Before you start
Set up the first moves
Start by having pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce ready, then mix hoisin, soy sauce, honey, five-spice, garlic, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry.
Cantonese-style sweet barbecue pork
Char Siu Pork
Photo source: Pexels licensed local image by Dennise Anorico
SavePrep Time
15 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6
6 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
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Char Siu Pork
Cantonese-style sweet barbecue pork
Sticky, sweet, and deeply caramelized Cantonese BBQ pork with a gorgeous red glaze. Perfect over rice or in noodle soups.
15m
Prep Time
35m
Cook Time
50m
Total Time
6
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
Recipe by Sarah Chen
Reviewed by RecipePool Weeknight Dinner Desk
Editorially reviewed for image relevance, instruction clarity, ingredient fit, visual checkpoints, and practical home-cooking usefulness.
Meet the reviewing desk//
Char siu is the crown jewel of Cantonese barbecue — strips of pork marinated in a sweet, savory glaze then roasted until the edges caramelize into a sticky, lacquered coating. You have seen it hanging in the windows of Chinese BBQ shops.
This oven version captures those incredible flavors at home. The key is a marinade built on hoisin, honey, and five-spice, finished under the broiler for that signature charred sweetness.
Kitchen intelligence
Kitchen notes for Char Siu Pork
Timing read
50 minutes, mostly cooking
Plan for 15 minutes prep and 35 minutes cooking. Midway check: Switch to broil on high.
Flavor logic
Built around pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips
pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey carry the main flavor and texture, so measure them before you adjust seasoning or heat.
Serving plan
6 servings
For Chinese and Main Course, the finish should match this final cue: Serve over steamed rice, in ramen, or with stir-fried vegetables.
Visual checkpoints
What to look for as you cook
Reference
Finished dish reference
Char Siu Pork should look close to this before serving: clear color contrast, distinct texture, and a ready-to-eat finish.
Cue
Prep
Prep checkpoint
Have 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips, 3 tbsp hoisin sauce, 2 tbsp soy sauce measured and ready before heat goes on. Mix hoisin, soy sauce, honey, five-spice, garlic, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry.
Cue
Finish
Final cue
Serve over steamed rice, in ramen, or with stir-fried vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- Red food coloring (optional, for traditional color)
Ingredient notes
Ingredients worth checking
Shopping focus
Prioritize pork shoulder
Pork shoulder, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey carry most of the flavor. Spend attention there first.
Prep notes
Prep in recipe order
Set up the ingredients in list order and keep time-sensitive items nearby.
Adjustment logic
Hoisin sauce can flex
If needed, use Oyster sauce + honey in place of Hoisin sauce. Mix equal parts oyster sauce and honey for a similar sweet-savory base.
Optional items
Keep the core intact
Keep the main items intact; use garnish, heat, or acidity for small adjustments.
Shopping guide
Shopping notes for Char Siu Pork
Buy first
Check pork shoulder quality
Pork shoulder is the ingredient most likely to affect freshness and texture.
Package check
Avoid buying extra by default
This ingredient list does not depend heavily on packaged shortcuts, so buy close to the written amounts unless you are intentionally meal prepping.
Cost control
6 budget-friendly servings
Use store brands, pantry staples, or simpler sides before changing the core ingredients.
Storage planning
Shop with leftovers in mind
Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Useful Kitchen Picks
Gear and pantry options that fit this recipe
These are optional, recipe-relevant searches for tools or pantry staples that can make this specific recipe easier to repeat.
DepthPantry
Helpful Pick
Sesame Oil
Pantry upgrade
Why the sesame oil matters
A small amount of toasted sesame oil changes the aroma fast. It is one of the easiest ways to make a sauce or dressing taste more complete.
This ingredient adds most of its value in aroma and finish.
- Adds nutty depth with very little effort
- Useful in noodles, dressings, and marinades
Toasted sesame oil is a small bottle that tends to have outsized payoff.
Shop sesame oil for this recipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links are included when they are directly relevant to the recipe.
What You'll Need
Equipment
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Ladle
- Baking pan
- Mixing bowl
- Blender or food processor
Instructions
- 1
Mix hoisin, soy sauce, honey, five-spice, garlic, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry. Marinate pork strips for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- 2
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place a wire rack over a foil-lined sheet pan. Arrange pork strips on the rack, reserving marinade.
- 3
Roast for 15 minutes. Flip the pork and brush with reserved marinade. Roast another 15 minutes.
- 4
Switch to broil on high. Brush with more marinade and broil for 2-3 minutes until charred and caramelized. Flip and repeat.
- 5
Rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain into thin pieces.
- 6
Serve over steamed rice, in ramen, or with stir-fried vegetables.
