Air Fryer Pork Chops
These air fryer pork chops are golden and crispy on the outside while staying tender and juicy on the inside. Perfectly seasoned and ready in under 15 minutes, they make a quick, flavorful main dish that pairs beautifully with just about any side.
One of my favorite things about the air fryer is just how simple it makes cooking. The other is that once you’ve nailed a recipe in it, you’ll never want to cook it any other way.
These air fryer pork chops are the perfect example. The rub is flavorful and delicious, the outside cooks up with a light crisp, and the inside stays tender and juicy. My husband loves them so much that this has become a regular request in our house—he asks for these pork chops every couple of weeks!
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Helpful
Tips
- If you can, get heritage pork because the heritage breeds are usually not kept in confinement so the animals are happier and healthier. Heritage pork also often has more fat which makes it moist, flavorful, and hard to overcook. I get my heritage pork from ButcherBox.
- The cooking time will be the same whether you use the basket type as I did or the oven/tray type of air fryer. The only difference is how you preheat the equipment: you remove oven trays but leave the basket in while the unit preheats.
- Pork should be cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. I use an instant-read thermometer. You will need to wait 5 minutes before cutting into the chops to allow the juices to reabsorb and distribute evenly.
- I prefer to use boneless pork chops in the air fryer, but if you use a chop with bone-in, add 2 minutes to the cooking time.
- Check the temperature of the pork chops in the air fryer after 11 minutes to see if it has come to temperature just to make sure you aren’t going to over cook them. I do find the pork chops need the 13 minutes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if your chops are thinner.
- If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
How to make air fryer pork chops
Pre-step
Get out your air fryer and a small mixing bowl.
Step one
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and gather the rub ingredients – smoked paprika, chipotle powder, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, dried thyme, and dried mustard. Also, get olive oil and maple syrup. (E)
Step two
Add the herbs and spices to the small mixing bowl. (F)
Step three
Take the whisk and whisk until the rub ingredients are mixed together. (G)
Step four
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take around 5 minutes. If you have the tray/oven type instead of the basket one that I have, remove the trays before preheating and set the timer to 13 minutes.
Step five
Pour a dime sized drop of oil in your hand, rub them together and rub the pork chop to distribute the oil to the chop. Do this to each pork chop.
Step six
Pour a small amount of maple syrup to your hand, rub your hands together and rub the pork chop again to add the maple syrup to the chop. Also do this to each chop.
Step seven
Sprinkle the rub on each pork chop and rub both sides of the chop to coat it with the rub. Also, make sure the sides of the pork chop are coated as well. (H)
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If you have the oven/tray type of air fryer, place chops on the trays and set aside until the oven finishes preheating.
Step eight
After preheating the air fryer, add the pork chops to the air fryer basket and set the time to 13 minutes. (I) (If you have the tray type of oven, add the trays now.)
Step ten
After 6 minutes, flip them and put them back in to cook pork chops further. Check the temperature at 11 minutes, especially if your pork chops are thin.
Step eleven
When the timer is up, pull out the basket or tray and check the temperature with a meat thermometer. (J)
Yay, they are done!
I pair the chops with Whole30 cabbage with bacon.
Yum. Doesn’t that look good?
I cut into the pork chop, and it’s so moist!
The pork fat is crispy and I do eat a little of it. Do you?
I hope you enjoyed this air fryer pork chops recipe. It’s definitely a stand out.
If you want more air fryer recipes, click here.
Other pork recipes
- Creamy pork chops
- Pork chops in an electric fry pan
- Smoked pork shoulder
- Air fryer sausages
- Slow cooker pork chops
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 3 pork chops (1 inch thick – dried with a paper towel)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (approximately)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (approximately)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (or more if you desire)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
Instructions
- For each pork chop, you will add a dime size drop of olive oil in your hand, rub your hands together and then rub it on both sides of the chop. (So you will do this 3 times if doing 3 chops like I did.)3 pork chops, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- For each pork chop, you will add a dime size drop of maple syrup in your hand, rub your hands together and then rub it on both sides of the chop. (You will also do this 3 times if doing 3 chops like I did.)1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Preheat the air fryer at 380 degrees, it will take 5 minutes. If you have the tray/oven type of air fryer, remove the trays, preheat at 380 degrees and set the timer to 13 minutes.
- Add the herbs and spices (rub) to a small mixing bowl. Take a whisk and whisk until the ingredients are combined.1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard, 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
- Sprinkle the rub on each chop and rub it into the meat. Flip over the chops and repeat. I keep rubbing and sprinkling until the rub mixture is used up.
- If you have the tray type of air fryer, add the chops on the tray, leaving room between each one.
- Once the air fryer comes to temperature, add the pork chops to the basket leaving room between each chop. Set the temperature to 380 F and the timer to 13 minutes. If you have the tray type, add to the air fryer.
- After 6 minutes, flip the pork chops over and continue cooking.
- After 11 minutes, check the temperature. The pork chops are done at 145 F. (I have found it needs the 13 minute cooking time, but each oven is different.)
- Plate and enjoy.
Equipment
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Helpful tips
- If possible, choose heritage pork. Heritage breeds are often raised in better conditions, producing meat that’s more flavorful, juicier, and harder to overcook thanks to a higher fat content. I like to get mine from ButcherBox.
- Cooking times are the same whether you’re using a basket-style or tray/oven-style air fryer. The only difference is in preheating: remove the trays before preheating an oven-style unit, but leave the basket in place when preheating a basket-style fryer.
- Pork should reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy, and let the chops rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute evenly.
- I usually use boneless chops in the air fryer, but if you’re cooking bone-in chops, add about 2 extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Start checking the pork chops at the 11-minute mark to avoid overcooking. While they usually need the full 13 minutes, thinner chops may be done sooner.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing pork chops recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Thanks so much Allyssa! I’m glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate you letting me know!
These pork chops came out so juicy, tender and they were easy to make! They made the best dinner and I love how quick it was to put together, thank you!
Thanks so much for letting me know Kathryn! I appreciate it.
Yummo! My favourite way of cooking pork chops!
Yay! We’re kindred spirits, Megan! Thanks for your comment.
I love pork chops and the air fryer made it so easy. This recipe is perfect!
Thanks Leslie! I appreciate it.
I made these last night for dinner, and they turned out delicious! Very flavorful and moist! Saved this recipe so I can make it again!
I’m so happy to hear that, Liz! Thanks so much for letting me know.
I love how easy these pork chops are to make! They turned out flavorful and crispy from the outside. So delicious!
Yay! I’m happy to hear that, Annie! Thank you for your comment.
These pork chops are so easy to make, and the seasoning blend was delicious. Thanks for an awesome recipe!
You’re welcome. And I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Chenée. Thanks for letting me know.
The perfect little pork chops are so easy to make in the air fryer! Love your instructions and your beautiful photos help me see exactly how mine is supposed to turn out… Definitely making them again!
Thanks so much Chandice! Thank you also for coming back to the post and letting me know. I appreciate it.
Hello & Thank You Elaine!
I followed your directions exactly but mixed cayenne pepper & chili powder to sub out the chipotle powder.
So moist & packed with flavor as well as easy peasey 👍🏻👍🏻.
Even the lightly crisped fat around the edges I couldn’t resist!!
Made 3, ate 3, my family LOVED them tonight! A staple now for certain👏🏻.
I’m so glad to hear that, Mary! The crisped fat around the edges are hard to resist for sure. And I am glad you found the chops moist!! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.