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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Pork Chops In The Air Fryer
- My Recipe Tips
- How Long To Cook Pork Chops In The Air Fryer?
- Storage Instructions
- Serving Suggestions
- More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- My Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer Pork Chops (Juicy & Easy) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
If you want a totally foolproof way to make ’em, my easy recipe for air fryer pork chops is here for you! These cook up perfectly tender and juicy inside, without having to turn on the oven or worry about drying them out. This is how I make pork chops most often, and once you try how tender they are, you might never go back to the oven. 😉
Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Moist, tender, and juicy every time – Making pork chops in the air fryer is a lot more foolproof than baked pork chops or cast iron pork chops. It’s quite hard to dry them out with this method, because the small size of the air fryer doesn’t let the juices evaporate as easily. Plus, the hot air circulating cooks them more evenly.
- Simple ingredients – My trusty 5-ingredient pork chop marinade makes these totally irresistible in the simplest way. But I also have seasoning options for you to use instead if you don’t have the time for it.
- Works for bone-in or boneless pork chops – I’ve used this method with both types, and either way they come out juicy and flavorful! I also made a time chart for you (below) to cover both.
- Super fast – The prep only takes about 10 minutes, and the time to cook air fryer pork chops is much faster than the oven. I usually work on my side dish (or homework with the kids, lol) while I wait for the marinade.
- Simple, flavorful dinner – It’s a little savory, a little sweet, and a whole lot of dinner stress taken away. I love these for a fuss-free dinner on busy days. You can marinate them ahead of time if you get the chance, or just use the seasoning option when you need something last-minute.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for my air fryer pork chop recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Pork Chops:
One of the things I’m proud of with this recipe is that you can use it for any kind of pork chops you have, as I’ve tested different types and thicknesses. Both loin chops and rib chops work fine. There are two aspects that will affect the cooking time:
- Bone-in vs. boneless: I usually cook boneless pork chops in the air fryer, because they are easier to eat and with this method there’s not much concern with dryness, anyway. But I’ve tested bone-in pork chops as well, and they taste delicious! Bone-in cuts do have more flavor, but take a bit longer to cook.
- Thickness: My recipe will work with chops of any thickness, but choose ones that are all about the same, so that they cook at the same rate. The best air fryer pork chops I’ve made were 1 inch thick, but if all you can find is 1/2 inch, they will work fine.
Seasonings:
I go for my quick and easy pork chop marinade most often, but I’ve also used my simple seasoning for pork chops on busy days. Here’s what goes into each of them, so you can decide:
- Marinade option – My marinade makes the best pork chops I’ve had! You only need 5 ingredients — olive oil, coconut aminos (or soy sauce or tamari would also work), lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and pressed garlic cloves — plus salt and pepper. The key ingredients here are the oil (locks in moisture), the lemon juice (makes the pork tender), and the coconut aminos (for flavor and a hint of sweetness).
- Seasoning option – If you don’t have time to marinate your chops, you can just brush them with oil, season, and cook them right away instead. My go-to seasoning blend includes simple staples most home cooks have on hand: garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. I recommend 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of pork. You can also just season simply with salt and pepper if you’re really in a rush.
How To Cook Pork Chops In The Air Fryer
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Get the pork chops nice and dry. Just pat them with paper towels. (This will help them soak up the marinade and keeps them juicy later.)
- Marinate or season. Add the chops to my quick marinade or use my seasoning blend on both sides of the pork chops. (See both options above.) Make sure all sides get coated.
- Cook in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer first, then place the pork in the basket in a single layer. (You can spray the basket with cooking spray if you like, but I only do this if using the seasoning option. Otherwise the marinade provides enough oil.) Air fry pork chops, flipping halfway through, until they are tender and cooked through. I recommend inserting a probe thermometer prior to cooking, as shown in this picture. (See my tips below for more details!)
- Let them rest. Transfer to a plate and let them rest before serving.
My Recipe Tips
- Bring the pork to room temperature if you can. Just take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. This allows them to cook more evenly.
- Don’t marinate for longer than 12 hours. They can get mushy if you leave them in the marinade for longer than that. If it will be longer than 1 hour, place in the refrigerator.
- Preheat your air fryer. I don’t do this for some of my other air fryer recipes, but with air fryer pork chops it makes a difference!
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. There should be a small space between the pieces. If there isn’t enough room, cook them in batches.
