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I’ve tested this recipe SO many times I’ve lost count. These 12 minute Air Fryer pork chops are golden brown, juicy, and full of flavor! With just a few pantry staples and minutes of hands-on time, you’ll be able to make the most perfect soft and succulent pork chops.
Team them up with a classic veggie side like Air Fryer green beans or Air Fryer Parmesan Brussels sprouts and you’ve got yourself a delicious, low-effort, low-carb meal ready!
Pork dinners are my absolute favorite- they’re total crowd pleasers, and with my trusty Air Fryer to help me out, they turn out perfectly cooked every single time.
If you too, love pork recipes, check out my favorite Air Fryer Country Style Ribs and tender Air Fryer Pork Steak recipes. I also have a delicious Air Fryer gluten-free pork chops recipe for you to check out if you have dietary restrictions.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Smoky, savory and juicy.
⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 12 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 17 minutes.
👥 Servings: 3 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Be careful not to overcook the pork chops- they’ll turn out tough and chewy. Check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer to confirm if they’re done.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s quick, easy, and comes out perfect every time. The meat turns beautifully crispy on the outside, and still has that juicy, succulent inside.
- You get to play around with the flavors and adjust the taste to your liking. I love using some of my poultry seasoning for that extra umami depth.
- Pork chops are an excellent source of protein and are high in iron and zinc- ideal to have on your regular menu rotation.
Recipe Ingredients
- Pork chops: I used 3-4 thick-cut pork chops here. You can choose to use boneless or bone-in pork chops- whatever you prefer.
- Seasonings: Just the basics- some black pepper and paprika for the heat and color, and some garlic powder and onion powder for the savory, umami depth. You can also add some brown sugar if you want that beautiful caramelization on the meat- I used it for my Air Fryer pork tenderloin recipe and it was an absolute hit!
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- Brush the pork chops with your favorite BBQ sauce (or use my homemade BBQ rub) during the last 2–3 minutes of cooking. The sugars caramelize beautifully in the air fryer, giving you a sweet and smoky finish.
- Swap out your usual spices for a packet of ranch seasoning mix. It gives the pork chops a beautiful tangy, herby flavor.
- Top the pork chops with a mix of grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to make some cheesy air fried pork chops.
- For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne or some Cajun or Creole seasoning blend.
- Turn this into a bite-sized treat by using bite-sizes chunks of pork chops. Or just refer to my Air Fryer pork chop bites recipe- perfect as an appetizer or on top of a salad or rice bowl.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Pat dry the pork chops and rub them all over with the seasonings. Transfer to the Air Fryer basket and air fry at 400 F for 4-6 minutes.
- Flip them over and cook again for 8-9 minutes or until the pork chops are fully cooked.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These pork chops pair well with any veggie side! I love teaming them up with my Air Fryer eggplant, Air Fryer baked potatoes or Air Fryer green bean fries. And if you’re looking to add a carb side, try my Air Fryer bread recipe- a classic you can never go wrong with.
To make it a hearty and wholesome meal, team it up with some Air Fryer mac and cheese and some Air Fryer frozen Brussels sprouts.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Choose bone-in pork chops for juicier results. Thicker chops (about 1 inch) work best to avoid drying out.
- Make sure you pat dry the pork chops with a paper towel before coating them with the seasoning. Doing this helps the seasoning adhere to the meat and creates a crisper crust.
- Use a good balance of salt, pepper, and other seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or herbs. You can also add a light coating of oil to make the crust extra crispy and flavorful.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Let the pork chops rest for a few minutes after cooking to retain juices.
Recipe FAQs
You can store leftover air fried pork chops in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Consider dicing the meat and teaming it up with your nachos or using them to make pork tacos.
I like to preheat the Air Fryer for this recipe. Doing this helps create that natural sear on the pork chops even without the skillet. Plus, it also helps keep the meat nice and juicy while still cooking it evenly.
You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Allowing the chops to rest for a few minutes is ideal- it helps the meat retain and hold on to the juices and keeps the meat moist and succulent.
More Air Fryer Pork Recipes
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Air Fryer pork chops
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 pork chops, thick cut
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat pork chops dry with a paper towel.
- Combine the seasonings to a small bowl and then use your hands to rub the seasoning over the pork chops, fully covering the front, back, and sides of each chop.
- Prepare the Air Fryer basket with non stick spray or parchment paper, and then line the pork chops in the bottom of the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave room for air circulation between each pork chop.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 6 minutes. Flip the pork chops and continue to cook for an additional 8-10 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit before removing. If needed, add additional time in 2 minute increments.
- To keep pork chops juicy, leave in air fryer and let pork chops rest for 1-2 minutes after cooking. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- If you’re cooking thinner pork chops that have less than ½ inch thickness, air fry at the same temperature for 6 minutes, flip, and then air fry for an additional 6-7 minutes cook time, checking for doneness after 10 minutes.
- Cooking multiple portions? You may want to batch-make the chops, unless you have a large Air Fryer.
- Make sure the pork chops don’t overlap each other in the basket, and that there’s enough room for the hot air to circulate.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my goodness, this is so tasty and easy. Juicy and tender is an understatement. I pulled out my pork chops from the freezer and let them thaw in the refrigerator. I didn’t know what I was going to do, grill, slow cook, bake, or what. Then I came across this recipe and VOILA, I will never make bone in pork chops any other way. Thank you for a great recipe and an absolute easy way to prepare and clean up!!!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked them!
Yummy
This works equally as well for 1″ thick bone in country style ribs too.
Can you do this same technique but use BBQ sauce?
Absolutely! I would use the BBQ sauce at the end of the cook time, like the last 2-3 minutes. Hope that helps!
Perfect! First time making pork chops in my new air fryer. Done to perfection!
So glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this quick & terrific recipe! I was lazy so I sprinkled both sides of the 1″ thick chops with smoked paprika, ground mustard, and Everything but the Bagel seasoning, then sprayed the top with XVOO. I air-fried them 15 minutes without turning and they came out perfect aka golden, crispy-edged & juicy!
I laughed that you also give suggestions of what to do with these chops. I cannot imagine any leftover to do anything else with! Mine evaporated in a flash! Thanks again ~ BlestMe
Awe that’s awesome! I am so glad you liked them! I need to make them again – they’re so good! Thank you for taking the time to try it and come back here and let us know what you thought of it. That means a lot!! ๐
Have a new 2 qt air fryer .Excited to try it and your recipes .
Awesome! We can’t wait to see what you make.
You said to coat with spray or use parchment paper.and preheat fryer. .. Iโve been reading your other air fryer recipes where it states never to preheat air fryer when you use parchment paper. Iโm new at using so is this recipe different?
Hey Joan! We do have a few Air Fryer recipes where you don’t preheat the Air Fryer, and we will state in those recipes if you need to preheat, or not to preheat. If you are preheating the Air Fryer, you would NOT have parchment paper in the Air Fryer during the preheat. Only AFTER it’s been preheated. Never place parchment paper in the Air Fryer during a preheat. ๐ It will get messy!
I ave a question. I hear PAM should not be used as it damages the fryer surface. I bought EVOO spray. Is that the same as PAM or is it safe to use. Thanks
Extra Virgin Olive Oil- “evoo” is safe for air frying. Thank you!
Going to try this