Air Fryer Pork Chops
These air fryer pork chops are crispy on the outside, yet mouth-wateringly juicy on the inside. Seasoned to perfection and ready in under 15 minutes, this pork chop recipe guarantees to elevate any dish you pair it with.
One of the things I love about the air fryer is how easy it is to use. The other thing I love is once you figure out how to cook a recipe in the air fryer, you’ll never cook it any other way.
These air fried pork chops are perfect. The rub is scrumptious, the air fryer makes the outside slightly crispy and the inside so moist. Hubby loves chops cooked this way, and now he wants this pork chop recipe every couple of weeks.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.
I was gifted an air fryer from Ultenic, and even though they didn’t ask me to write a recipe post using their product, I was so impressed that I decided to do one anyway. All opinions expressed in this article are my own. #sponsored
When a representative of the company Ultenic wrote to me asking me if I would like to try their 5.3 quart air fryer, I readily agreed. I have the tray/oven type of air fryer but I had never used a basket type.
And boy, was I impressed. Not only is the Ultenic K10 air fryer a great machine, it is also sleek and well made. There is also a smart APP control with 11 presets. And the recipe book that came with the gorgeous air fryer was extensive: over 100 recipes and I can’t wait to try them. I’ve never seen so many recipes included in a product’s booklet.
If you buy one of these air fryers through the above link, you will get $10 off with the special code AirFryerK10, plus a $10 OFF coupon at the product page- so you will get $20 off.
I have to say that I would highly recommend the Ultenic K10 air fryer!
When I received the air fryer, it was in a securely packed outer box which I quickly opened to remove the brand box and product. (A)
Next, I unpacked the Ultenic air fryer. It’s a beauty. (B)
I opened the air fryer basket and, after washing the equipment as instructed, I installed the cooking grate (C) and plugged the air fryer into an outlet. (D)
I’m ready to start the recipe!
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.
How to make air fryer pork chops
Pre-step
Get out your air fryer and a small mixing bowl.
Step one
Dry the pork chops 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. (H)
If you have the oven/tray type of air fryer, add the chops to the trays and set aside until the oven finishes preheating.
Step eight
After the air fryer is done preheating, add the pork chops to the 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 the pork chops and put them back in to cook 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.
Other pork recipes
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it 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
- Smile
- Enjoy
Equipment
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
- 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.