Technique notes
Technique checkpoints
Key method moments pulled from the written steps.
Prep phase
3 steps
Key move
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Why it matters
Finish this step before adding ingredients or changing the heat.
Watch for
Move on after this instruction is complete: preheat oven to 375°F.
Finish phase
3 steps
Key move
Rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain into thin pieces.
Why it matters
This rest gives seasoning time to move through the food instead of staying only on the surface.
Watch for
Move on after this instruction is complete: rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain into thin pieces.
Doneness cues
Doneness checks for Char Siu Pork
Look for
Pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch-thick strips should look ready
Serve over steamed rice, in ramen, or with stir-fried vegetables.
Heat cue
Control heat before adjusting
If the surface is changing too fast before the center or sauce is ready, lower the heat and give the recipe time to catch up.
Timing cue
35 minutes cook window
Use the 15 minutes prep window to get organized so the cooking stage can move without rushed substitutions.
Final adjustment
Taste and adjust at the end
For Char Siu Pork, prep the ingredients before cooking and use the written times as practical checkpoints.
Troubleshooting
Fixes while cooking Char Siu Pork
Texture check
If the texture seems off
Check this step before adding heat or liquid: Switch to broil on high.
Timing check
Built around 35 minutes of cooking
Char Siu Pork starts with about 15 minutes prep. Steady heat and small adjustments are usually enough.
Seasoning check
Adjust late, not early
Before changing seasoning, check this tip: Marinate overnight for the deepest flavor penetration.
Leftover check
Keep leftovers useful
Reheat slices in a hot skillet with a drizzle of the glaze, or gently warm in the microwave.
Scaling guide
Scaling notes for Char Siu Pork
Half batch
Plan for about 3 servings
For Char Siu Pork, halve the main ingredients evenly and season lightly until the final taste check.
Double batch
Scale toward 12 servings
For Char Siu Pork, use a wider pan, larger pot, or second tray so the short ingredient list has room.
Timing changes
Prep time changes more than cook time
Cook time starts around 35 minutes; prep starts around 15 minutes.
Leftover math
6 servings
Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Make-ahead timeline
Make-ahead notes for Char Siu Pork
Earlier in the day
Prep what will slow you down
Start with this setup step: Mix hoisin, soy sauce, honey, five-spice, garlic, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry.
Before serving
50 minutes total planning window
Plan around 15 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking so the final step lands near serving time.
Leftover plan
6 servings to manage
Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Reheat without damage
Use gentle heat
Reheat slices in a hot skillet with a drizzle of the glaze, or gently warm in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice
Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor
Meal fit
Meal pairings for Char Siu Pork
Meal role
Main meal for 6
Pair this main course with sides that add contrast: crisp, fresh, acidic, or starchy as needed.
Best timing
50 minutes standard dinner window
Low-friction timing for Char Siu Pork. Add a small buffer if serving guests.
Diet fit
Dairy-Free
Keep the sides aligned with dairy-free: vegetables, grains, sauces, or garnishes should follow the same constraint.
Occasion fit
Weeknight Dinner and Meal Prep
Good for weeknight dinner and meal prep when sides can be handled while the main recipe cooks.
Substitutions
Hoisin sauceOyster sauce + honey
Mix equal parts oyster sauce and honey for a similar sweet-savory base.
Pork shoulderPork tenderloin
Tenderloin is leaner — watch the cook time as it dries out faster.
Five-spice powderStar anise + cinnamon
1 crushed star anise and 1/4 tsp cinnamon approximate five-spice.
Tips & Storage
Pro Tips
Marinate overnight for the deepest flavor penetration.
Watch the broiler carefully — the honey burns fast.
Slice against the grain for the most tender pieces.
Use leftover char siu in fried rice, noodle soups, or bao buns.
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Freeze sliced portions for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Reheat slices in a hot skillet with a drizzle of the glaze, or gently warm in the microwave.
Cooking Notes
Editor's Note
For Char Siu Pork, prep the ingredients before cooking and use the written times as practical checkpoints. Taste at the end for salt, acidity, and texture so the final dish feels balanced.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (4 oz sliced) · 6 servings
Calories340
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein32g
Carbohydrates14g
Fat18g
Fiber10g
Sugar0g
Sodium680mg
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What gives char siu pork its glossy finish?
- Repeated brushing with a sweet-savory glaze near the end of cooking builds the lacquered surface.
- Can char siu pork be made without a grill?
- Yes. Roast it on a rack and use the broiler briefly at the end for caramelized edges.
RecipePool Weeknight Dinner Desk
Char Siu Pork is kept in the public catalog after review for image relevance, ingredient fit, instruction clarity, and practical page quality.
See how our editorial desks review recipesPhoto source: Pexels licensed local image by Dennise Anorico
