Air Fryer Pork Chops

These Air Fryer Pork Chops are a simple yet classic dish to serve any night of the week. It’s a great family-friendly recipe that is cooked in under 15 minutes and made with only a few spices.

Air fryers are all the rage right now, and so many things can be cooked in them it’s so crazy! You might have thought that they are good for veggies or something like that, but you can actually cook meat in an air fryer….including pork chops! 

Even though I have always loved cooking my pork chops in the oven, this is pretty much my new favorite way of cooking them. 

Air fryer pork chops are so easy and made in less than 15 minutes, it’s a great quick dinner your family will love. 

If you are looking for other pork chop recipes, try out our Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Garlic Butter….it’s really good too!

Why Make Pork Chops in the Air Fryer?

The real question is “Why NOT make pork chops in the air fryer?” 

I was a little hesitant because I am kind of new to this new air fryer world. But let me tell you it is SOOOO easy, that you are going to be hooked. 

One of the best reasons for making pork chops in the air fryer is that you don’t have to worry about frying them on the stove and the mess that it makes. It’s self-contained and you don’t even have to keep checking on it while they are cooking. You’re gonna love it.

What Ingredients are in Air Fryer Pork Chops?

It doesn’t take much to make air fryer pork chops and you can always doctor-up the recipe. Here are the basic ingredients you need:

• Pork Chops – I’m all about using thick pork chops! You can use either boneless or bone-in. 
• Olive Oil – You only need about 1 tbsp of olive oil for brushing both sides of the pork chops. NEVER PUT OLIVE OIL STRAIGHT INTO THE AIR FRYER. 
• Seasonings – I used a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano.

Bone-In vs. Boneless Pork Chops

I have made both boneless and bone-in pork chops in the air-fryer and they have both come out equally as good. It’s all about what your personal preference is, my mom prefers bone-in and I prefer boneless….HAHA.

If you want a little more information before making your decision here are your options: 

Bone-In Pork Chops:

• Center Cut – It has a t-shape bone which is the best cut of chops with a bone. It is a combo of a rib chop and a piece of pork fillet.
• Rib Chops –  These have an L-shape bone, with a little less meat than the center cut and are a little cheaper too.
• Sirloin Chops – They are a cheaper cut of pork which is sometimes a little tougher, but can be tenderized in the instant pot.
• Can be thick or thin
• Costs less because they do not take as much work to trim them up.

Boneless Pork Chops:

• Pork loin chops, a leaner choice than the chops with bones, with hardly any fat on them.
• More expensive than bone-in chops because the butcher has to take more time to trim the fat off.
• Can be thick or thin.

Different Variations

While these air fryer pork chops are really tasty, they are a pretty simple recipe. This ultimately means that you can use ANY seasonings or coat them in anything that you want.  

A few good recipe variations are: 

• Air Fryer Parmesan Pork Chops. Add ½ cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese to your spice mixture. 
• Air Fryer BBQ Pork Chops. Cook the pork chops according to the recipe, then slather on your favorite BBQ sauce or try our Low Carb Homemade BBQ Sauce. 
• Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops. Coat the pork chops in the seasonings and breadcrumbs, then cook according to the directions below. If you are doing keto, coat them in almond flour or pork rinds instead of the breadcrumbs. 
• Air Fryer Lemon Pork Chops. Marinate the pork chops with lemon juice and lemon zest.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Pork Chops in the Air Fryer?

Cooking your pork chops in the air fryer is way quicker than in the oven. It only takes about 11 minutes to cook at 400 degrees, but even less than that if you have thin pork chops. 

Don’t overcook them. The worst thing to eat is dry pork chops…no one wants that!

What Temperature are Pork Chops Done?

Contrary to what most people think, pork chops actually can be eaten at a range of temperatures. You want the internal temperature to reach between 145-160 degrees fahrenheit. 

When they are done cooking, always let the pork chops rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into them.

How to Tell When They are Cooked?

The best way is by using a thermometer. Don’t have a meat thermometer? To be honest I didn’t have one for the longest time but it’s a great investment for your kitchen. 

However, if you don’t have one while you are cooking these pork chops in the air fryer you can just slice into the middle of the chop. If it’s white, or even if it’s slightly pink in the middle, they are cooked.

How to Cook Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

STEP 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

STEP 2: Brush olive oil on both sides of the pork chops.

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STEP 3: Mix all the seasoning together in a bowl, it makes it easier. Coat each pork chop in the seasonings.

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STEP 4: Open the air fryer, and place 2 pork chops into the basket, and set for 11 minutes.

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Set the “TURN” reminder on and flip the pork chops halfway through. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you are probably going to need to do them in batches.)