- Use a thermometer if possible. The air fryer can do amazing things, but pork chops are a lean cut of meat, so you can still overcook them! I just stick this probe thermometer into the thickest part of one of the chops before I close the air fryer, just in case. You can also use a regular meat thermometer, I just love the convenience of the probe. The ideal internal temperature is 145 degrees F, but the temp rises a few degrees while they rest. So, I usually remove them at 140-143 degrees F and let them come to 145 while resting. If you don’t have a thermometer at all, my handy time chart below is the next-best thing!
- Frozen pork chops work, too. They do taste better if you thaw them first, but I’ve gotten decent results cooking them frozen last-minute. Just cook for 3-5 minutes first, then season them and return to the air fryer for the remaining time.
How Long To Cook Pork Chops In The Air Fryer?
Typical 1-inch-thick pork chops in the air fryer take about 12-14 minutes to cook. Thinner ones will cook more quickly. There’s also a difference between boneless and bone-in cuts — on average, air fryer boneless pork chops will cook 1-2 minutes faster than bone-in.
After preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F, use my handy cook time chart below for perfect, juicy results:
Bone-In Or Boneless | Thickness | Air Frying Time |
---|---|---|
Boneless | 1/2 inch | 7-9 minutes |
Boneless | 1 inch | 11-13 minutes |
Bone-in | 1/2 inch | 9-11 minutes |
Bone-in | 1 inch | 13-15 minutes |
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I usually dice them and toss into soups or serve sliced over salads, but you can also enjoy them whole later.
- Reheat: You can reheat pork chops in the air fryer, too! I prefer to set the temperature low, about 200 degrees F, and heat for about 10 minutes. But if you don’t have much time, just a few minutes at 350 degrees F or even reheating in the microwave will work just fine.
- Freeze: You can freeze cooked pork chops in a zip lock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer pork chops are kind of a blank canvas — they go with almost everything! Here are some ways I like to serve them:
- Air Fryer Vegetables – This is my go-to side dish with these! I usually cut and season the veggies while I have the pork chops in the air fryer, then quickly air fry them while the meat rests. Try my air fryer brussels sprouts, air fryer cauliflower, or just make mixed air fryer vegetables with whatever you have on hand.
- Potatoes – Pairing this main dish with my simple roasted potatoes or creamy mashed sweet potatoes makes it feel like true comfort food! I actually make air fryer roasted potatoes most often, though, by my kids’ request. If you need a lighter alternative, my fried radishes or cauliflower mash are for you.
- Simple Salads – When I want a lighter meal, I serve these with my sweet kale salad, crunchy and creamy cucumber salad, or tangy artichoke salad.
- Roasted Veggies – If you want to time your side dish to be done at exactly the same time as your air fryer pork chops, you can start roasting vegetables while the pork is marinating. Some of my favorites are roasted asparagus, roasted zucchini, and roasted eggplant. When I took the pictures in this post, I opted for roasted broccoli.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
It might come as a surprise that my all-time fave main dish to cook in this little appliance has been air fryer filet mignon! But when you need more common everyday staples, here are my most popular ones:
My Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer – This one is my go-to basket-style air fryer, shown in the photos, as it cooks very evenly and has a large basket. When I want to make pork chops in the air fryer for a bigger crowd, I take this air fryer oven out from storage, as it can hold multiple racks.
- Probe Thermometer – This one I have beeps when your meat reaches the correct temperature. It’s so convenient for pork chops, and I also use it for all my steaks, like sirloin and New York strip.
Air Fryer Pork Chops (Juicy & Easy)
These easy (bone-in or boneless) air fryer pork chops turn out tender & juicy, with simple ingredients and a time chart for perfect results.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels.
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Prepare the pork chop marinade here and marinate the pork chops for 1-12 hours (but not longer). Alternatively, you can simply season generously with pork chop seasoning instead.
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Remove the chops from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for 5 minutes.
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Place pork chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer. For 1-inch-thick boneless pork chops, air fry for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Add an extra 1-2 minutes for bone-in pork chops, or see the post above for a more detailed time chart.
Did You Like It?
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 pork chop
Only 1/4 of the marinade is included in the nutrition calculation, as a lot is discarded after marinating.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
86 Comments
Natasha
2We loved this recipe a lot! It turned out so moist and tender. This air fryer method is the easiest ever! Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
Lucinda
1Made these air fryer pork chops for our anniversary dinner, with sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Hubby said it was the best pork chops ever. He requested I make them next week when his family visits. WooHoo, a winner.
