Whether a childhood of overcooked pork chops left you with an adulthood aversion or you are their biggest fan, these flavorful Air Fryer Pork Chops will have you falling freshly in love. They’re lightly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside (NOT DRY), and ready in just 20 minutes.
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Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe
Pork Chops Worth Getting Excited About. Until I perfected Crock Pot Pork Chops and Grilled Pork Chops, my only experience with the cut was as a hard-to-saw piece of protein I did my best to pick around. But properly cooked pork chops are melt-in-your-mouth tasty and NOT DRY. Pork chops cooked in the air fryer are juicy inside and crispy outside—perfection.
Simple Ingredients. A homemade pork seasoning rub made with a reasonable list of spices you likely already have on hand gives the pork chops a rich smokiness and a little bit of a kick.
Quick and Easy. In addition to its prowess at making pork chops juicy, the air fryer offers a further benefit: it is FAST. Thick-cut bone-in pork chops cook for 9 to 11 minutes in the air fryer and your hands-on time is minimal.
5 Star Review
“My husband claims these were the juiciest chops we’ve ever made!”
— Danielle —
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops
The Ingredients
Bone-In Pork Chops. Thick, bone-in, center-cut pork chops are the perfect choice for this recipe. If you prefer boneless pork chops in the air fryer, make sure you use thick-cut chops to ensure they don’t overcook and dry out.
Smoky Spice Rub. A mixture of chili powder, ground coriander, dry mustard, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper is my secret to the best-tasting, most delicious pork chops. It has a little kick (but not too much), lots of smokiness, and a wonderful depth of flavor.
The Directions
Prepare. Dry the pork chops, and coat them with oil.
Make the Rub. Stir the spice rub ingredients together.
Season. Rub the mixture onto the top, bottom, and side of the pork chops.
Cook. Place the chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket (you cannot stack pork chops in an air fryer). The temperature you should air fry pork chops at is 375 degrees F. Cook them for 5 minutes, then flip them over.
Finish. Cook for 4 to 7 more minutes. Place the pork chops on a plate, cover them, and let them rest for a few minutes. ENJOY!
Tip!
Per the FDA, pork is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. I typically remove my pork around the 135-140 degrees F, cover it, then let the carry-over cooking finish the rest.
Recipe Variations
BBQ. Slather the cooked chops with this homemade Barbecue Sauce or your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. I recommend warming up the sauce first, then brushing it on liberally once the pork has rested.
Parmesan. Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the spice mixture. YUM!
Ranch. Swap the pork seasoning blend used here with a ranch seasoning mix.
Garlic. Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder to the spice mixture.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Pork Chops
Potatoes. Air fryer pork chops and potatoes are a perfect match. Try Crockpot Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Potatoes, or Potato Skins.
Veggies. Zucchini Fries coated in bread crumbs are a crowd-pleaser. Grilled Corn or Roasted Asparagus would be too.
Salad. Apple Walnut Salad is a delicious choice.
Rice. A simple side of Instant Pot Brown Rice or stovetop brown rice or white rice will let the pork’s BBQ flavors shine.
Applesauce. You can’t go wrong with a side of Crockpot Applesauce or Instant Pot Applesauce.
Mac and Cheese. Pair these chops with a side of Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and prepare for a standing ovation.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Choose Thick-Cut Chops. Look for the thickest ones you can find, and don’t be shy about asking the butcher counter if needed. For juiciness guaranteed, I recommend pork chops that are at least 1 1/2-inches thick.
Go Bone-In. Boneless pork chops are far easier to overcook than ones with the bone in. The bone gives the meat extra flavor too (which is why bone-in is also perfect for Stuffed Pork Chops, Honey Garlic Pork Chops, and Smothered Pork Chops).
DO NOT OVERCOOK. Unlike a tougher cut of pork like pork shoulder, pork chops are lean and do not become more tender the longer they cook. Use an instant-read thermometer like this and check the pork early (especially if your pork chops are thinner) and often. It’s the absolute best way to know when pork chops are done in an air fryer.
Let It Rest. Resting the meat is MANDATORY. It allows the juices to reincorporate. If you cut the pork chops right away, all those lovely juices escape onto the plate.
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Air Fryer Pork Chops
This juicy air fryer pork chops recipe is easy, fast and foolproof! Flavored with a simple spice rub, crispy outside and tender inside.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 10 minutesminutes
Resting Time 5 minutesminutes
Total Time 20 minutesminutes
Servings 2servings
Calories 437kcal
Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated
Ingredients
For the Pork Chops:
2thick, center-cut pork chops(I recommend bone-in—look for chops that are at least 1 1/2 inches thick)*
2tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
Crockpot Applesauceor Instant Pot Applesauce, optional for serving
Barbecue Sauceoptional for serving
For the Pork Rub:
1tablespoonchili powder
1teaspoonground coriander
1teaspoondry mustard
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
3/4teaspoonkosher salt
3/4teaspoonground black pepper
1/2teaspoonground cumin
1/4teaspooncayenne pepper
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F accordingly to the manufacturer’s instructions (for my air fryer, that’s 3 minutes of preheat time).
With paper towels, pat the pork chops dry on both sides. Coat the outsides with olive oil.
In a medium bowl, combine the rub ingredients: chili powder, coriander, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
Rub all over both sides of the pork.
Lay the pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket; do not overlap them (if they both do not fit in a single layer, cook them in batches). Air fry for 5 minutes, then with tongs, carefully flip the chops.
Continue cooking for 4 to 7 additional minutes, or until the meat registers 135°F on an instant read thermometer. If your pork chops are boneless, start checking 2 minutes earlier to ensure they do not overcook.
Remove the pork chops to a plate. Cover and let rest for at least 5 minutes. Serve hot with warmed barbecue sauce as desired.
Video
Notes
*You can also use this recipe for boneless center-cut pork chops; still look for thick ones that are at least 1 1/2 inches thick. I do not recommend thin pork chops, as they will dry out ultra quickly. If you decide to experiment with thin chops, start checking several minutes earlier to gauge their progress.
As with ovens, air fryer models vary, so your pork chops may take a bit longer or a bit shorter (this is the air fryer model I used to test the recipe). The safest option is to check the meat’s temperature earlier to make sure it doesn’t overcook. As soon the pork chops 135°F at the thickest part of the meat, remove mine for resting.
TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover pork chops in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm pork chops in the air fryer or oven at 350°F, in the microwave, or in a skillet on the stove.
TO FREEZE: Freeze leftover pork chops in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
