Air Fryer Pork Chops – Crispy, juicy, and spicy pork chops are everything a weeknight meal should be. Seasoned to perfection and ready in less than 20 minutes, this deliciousness is soul-satisfying to the max. And you can pair pork chops with just about any side!
If you ask me, pork shops are one of the most underrated meats out there. They’re easy to prepare, juicy and flavorful, and way cheaper than steak and chicken breasts. What’s not to love?
This recipe is my favorite to date because it is one of the fastest and easiest main courses. And air-fryer pork chops can be prepped and ready in literally 15 minutes! 😱 Even better, they’re much better for you than pan-fried.
Are Pork Chops Good in the Air Fryer?
So glad you asked. Yes! They are delicious! This recipe doesn’t require breading, but you’ll notice that the chops are extra juicy on the inside with just a hint of crispiness on the outside. It’s hard to go wrong cooking anything in the air fryer.
Recipe Ingredients
- Pork Chops – I prefer bone-in chops for this recipe, as I find them a little more flavorful and harder to overcook, but you could easily use boneless instead.
- Seasonings – Creole seasoning, thyme, garlic, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar make a sweet and spicy outer crisp.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Prep the Chops – Thoroughly dry pork chops, then season them with salt and pepper and set aside. (Photo 1)
- Seasoning – In a small bowl, combine Creole seasoning, thyme, garlic, Dijon mustard, sugar, and oil. Season both sides of the pork chops with the marinade. (Photos 2-4)
- Air Fry – Next, place the pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (Photos 5-6)
- Flip – Cook them, flipping halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork chop reaches 145℉/63℃, 7-9 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pork chops.
- Rest – Let pork chops rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve immediately after resting, garnished with parsley if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Use chicken breast! You can do this exact same recipe with chicken breasts. It will even cook at the same temperature for about the same time. Just make sure the chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 160℉/71℃.
- You can get some extra crisp by breading your pork chops if you’d like. Season them as per this recipe, dip them in flour, then dip them in egg, then coat them evenly with breadcrumbs. Air fry for the same amount of time, and you’ve got some shake-and-bake-style chops in way less time.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure you purchase good quality pork chops for the best results. They should be thick and pink when raw. If they are greyish looking, they are probably close to going bad, and too thin, they’ll dry out and get tough in the air fryer.
- You may have to cook your chops in batches because leaving space between each pork chop in the air fryer is essential. This allows proper air circulation, cooking your pork chops evenly. It will also help them have a slightly crisp outer layer that is delicious! 😋
Make-Ahead Instructions
Anything cooked in the air fryer is best eaten immediately, but you can season your air-fryer pork chops the day before, so all you have to do is pop them in. They cook super fast, so there’s no need to make them ahead.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve pork chops with your favorite side dishes after letting them rest for about 10 minutes. This will help keep the juices evenly distributed and make a super delicious, juicy pork chop.
Store leftover pork chops in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer, microwave, or stovetop in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
FAQs
Technically, you can, but it’s not recommended. It interrupts the airflow of the fryer, which can result in chops that cook unevenly. It will also keep you from getting that crisp outer layer that makes cooking with an air fryer worth it.
Forgot to thaw? No worries, you can defrost the chops in the air fryer at 380℉/193℃ for 5 minutes or cook them frozen by increasing the cooking time. For this recipe, defrosting works much better and will only cost you an extra 5 minutes. 😅
Yes, you can! If you want to line the bottom of the fryer with aluminum foil to save time on clean-up afterward, be my guest. Doing so shouldn’t affect your cook times.
What to Serve With Air-Fryer Pork Chops
Um, everything! 😆 I usually go with parmesan-crusted asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes, but the possibilities are endless. Bacon-wrapped green beans, mashed sweet potatoes, and collard greens – see! Everything goes with this main course! 😄
Air fryer pork chops go great with fresh salads too, which are also super fast to make. Try this recipe with a wedge salad or easy coleslaw. 😉
More Insanely Good Pork Recipes to Try
- Smoked Pork Chops
- Easy Smothered Pork Chops
- Pork Neck Bones
- Breaded Pork Chops
- Stuffed Pork Chops
- Pan-Fried Boneless Pork Chops
Conclusion
As you can see, air fryer pork chops are easy and taste amazing. In other words, a no-brainer. Are you a fan of cooking pork chops in the air fryer? If so, please share your best tips and tricks in the comment section below. 🙏
Air-Fryer Pork Chops
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Ingredients
- 4 pork chops, bone-in (½-¾-inch-thick)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoons Creole seasoning
- 2 teaspoons thyme, minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1-2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons parsley, for garnish
- Roasted potatoes and asparagus
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375℉/190℃.
- Thoroughly dry pork chops, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine Creole seasoning, thyme, garlic, Dijon mustard, sugar, and oil.
- Season both sides of your pork chops with the marinade. Set aside.
- Place the pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may have to cook them in batches.
- Cook, flipping halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork chop reaches 145℉/63℃, 7-9 minutes, depending on the pork chops' thickness.
- Let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve immediately with roasted potatoes and asparagus and garnish with parsley if desired.
Tips & Notes:
- Make sure you purchase good quality pork chops for the best results. They should be thick and pink when raw. If they are greyish looking, they are probably close to going bad, and too thin, they’ll dry out and get tough in the air fryer.
- You may have to cook your chops in batches because leaving space between each pork chop in the air fryer is essential. This allows proper air circulation, cooking your pork chops evenly. It will also help them have a slightly crisp outer layer that is delicious!
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
FDD says
These were easy, fast and tasted very good. However my chops were pale, not golden or crispy brown as the ones in your photos. The internal temperature was over 150 degrees, so I did not want to keep cooking them until they were dry and tough.
Maybe
i should brown them in a pan before (or after?) air frying them?
Imma says
Hi there! No need to brown them in a pan. Make sure to use all the marinade. When flipping the pork chops, apply whatever is left of the marinade. This helps the pork chops achieve its brown color. Hope this helps!
Rachel says
I am going to try this recipe sounds so good. I didn’t see the cooking time, 375° was it 7-9 min?
Imma says
Yes, but it depends on the thickness of the pork chops. However, thicker chops take longer, which is why an instant-read thermometer is a handy gadget to have.