Donna
1Great chops!! Very easy!!
Matthew
1Ok so Maya…… You’ve done it again. You never fail to impress with your amazing recipes. Whats even better is that these are healthy and can be had anytime and they are sooooooooooo easy to make. This left my pork well cooked yet juicy. Thanks so much for this and all the hard work you and your amazing team put in to keep these recipes coming. God bless you, your team and your family. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Fran B.
1I’ve made these pork chops twice. The first time, I used the oven method. They were so tender, moist, and delicious. In the past, I have fried pork chops and added chicken broth and a lid, but they were not even close to these in moistness. The second time I air-fryed the chops according to the directions given. Wonderful–even better than the oven-baked. I’m keeping the marinade in the fridge so it’s ready to use anytime.
Kristyn
1This is our favorite recipe for pork chops!! Quicker & easy & makes perfectly crisp & delicious pork chops!
Dorothy B.
0These air fried loin chops were sooo good I could not get them photographed before they were devoured.
Jamie
1Couldn’t believe how easy these were to make in the air fryer! They turned out so juicy and flavorful!
Kevin V
1Tried this with two 4-ounce half-inch thick boneless chops, marinated for an hour. Preheated air fryer, ran 5 minutes one side, flipped and finished 4 minutes. Temperature checked good. They came out perfect, did not shrink and were tender and delicious! Two meals with pork gravy over a cup of instant mashed potatoes. Thank you!
Jennifer Burris
1These pork chops are so good! We omitted the mustard from the marinade as my husband dislikes it, but they still turned out great. They were very moist and flavorful. Thanks for another great recipe to add to our recipe box.
Gail
0So moist will be adding to list of pork recipes.
Natalie
1I think these are the juiciest pork chops!! And, the marinade adds great flavor. You can’t beat such a quick time to prepare & make!
Amy L Huntley
1I love that you used the Air Fryer to make these. I am loving my air fryer and always looking for new recipes. These pork chops were so tender and juicy! The marinade was perfection too!
Claudia Lamascolo
1These were so juicy and my husband raved about them thanks for this air frying recipe it was amazing
Jeannette
0OMG! Delish! I made this today and it is absolutely delicious! We will be making this again. Wondering if this marinade will also work with chicken?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jeannette, Yes, you could use this marinade on chicken.
Linda
0This was great! First time I cooked pork chops and they weren’t dry. Could believe how moist and quick this was.
Thank you.
Julie
0Marinade for one boneless pork chop in air frier.
Sally
0This recipe is spot on. My husband has been making this recipe for almost a year. It absolutely needs the seasoning. Excellent!
Patricia
0Love this recipe. I didn’t have all the ingredients for the marinade, so I used the Pork Chop seasoning instead. They were fabulous!
Joe P
0I made these the other night, along with the sauteed eggplant recipe, and man, they were both amazing. The chops I prepared with the marinade, then added a little bit of the spice rub recipe (because I can’t just leave well-enough alone. They turned out SO juicy and flavorful! Definitely adding to my rotation.
I tried reviewing this via the app on the phone, but I can’t seem to find my review. I hope this one gets through!
Rev Jim
0Had these for a late breakfast along with other veggies, wonderful experience and will do again for guests. Thank you
K Arango
0This marinade was so tasty! I definitely overcooked mine because I’m used to thicker cuts and I was a wee bit distracted by my little ones. But even my picky two year old kept asking for more! Thank you for this quick and easy (and, more importantly, delicious) recipe!
Dorothy B.
0These pork chops were delicious. My husband loved them. There are only two of us so we sliced the left overs and had KETO bread sandwiches for a second meal.
Joe P.
0I made these and the sautéed eggplant along with a salad, and the entire meal blew me away! So easy to make, and my kitchen smelled FANTASTIC. The chops came out moist and flavorful. Definitely going into my rotation!
Murrae
0Delicious family loved it. Didn’t change a thing. Have tried several of your recipes most are keepers. Thanks for sharing them with us. I have both cookbooks that are used daily.
Denise
0These were so easy and so delicious! Marinated the chops (I used bone-in) for three hours, then preheated air fryer for five minutes before cooking for 13 minutes. Will be adding to our repertoire!