Easy Air Fryer Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops are a tender and juicy family favorite dinner. You can have delicious pork chops on the table in about 20 minutes for a quick and easy dinner.

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These air fryer pork chops are juicy and tender and make a delicious and easy dinner. They are brown on the outside but still juicy inside for the perfect pork chop flavor.

Air frying is an excellent way to cook meat, whether it is easy air fryer pork tenderloin or air fryer chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto. The high heat of the air fryer makes it easy to cook meat thoroughly without drying it out.

Advantages of Air Frying Pork Chops

It is very easy to over cook pork chops and dry them out. And dried out pork chops are one of my least favorite things to eat or serve to my family.

When I cook pork chops on the stove it is difficult to cook the insides to the correct temperature without drying out the edges. The air fryer solves that problem because it cooks the pork chops so much more quickly than a frying pan can.

In addition there is no need to add extra oil, which just adds extra calories, for this recipe. The pork chops cook with the fat that they already have.

Now I will say that the best tasting, best textured pork chops I have every made are sous vide pork chops. But those take a lot more time to cook – about 1 hour longer than air fryer pork chops.

So for a special occasion sous vide is the way to go, but for a busy weeknight you can’t beat the speed and convenience of air fryer pork chops.

To sum up the main advantages of air fryer pork chops are:

• Moist and juicy inside
• Nicely browned outside
• Simple
• No added oil
• Fast – ready in 20 minutes

Find More Air Fryer Recipes!

Boneless or Bone In Pork Chops?

For cooking in an air fryer I prefer to use boneless pork chops. This is mainly for speed and convenience.

With bone in pork chops are slightly more difficult to cook consistently, because it can take a little longer for the meat near the bone to cook. This can result in more uneven cooking across the pork chops.

It is also might be more difficult to fit multiple bone in pork chops in an air fryer basket because they have a more defined shape. I can fit 4 boneless pork chops in my air fryer at once, but only 2 or 3 bone in ones.

But if you want to use bone in pork chops you can – just make sure you use an instant read thermometer and test the temperature of meat right by the bone to make sure they are done.

Thick Pork Chops

Air frying works best with nice thick pork chops. For best results buy pork chops that are 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches thick.

How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops

1. Season the Pork Chops

I like breading for dishes like catfish or fried chicken. But for pork chops I am not a fan of breading. So these pork chops are seasoned with some simple spices.

I used Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt to season each side of pork chops. Pat each pork chop dry with paper towels and then just sprinkle the herbs on each side of the pork chops.

Put the pork chops in the air fryer basket, being sure to leave space around each pork chop so air can circulate. My air fryer basket can fit 4 boneless pork chops without crowding them.

2. Cook the Pork Chops

Cook the pork chops at 360 F for about 14 minutes for 1 inch thick pork chops. I don’t usually preheat my air fryer, but some brands recommend preheating. So follow the directions for your air fryer about that.

The cooking time of the pork chops will vary based on their thickness. Don’t rely on times or guesswork when it comes to cooking meat.

Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, don’t try to cook based just on time. A thermometer is not expensive and the peace of mind they give you is priceless. Food poisoning is not fun! This is my favorite inexpensive meat thermometer, which you can buy on Amazon.

Flip the pork chops at after about 7 minutes, half way through the cooking time. Then after the 14 minutes is up check their internal temperature with an instant read thermometer.

For food safety the pork chops should be at least 145 F in the thickest part. If they haven’t reached this temperature put them back in for another 3 minutes and check them again.

3. Let the Pork Chops Rest

Put the pork chops on a plate and let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

What to Serve with Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops are part of a quick and easy weeknight dinner for my family. So I will usually serve things that take little to no preparation with them.

A nice green salad or coleslaw is easy to make while the pork chops cook. I also love to serve apples with pork so apple sauce is an excellent side dish for pork chops. Corn on the cob is another easy side dish and a favorite of mine during the summer months.

Find More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Air Fryer Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Air Fryer Bacon
• Air Fryer Ribs