Crackling skin. Aromatic herbs. Juicy, fall-apart meat. Porchetta is a celebration of bold Italian flavor and culinary craftsmanship.
But while the results look impressive, making porchetta at home is more doable than you think. Even if you’ve never cooked pork belly before, this guide will walk you through the process step by step—from what porchetta actually is to how to prep, season, and roast it to perfection. We’ll also show you how to nail the exact internal temperature with the help of a smart thermometer, so your roast turns out perfect every single time.
Let’s dive into the ultimate porchetta recipe—and finally demystify this meaty masterpiece.
What is Porchetta?
Porchetta is a traditional Italian pork roast known for its juicy, herb-infused meat and ultra-crispy skin. While it originated in central Italy, porchetta has gained global popularity thanks to its bold flavor, dramatic presentation, and versatility. It can be elegant enough for holiday dinners or the star of a simple sandwich.
The name porchetta simply refers to a savory pork roast, but it is so much more than that. The meat is seasoned inside and out, then slow-roasted until golden and crackly on the outside and tender on the inside.
What Cut of Meat is Porchetta?
Classic porchetta uses a combination of pork belly and loin, but modern home cooks often simplify with a pork belly-only version. The ideal cut? A whole, boneless pork belly with the rind on. This gives you enough fat to stay juicy and just the right amount of surface area to crisp up beautifully.
Pork belly porchetta balances richness and texture perfectly. It’s what gives this dish that signature bite, through crispy skin into meltingly tender meat.
Porchetta Cooking and Internal Temp Guide
Slow-roasting is the key to porchetta’s incredible texture. Here’s how to do it right:
- Oven temperature: 300℉ / 150℃
- Target internal temperature: 170℉ / 77℃
- When the internal temp hits 149℉ / 65℃, increase the oven to 390℉ / 200℃
- Let the roast rest at least 10 minutes before slicing
To ensure precision, we recommend using the Typhur Sync Dual Gold wireless meat thermometer. Oven-safe and built to be exact, it accurately tracks both your meat’s internal temperature and the surrounding ambient heat. It delivers far more reliable results than your oven’s preset. It also alerts you exactly when your target temperature is reached, eliminating guesswork.
Long Range Wireless Meat Thermometer
Prefer to keep your phone aside? No problem. The Sync Dual Gold’s Standalone Mode allows effortless setup and monitoring directly from the Smart Base, giving you complete cooking confidence, uninterrupted.
Pork Belly Porchetta Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 6 pounds pork belly, whole, boneless, rind-on
- 1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
- 12 garlic cloves, grated
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
How to Make Porchetta
- Prepare the pork belly
If your pork belly is thick, butterfly through the middle to open it up. Lay it flat, skin side down, on a large cutting board. Score the meat in a criss-cross pattern using a sharp knife. This helps the seasoning soak in.
- Make the seasoning
In a bowl, mix the rosemary, garlic, lemon zest, cumin, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Season the pork
Rub the seasoning all over the meat, pushing it into the cuts you made.
- Roll it up
Starting at one end, roll the pork belly tightly into a log, skin-side out.
- Tie it up
Cut 12–18 pieces of kitchen twine. Lay them evenly on your board, about an inch apart. Place the rolled pork on top, seam-side down, and tie tightly.
- Chill the roast
Refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours to help the flavors develop and the skin dry out (which helps it crisp up).
- Preheat your oven
Set it to 300°F (150°C).
- Insert the thermometer
Push the Typhur Sync Dual Gold thermometer into the center of the roast. Make sure it’s secure and that the safety line is fully inserted.
- Set your cook
On the thermometer base, select pork → roast → belly, and set your target temperature to 170°F (77°C).
- Roast low and slow
Place the pork on a baking sheet and put it in the oven. When the internal temp reaches 149°F (65°C), turn the oven up to 390°F (200°C) to crisp the skin.
- Rest the meat
When the roast hits 170°F (77°C), take it out of the oven. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes. The internal temperature will rise slightly as it rests.
- Remove the thermometer
Carefully take out the probe.
- Slice and serve
Cut the porchetta into thick slices and serve with your favorite side dishes.
FAQs
Porchetta pairs well with roasted vegetables, crusty bread, or creamy polenta. For a porchetta sandwich, use ciabatta and top with arugula and pickled onions.
Yes—but in a good way. The pork belly cut contains layers of fat that keep the meat moist and flavorful. And don’t worry when you see it raw, much of the fat renders out during cooking.
Pork is the raw meat from a pig. Porchetta is a specific Italian preparation of pork—seasoned, rolled, tied, and roasted.
Why Porchetta Deserves a Spot in Your Rotation
Porchetta is more than just a pork roast—it’s a masterclass in texture and flavor. With its crispy, golden skin and deeply seasoned, juicy interior, it’s a dish that turns heads and satisfies hearts.
The key ingredients? Quality pork belly, bold herbs and spices, and smart cooking tools. With the Typhur Sync Gold Dual thermometer, you can roast like a pro, tracking temperatures without babysitting the oven.
Long Range Wireless Meat Thermometer
Whether you’re making porchetta for a special dinner or building the ultimate porchetta sandwich, you’ve got everything you need to make it unforgettable.
Ready to try it? Grab your Typhur Sync Gold and take your porchetta to the next level.
Porchetta
Video
Equipment
- Oven
- Oven Gloves
- Chef Knife
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 6 pounds Pork Belly whole boneless, rind-on
- 0.7 oz Fresh Rosemary Leaves, finely chopped
- 12 Garlic Clove grated
- 1 Lemon Zest
- 2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 0.7 oz Kosher Salt
- 10 g Crushed Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- For thick pork belly, use a knife to cut it in the middle to make it butterfly-shaped. Place the pork belly skin side down on a large cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife, score the meat diagonally several times at approximately 1-inch intervals. Rotate the knife 90 degrees and repeat, scoring the meat in a diamond pattern.
- To make the marinade, mix everything except the pork in a bowl. Leave it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.0.7 oz Fresh Rosemary Leaves, finely chopped, 12 Garlic Clove, 1 Lemon Zest, 2 tsp Ground Cumin, 1 tsp Chili Flakes, 0.7 oz Kosher Salt, 10 g Crushed Black Pepper, 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- Use your hands to rub the seasoning mixture deeply into the cracks and crevices of the meat.6 pounds Pork Belly
- Roll the pork belly into a tight log and push it seam-side down onto a cutting board. Cut 12 to 18 pieces of kitchen twine long enough to tie around the pork and spread them evenly across the cutting board, about 1 inch apart. Place the rolled pork seam-side down on the twine. Working from the outermost pieces of twine toward the center, tie the roast tightly. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 300℉ /150℃.
- To ensure accuracy, insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, making sure the safety line is completely immersed.
- Select pork→ roast→ belly in the parameters list. Set the target temperature to 170℉/77℃.
- Place the baking sheet with the pork belly in the oven.
- To begin the process, press the start button on your phone. When the core temperature reaches 149℉/65°C, increase the oven temperature to 390℉/200°C and continue cooking. You will be notified when the pork ready to come out of the oven.
- Using a pair of oven gloves, carefully remove the tray with the pork and transfer to a heat-resistant surface. Let the pork belly rest for at least 10 minutes. (The internal temperature will continue to rise.)
- Carefully remove the probe.
- Serve delicious pork belly with any of your favorite side dishes.
Nutrition
(Nutrition information is calculated automatically by Spoonacular API and should be considered an estimate.)
