Air fryer breaded pork chops give you crispy breaded pork chops on the table in 20 minutes, with no oil splattering across your stovetop and no hovering over a hot skillet. These air fryer pork chops come out golden and crunchy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and they’ve earned a permanent spot in my weeknight dinner rotation.
I used to save breaded pork chops for weekends because pan-frying them felt like too much on a busy night. Between the oil splatters, the flipping, and the mountain of paper towels, it seemed like I spent longer wiping down the stove than I did eating.
With just a little bit of oil, the hot air crisps the breadcrumbs while the pork stays tender inside, and there’s no greasy pan waiting for you at the end. And the breading actually browns and crisps up in the air fryer. If dry, bland pork chops have burned you before, you will love how these pork chops come out.
Below I’ll walk you through the simple steps, the exact temperature and timing, and a couple of seasoning swaps if you want to switch things up. Grab your pork chops, because dinner’s only about 20 minutes away.
Looking for more air fryer pork recipes? Find my recipe for air fryer pork chops with no breading, air fryer pork tenderloin, or air fryer ribs.
Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Pork chops: I use bone-in ones in these photos. But the recipe works fine with boneless pork chops. Try to buy ones of equal thickness so that they will cook evenly. Cooking pork chops in the air fryer works best when they are around 1 inch thick.
- Egg
- Breadcrumbs: Plain breadcrumbs are the base here. Swap in panko if you want an extra-crunchy crust.
- Pork rub: or another seasoning of your choice. See below for even more seasoning variation ideas.
- Spray oil: Use a spray bottle filled with oil, not a commercial cooking spray, for best results.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel, then season both sides with the pork rub. The breading will stick better if you ensure the meat is dry before starting.
- Whisk the egg in one bowl. Put the breadcrumbs in a second bowl.
- Pick up one chop and dip it into the bowl with the egg. Swish it around, so it gets well coated. Then dip the pork chop into the bowl of breadcrumbs and flip it, so it is covered on both sides. Shake off any excess crumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F for 2 minutes.
- Spray the breaded chops with oil, making sure you cover every part of the breading, not just the top.
- For one-inch-thick pork chops, air fry at 380°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping them over after 6 minutes. Usually, bone-in chops take a few minutes longer to cook than boneless ones.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Pull the chops once they hit 145 degrees F.
Serving Ideas
My go-to is green beans and mashed potatoes. It’s an easy, no-frills dinner that comes together fast and covers the whole plate without much extra work.
A simple side salad works too if you want something lighter to balance out the crispy breading. Roasted broccoli or a quick coleslaw are good options when you want a little more color and crunch on the plate.
How to Store
Store leftover pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can use leftovers on sandwiches, salads, or as part of a stir fry.
You can also reheat the pork chops in the air fryer at 350 degrees for about 3 minutes. Skip the microwave for these. It heats the pork through fine, but it turns the breading soft instead of crispy.
Seasoning Variations
Here are some other tasty ways to season these pork chops:
- Use ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Use ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning for an Italian-inspired taste.
- Buy seasoned Italian breadcrumbs and season the meat with a little bit of salt and black pepper.
- Add 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- This recipe works with boneless chops too. They cook a little faster than bone-in, so start checking around 10 to 12 minutes instead of waiting the full 15 minutes.
- Get chops that are close to the same thickness. Uneven pieces cook unevenly, and you’ll end up pulling one out before the other is ready.
- If your chops run thinner than 1 inch, closer to 1/2 inch, they’ll be done a lot sooner. One reader got perfect results at about 10 minutes total with thinner chops. Start checking early rather than trusting the full cook time.
- Cook in a single layer and don’t crowd the basket. If your air fryer is small, do this in batches. Crowding traps steam and you lose the crispy crust.
- Flip at the halfway point, around 6 minutes into a 12 to 15 minute cook. This is what gets you an even, golden crust on both sides.
- Skip commercial spray oils in a nonstick basket. They can damage the finish over time. A cheap refillable spray bottle with your own oil works just as well and is easier on your air fryer.
Reader Questions
For bone-in chops about 1 inch thick, 12 to 15 minutes at 380°F, flipping once at 6 minutes. Thinner chops, around ½ inch, can be done in about 10 minutes total.
Always check with a meat thermometer and pull at 145°F rather than going by the clock alone. That’s the safe internal temperature for pork, and it’s where you want to pull the chops no matter what the timer says. Guessing by color is how you end up either undercooked or dry.
Yes. Egg and breadcrumbs crisp up in an air fryer the same way they would in a deep fryer, as long as you give the breading a good, even spray of oil before cooking. If you skip the oil, the crust turns out pale and dry instead of golden and crispy.
I tested this at 380°F, which sits right between those two, and it’s the temperature I stick with. It’s hot enough to get the breading golden and crispy in around 12 to 15 minutes, but gentle enough that the inside stays juicy instead of drying out before the crust is done. Going up to 400°F can crisp the outside faster than the inside catches up, which raises the odds of overcooking the meat.
The biggest one is cooking past 145°F, which dries out the meat fast. After that: crowding the basket so the chops steam instead of crisp, skipping the oil spray so the breading turns out dry and pale, and forgetting to flip at the halfway mark, which leaves you with an uneven crust.
If you’re avoiding egg, a buttermilk soak works as a stand-in to help the breadcrumbs stick. Dip the chops in buttermilk instead of egg, then press into the breadcrumbs the same way.
Yes. Boneless chops cook a little faster than bone-in, so start checking around 10 to 12 minutes instead of the full 15, and pull them at 145°F.
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Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in pork chops 1 inch thick
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons pork rub or another seasoning – see notes
- spray oil
Instructions
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel.2 bone-in pork chops
- Put the egg in one bowl and combine the yolk and white. Put the bread crumbs in another bowl.1 egg, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Season the chops with the spice mixture.2 teaspoons pork rub
- Dip a pork chop in the egg mixture. Then dip it into the breadcrumbs, making sure to thoroughly coat it. Continue until all the meat is breaded.
- Preheat air fryer at 380 degrees F for 2 minutes.
- Spray the coated pork chops with a light coating of cooking spray. Place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring there is room for the air to circulate.spray oil
- Air fry at 380 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, flipping them over after 6 minutes.
- They are done when they reach 145 degrees F internally.
- Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving for the juiciest pork chops.
Notes
Seasoning variations:
- Use ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder if you don’t have a spice rub.
- Use ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning for an Italian-flavored dish.
- Buy seasoned Italian breadcrumbs and season the meat with a little salt and black pepper.
Tips:
- Get chops that are close to the same thickness. Uneven pieces cook unevenly, and you’ll end up pulling one out before the other is ready.
- If your chops run thinner than 1 inch, closer to 1/2 inch, they’ll be done a lot sooner. One reader got perfect results at about 10 minutes total with thinner chops. Start checking early rather than trusting the full cook time.
- Cook in a single layer and don’t crowd the basket. If your air fryer is small, do this in batches. Crowding traps steam and you lose the crispy crust.
- Flip at the halfway point, around 6 minutes into a 12 to 15 minute cook.
- Skip commercial spray oils in a nonstick basket. They can damage the finish over time. A cheap refillable spray bottle with your own oil works just as well and is easier on your air fryer.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Any recipes for reduce salt or no salt, due to health problems?
I only had 1/2 inch pork chops ,so I reduced time to 10 min total . Came out perfect !