
Close up of cut pieces of char siu pork
A cutting board filled with pieces of char siu pork

Tips for Success 

Here are a few tricks and tips I like to use anytime I make char siu pork. 

  • Use a meat thermometer. If you like to cook with pork, you should get a nice instant-read meat thermometer. An instant-read thermometer will help you pull the pork out of the oven as soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 145F, which will help you make the juiciest pork.
  • Marinate for a long time. This recipe requires you to marinate the pork for at least 12 hours, but you can marinate it for as long as 3 days. The longer you marinate the pork the more flavorful and tender it will be.
  • Let it rest. Most people don’t let their meat rest for a long enough time after cooking it. By resting the meat, you allow it to reabsorb its juices. That will make it much more moist when you do cut into it. Always let your char siu pork rest for at least 10 minutes before you slice it. 
A spoon spooning sauce over char siu pork on a bed of rid, next to carrots and cucumbers

What to Serve Chinese BBQ Pork With

My favorite way to serve char siu pork is on a bed of Jasmine Rice with some fresh herbs and vegetables. I usually serve it with some traditional side dishes, such as Air Fryer Egg Rolls, Hot and Sour Soup, Egg Drop Soup, and Wonton Soup

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Leftover Chinese BBQ pork can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat the meat in a 350F oven for 10 minutes or eat it cold. 

Can You Freeze Char Siu Pork?

Yes, you can definitely freeze this recipe. All you have to do is place the meat in an airtight container and it will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just take the meat out of the freezer the day before you plan to eat it, and let it thaw in the fridge. 

More Easy Pork Recipes to Make

When it’s cooked well, pork is such a wonderful protein. Here are some more easy but delicious pork recipes that I think you’ll like.

Yield: 6 servings

Char Siu Pork

Close up of sliced char siu pork in a bowl on top of rice with carrots and spinach

This char siu pork is super tender and moist, and easy to make. It's full of traditional Chinese ingredients, and tastes restaurant quality.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2-3 inch thick pieces
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon five-spice powder
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • Red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine the soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, five-spice powder, sesame oil, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and optional food coloring in a ziploc bag. Set 1/2 cup of the marinade aside.
  2. Add the pieces of pork to the bag and seal it. Squish the bag to make sure the marinade fully coats the pork.
  3. Place the meat in the fridge to marinate for at least 12 hours, and up to 3 days.
  4. When you're ready to cook the char siu pork, remove the meat from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature.
  5. Preheat your oven to 450F and place a wire rack over a baking sheet. Put the pork pieces on the wire rack, and add water to the baking dish.
  6. Bake the pork for 20 minutes.
  7. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 375F, flip the pieces of pork, and bake for 15 minutes.
  8. While the pork bakes, mix the reserved marinade with the honey and 2 Tablespoons of hot water.
  9. Remove the pork from the oven, and baste it with the sauce.
  10. Put the pork back in the oven and cook for about 10 more minutes, or until the meat has an internal temperature of 145F.
  11. Remove the pork from the oven, let it rest 10 minutes before slicing, and then serve with the sauce

Notes

  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
  • Reheat in a 350F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 579Total Fat 35gSaturated Fat 12gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 136mgSodium 1568mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 1gSugar 24gProtein 37g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Erin S
Cuisine: Chinese / Category: Dinner Recipes

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