Air Fryer Pork Chops
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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 cooked pork chops and feared they would 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! Using the air fryer guarantees even cooking and crisps up the chips nicely on the outside while being super juicy in the middle.
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. We’re talking under ten minutes.
- Juicy and tender every time. Also, the sides of the pork are perfectly charred, too.
If you love cooking pork in the air fryer, try my air fryer pork belly, air fryer pork tenderloin, and air fryer bacon next.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Another fantastic way to make tough meat 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 additions. Love all your recipes.” – Rick
Ingredients needed
- Pork chops. Use thick, center-cut, boneless pork chops. The recommended thickness is between 1 ½ and 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 smoky flavors.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
How to air fry pork chops
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
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 145°F, they are ready to serve.
Arman’s recipe tips
As a culinary school graduate, I’ve cooked pork chops countless times, and here are my top tips for success:
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. This is my #1 tip when working with pork chops or protein that can overcook easily. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part, and once it reaches 145°F, it’s ready to serve.
- Don’t add all the pork chops at once if they crowd the air fryer basket. I cook the pork in batches if I make a larger batch.
- Rest the chops. Once cooked, rest the chops for 2-3 minutes to let the juices redistribute and yield a super juicy pork chop.
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. To be safe, I suggest regularly checking them at the 8-minute mark.
I find air-frying pork chops for 8-10 minutes at 375°F to be the ideal cooking time for perfectly juicy and tender chops.
More easy air fryer protein recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
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 smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, salt, and pepper 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. Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness and ensure it reaches 145F.
- Remove the pork from the air fryer, rest the pork chops for 2-3 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published September 2022, updated July 2025
Great recipe! Thank you. Your pictures show two pork chops side-by-side. I had to do mine one at a time, which was a hassle. What size air fryer did you use? And if you can name the brand, that would be nice.
Thanks
Jan
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😊