STEP 4: Remove the pork chops and place them on a plate and let them rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

STEP 5: Serve and enjoy!

FAQs & Best Tips

Here are some of our best tips when making pork chops in the air fryer. Let us know if you have any more questions we can answer about them in the comments section below!

• NEVER PUT OIL INTO AN AIR FRYER. IT WILL RUIN THE AIR FRYER! 
• Cooking times can vary depending on how thick the pork chops are. 
• Remember to flip the pork chops halfway through cooking, this will ensure even cooking. 
• Always let the air fryer pork chops rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking. 
• Do NOT stack the pork chops on top of each other, they will not cook properly. 
• You may have to cook the chops in batches depending on how big your air fryer is.

Why are My Pork Chops Dry and Tough?

My guess is that you overcooked them. The longer you cook pork chops, the higher the risk of them drying out especially if you use thinner pork chops.

To avoid dry and tough pork chops, whenever possible buy thick-cut chops, at least 1 ½” thick.

Let Them Rest

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but letting the air fryer porks chops rest is really a MANDATORY step. Why?? It’s because it allows everything to redistribute and relax.

If you cut into it immediately, then you will lose the juices and the meat can become dry.

How Do You Preheat an Air Fryer?

Depending on your exact model, your air fryer may already have some programmed with a “preheat” setting. If you don’t have the “preheat” setting, just do it manually. 

Set the temperature to 400 degrees and just give it about 3-5 minutes to heat up.

Can You Stack Pork Chops in the Air Fryer?

For best results, the pork chops should NOT be stacked in the air fryer. Since the whole point of an air fryer is to circulate hot air, stacking the chops will prevent the air fryer from cooking them properly.

If your chops don’t all fit, you will just have to do them in batches.

Should I Use Parchment Paper?

You can go either way…use it or don’t use it. I personally have not used parchment paper in an air fryer before. It doesn’t bother me having to wash out the air fryer basket, it literally takes me a minute.

However, the reason some people like using parchment paper is to line the bottom for easier cleanup. Those who do choose to use parchment paper, recommend using the type that is already precut for air fryers. Not only are they pre-cut, but they have holes in them to help circulate the air. 

Here is a link for air fryer basket parchment liners if you are looking for them.

Can You Cook Frozen Chops in the Air Fryer?

Sure you definitely can use frozen pork chops in the air fryer. What you need to do though, is increase the cooking time by at least 5 minutes, and remember to flip halfway. 

You may want to wait to season the pork chops until they are thawed out a bit in the air fryer because spices won’t stick to frozen pork chops.

Do I Need to Use Breading on these Pork Chops?

You don’t NEED to use breading on these air fryer pork chops, but you CAN if you want to. If you are not eating low carb, then go ahead and use regular breadcrumbs or panko. 

However, if you are on a low carb diet use almond flour or crushed pork rinds as your breading.

Do I Need to Spray Oil in the Air Fryer Basket?

I do not spray any oil directly into my air fryer, but I suggest reading the manual for your specific model to see what’s recommended. 

I brush olive oil directly onto the pork chops before adding the spices, and it works perfectly.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Pork Chops?

Hmmm….what are some good things to serve with these air fryer pork chops? Well, anything really! A few of my favorites are:

• Mashed Potatoes or Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
• Roasted Asparagus
• Roasted Green Beans with Bacon
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Make-Ahead & Storing Options 

Transfer the leftover pork chops to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure they have cooled to room temperature before putting them into the fridge.

How to Reheat

• To Reheat in Microwave: Place the pork chops in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, or until heated through. 
• To Reheat in the Oven: Place the pork chops in the oven at 300 degrees until heated through.

Can You Freeze Pork Chops?

• To Freeze: Be sure the pork chops have fully cooled, and wrap them in plastic wrap then again in foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tools to Use

• Pastry Brush – For spreading on the olive oil. 
• Measuring Spoons 
• Air-Fryer – My air fryer is a Gourmia 6 Qt from Costco. Keep in mind if you are cooking for a large family you definitely want an air fryer that is at least a 6 Qt if not bigger.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

This is a perfect recipe for just about anyone on any diet. The only ones I don’t think will appreciate it are vegetarians…hahaha

This recipe is especially good for are those who are: 

• Gluten-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Egg-Free
• Nut-Free
• Sugar-Free
• Keto
• Low Carb
• Candida
• Paleo
• Whole30

Other Amazing Pork Recipes

We have a few other pork recipes on our website that you are going to love:

• Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy
• Pork Loin Roast
• Baked Pork Tenderloin
• Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Garlic Butter
• Easy Stuffed Pork Chops
• Crispy Pork Belly

All of them are easy-to-make dinners and will have your friends raving!

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