Air Fryer Sesame Pork Skewers
These Air Fryer Sesame Pork Skewers deliver tender pork cubes with a perfectly caramelized sweet and savory sesame-soy glaze in just minutes—no grill required. The simple marinade infuses incredible flavor with minimal effort, making this recipe ideal for quick weeknight dinners, meal prep, or impressive entertaining. Kid-approved and foolproof, they offer consistent results with easy cleanup every time.
Equipment
- Air fryer - 5-quart or larger capacity
- Large mixing bowl - for the marinade
- Small whisk - for combining marinade ingredients
- Sharp knife - for cutting pork into uniform cubes
- Bamboo or metal skewers - 12 skewers, 8-inch length works best; soak bamboo in water for 30 minutes
- Microplane grater - for ginger and garlic
- Tongs - for flipping skewers
- Meat thermometer - to ensure pork reaches 145°F/63°C
- Small bowl - for soaking bamboo skewers
- Pastry brush - optional, for extra glaze
Ingredients
For the Pork Skewers
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin - 900g, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 12 bamboo or metal skewers - if using bamboo, soak in water for 30 minutes
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds - for garnish
- 2 green onions - thinly sliced, for garnish
For the Sesame Marinade
- 1/3 cup soy sauce - 80ml, use low-sodium if preferred
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil - toasted sesame oil recommended
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger - grated
- 1 teaspoon sriracha - optional, for heat
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Trim silver skin and excess fat from 2 pounds pork tenderloin. Cut into uniform 1-inch cubes, pat dry, and set aside in a large bowl. Soak bamboo skewers in water if using.
- Whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, optional sriracha, and black pepper until honey dissolves. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Pour marinade over pork cubes and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 8 hours), tossing halfway if possible. Remove from fridge 15 minutes before cooking.
- Thread 4-5 pork cubes onto each skewer, leaving small gaps for air circulation and excess marinade dripping back into the bowl. Save some marinade for basting.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Lightly spray basket with oil.
- Arrange half the skewers in a single layer. Cook at 400°F for 6 minutes, flip, brush with reserved marinade if desired, and cook 5-6 more minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Check temperature with meat thermometer. Remove and tent with foil to rest 3-5 minutes. Repeat with second batch.
- Arrange cooked skewers on a platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot, optionally with extra glaze for dipping.
Notes
- Cut pork into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket for best caramelization.
- Use toasted sesame oil for authentic nutty flavor—do not substitute.
- Reserve some marinade before adding pork for safe basting.
- Pork is safe at 145°F internal temperature; avoid overcooking to prevent dryness.
- Let skewers rest 3-5 minutes after cooking for juicier results.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat in air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes to restore texture.
- Customize heat by adjusting sriracha or add variations like peanut butter or orange zest.
- Metal skewers are reusable and prevent spinning; no soaking needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving (3 skewers)Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 32gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 780mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12g
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