How To Make Pork Rinds (Chicharrones)

What Are Pork Rinds?

Pork rinds are a keto snack made from the skin of a pig. They are commonly found in grocery or convenience stores (sometimes with artificial flavors or preservatives added), in the snack foods section. You can make your own by baking and then deep frying to remove all moisture in the skin and puff them up, creating a crispy texture. They have a crunch similar to potato chips, but with more protein and low carbs!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here I explain the best ingredients for my fried pork rinds recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious zero-carb snack, but further below I’ll explain how to make different flavors, too.

• Pork Skin – This is the exterior skin only, trimmed of any excess meat and fat. (Not to be confused with pork belly, which has both meat and skin included.) Admittedly, I had some trouble finding pig skin in my area, but eventually found it at a local butcher. You may also be able to find it at international markets, a local farm, or online. If you can’t find pork skin on its own, you can buy pork belly and trim off the skin to use in this homemade pork rinds recipe.
• Sea Salt – The best basic seasoning for chicharrones. Kosher salt is also fine to use.
• Avocado Oil – Used for deep frying, which makes the end result airy and crispy.

SWAP: Don’t want to use avocado oil?

You can also use any lard rendered from the cooking process, or any other oil safe for high heat.

How To Make Pork Rinds

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Prepare pan. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Cut pork skin. With a sharp knife or kitchen shears, trim any excess lard off the pork skin, if present. Cut skin into bite-sized pieces (these are the shears I used, pictured below — they cut effortlessly through anything!).

3. Bake. Arrange skins in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until dried, crispy, and golden. Remove and drain remaining fat from the rinds on paper towels.

SHORTCUT: You can complete the cooking process here. However, the following frying step in this pork rinds recipe will create a lighter, crispier texture. You can also bake them, store in the fridge, and then fry them later.

4. Fry. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large pot, saucepan, or dutch oven (I used this one) to 350 degrees F. Fry pork skins in small batches, until puffy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain again. Repeat with remaining rinds.

Recipe Variations

If you’re not a fan of their plain flavor and want to know how to make pork rinds taste better, try one of these seasoning variations to make flavored pork rinds. Simply add the seasonings right after frying, while the rinds are still hot — the residual oil will make the seasonings stick.

• Cajun – Toss in your favorite cajun seasoning, or make your own homemade cajun seasoning.
• Ranch – Sprinkle homemade ranch seasoning on the chicharrones.
• Cinnamon Sugar – Add equal amounts of cinnamon and sugar alternative (or sugar, if you choose) to coat the rinds.
• BBQ – Stir together 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (this combo is based on my sugar-free BBQ sauce recipe). Add Besti sweetener to taste. Toss pork rinds in the seasoning mixture.
• Cheesy – Toss in cheddar cheese powder. These remind me of cheese puffs!
• Simple Spices – If you don’t have a specific seasoning mix, you can add anything you like from your pantry, such as paprika, garlic powder, or onion powder.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What Do Pork Rinds Taste Like? Chicharrones have a very light pork flavor and crispy texture. They taste delicious seasoned with only salt, but their flavor profile makes them the perfect canvas for other seasonings.
• What Is The Difference Between Pork Rinds, Chicharrones, and Cracklins? Regular pork rinds have no fat attached to the skin, so they cook up puffy. Chicharrones is a term for pork rinds in Spanish — no difference in the cooking process. Pork cracklings are typically less puffy and have a meatier texture, because they are cooked with some fat left on the skin.
• Are they Healthy? Given their high fat content, pork rinds may not be the healthiest choice to eat all the time depending on your wellness goals. However, the fat in pig skins is mostly unsaturated, and we’re frying them in avocado oil — both good things if you’re concerned about cholesterol. They are also a whole food snack that has no carbs and doesn’t contain a long list of ingredients or preservatives.
• Are they Keto? Yes, pork rinds are keto, since they naturally contain 0 grams of carbohydrates.
• Are they Gluten-Free? If prepared with only fat and salt, chicharrones are naturally gluten-free. However, some store-bought flavored varieties may contain trace amounts of gluten — so always check labels to know for sure.
• How Many Carbs In Pork Rinds? Fried pork skins contain 0 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
• Do They Have Protein? Yes, pork skins have 9 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving. However, don’t rely on them as your primary protein source, because the protein they contain is incomplete protein — which means it doesn’t contain all nine essential amino acids. The good news is, the protein they do have is collagen, which has its own benefits.

Serving Ideas

Chicharrones aren’t just for snacking… find a variety of ways to use them here!

• Use as a breading – After grinding in a food processor or blender, chicharrones can create a delicious crispy coating for chicken tenders, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and even keto orange chicken.
• Pair with dips – The crunch in these rinds tastes amazing with guacamole, Crock Pot rotel dip, fresh tomato salsa, taco dip, or a cheese ball. Wherever you would serve crackers or chips, you can serve chicharrones!
• Make nachos – Spread the homemade pork rinds on a baking sheet and top with cooked meats (shredded chicken, barbacoa, or ground beef are delicious) and shredded cheese. Bake until hot, then add other nacho toppings, such as jalapenos, diced tomatoes, red or green onions, cilantro, etc.
• Bulk up meatballs and meat patties – Ground chicharrones add rich flavor and texture to salmon patties and turkey meatballs. You can also use them as a binder for keto meatloaf.

More Crispy Snack Recipes

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Flax Seed Crackers

Cheese Crisps

Kale Chips