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These air fryer pork chops are the BEST way to cook pork! Juicy, tender, and ready in 9 minutes, you’ll never cook boneless pork chops any other way again!
For all those times you’ve made pork chops and feared they will turn out dry or chewy, fear not. My air fryer pork chop recipe is a game changer. It honestly guarantees perfectly cooked pork every single time…and it’s fast!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- 3 Ingredients. Pork chops, oil, and spices are all that you’ll need. Oh, and there is no breading!
- The fastest way to cook chops. As much as I love sous vide pork chops or instant pot pork chops, cooking them in the air fryer is just a no-brainer. I mean, this pork cooks in just 9 minutes and has barely any prep time.
- Juicy and tender every time. Also, the sides of the pork are perfectly charred, too.
Love air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer salmon, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer steak, and air fryer turkey breast.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Another fantastic way to make a very hard meat to make delicious. Arman, you keep outdoing yourself with these great recommendations. I. made this for the first time in my new air fryer, and, as you said, I don’t think I will ever make them any other way. They came out really tender, and with the added spices, they needed no other addition. Love all your recipes.” – Rick
Ingredients needed
- Pork chops. Use thick, center-cut, boneless pork chops. The recommended thickness is between 1 ½ to 2 inches. Using thick pork chops (as opposed to thinner ones) in the air fryer gives them a lovely seared exterior and juicy middle, which is what we want. Also, try to get your pork from a butcher instead of a grocery store so you can pick the perfect meat.
- Olive oil. To season. You can also use butter or other cooking oil, like avocado.
- Spice mix. I use smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder, which all have robust and smokey flavors.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
How to air fry pork chops
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Season the pork: Add pork chops and olive oil to the bowl. Rub the olive oil all over the meat. Add all the spices and coat the pork chops on both sides.
Step 2- Air fry the pork chops: Add the pork chops in a single layer into the air fryer basket. Air fry the pork chops for 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 3- Rest then serve: Allow the pork to rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Air fryer pork chops cooking time
Both bone-in and boneless pork chops work for this recipe. Here is a quick guide to give you an idea of how long each one would typically take:
- Boneless pork chops- 8-12 minutes.
- Bone-in pork chops- 11-15 minutes.
You can also check the internal temperature of pork chops. If the internal temperature is 145F, they are ready to serve.
Arman’s recipe tips
- If you buy pre-packaged pork shops, sometimes there is excess liquid. Make sure you pat them dry with a paper towel before seasoning.
- Don’t add all the pork chops at once if they crowd the air fryer basket. If I’m making a larger batch, I cook the pork in batches.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the meat’s internal temperature and avoid overcooking the chops.
- Once cooked, rest the chops for 2-3 minutes to let the juices redistribute and yield a super juicy pork chop.
- If you want more crispy pork chops, lightly dust them in panko breadcrumbs or parmesan cheese. They both add some flavor and texture without detracting from the overall dish.
Serving suggestions
Simple sides are the best accompaniment to pork chops. If I could have it my way, I’d eat it with a heaping of smoked mac and cheese, but here are some other options.
Vegetables are always a healthy side dish. As I have a 2-basket air fryer, I love to whip up some veggies as the pork cooks, and these include air fryer brussels sprouts, air fryer baked sweet potato, or air fryer carrots.
Potatoes are a popular choice, too, so perhaps some air fryer French fries, air fryer sweet potato fries, or mashed potatoes.
You can also try some hearty salads, like kale, orzo, or a green goddess salad.
Storage instructions
To Store: Place leftovers in a shallow container and store them in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.
To Freeze: Once the pork is cooked and cooled, transfer it to a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to two months.
Reheating: Either microwave the chops for 20-30 seconds or back in the air fryer until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you overcook the pork chops or don’t flip them halfway through, they are prone to becoming tough and chewy. I suggest regularly checking them from the 8-minute mark to be safe.
More easy air fryer protein recipes to try
- Air fryer frozen chicken wings
- Air fryer pork belly
- Air fryer pork tenderloin
- Air fryer bacon
- Air fryer hamburgers
- Air fryer meatloaf
- Air fryer Italian sausage
9-Minute Air Fryer Pork Chops
Video
Ingredients
- 4 medium pork chops 1 1/2- 2-inches in thickness
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teapoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F.
- Pat dry the boneless pork chops, then add into a bowl and rub the oil generously over them all.
- Mix the spices in a bowl, then rub on both sides of the pork.
- Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket and cook for 9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove the pork from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published September 2022, updated and republished April 2024
Loved these! My family love their pork chops, so this was perfect for us.
Cooked these to 145 degrees F and they were super juicy and delicious!
Sounds great. On menu for dinner tonight.
Used your recipe and had terrific results! As promised the pork was moist, tender and well seasoned plus it had a beautiful, all-around sear. Thanks for putting joy back into my cooking😊