Name: Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Chops
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 pork chops (bone in, over an inch thick); 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 2 teaspoons olive oil

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Are you ready for the Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Chops?! These thick and juicy air fryer pork chops are seasoned with a flavorful dry rub and air fried to perfection.

This simple air fryer pork chop recipe is a winner for a weeknight dinner. Easy dinners like this Air Fryer Chicken Breast, so juicy and full of flavor, or this Air Fryer London Broil, are must have recipes for busy evenings! Serve either one with these, for a great dinner side.

Best damn air fryer pork chops on a plate with a fork.

The Best Air Fryer Pork Chops

I’ve made many recipes for pork chops over my lifetime and I can say that this recipe is my absolute favorite for pork chops.

Nothing fancy is needed here for this pork recipe, you just need to grab a few pantry staples and prepare the meat. Part of the charm is in the simplicity of the ingredients.

These pork chops are lightly seasoned, which really allows the delicate flavor of the meat shine through. I definitely recommend using smoked paprika to get that slight smokey flavor and not just plain paprika. It’s also the reason these chops are so red!

I don’t know about you, but I struggle to find time (and motivation) to make delicious dinners every. single. night. Didn’t I just make dinner last night and now it is time to cook again??

With homework and getting kids to after school activities, there is barely any time to figure out what to make or time to make it.

That is why I love the air fryer, it cooks up some delicious meals and quickly! These amazing pork chops will be ready in no time at all.

An up close of a bite of pork chop on a fork.

The Secret to Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops

Check out these top tips to getting the juiciest and most tender chops every time you cook them.

Don’t overcook chops. The absolute number one answer to getting the juiciest pork chops is to not over cook them. The temperature plays a key role in making the best pork chops. Cooking them to the correct temperature ensures that you will have perfect chops every time.
Use a meat thermometer. Using a meat thermometer will help you know what temperature the pork chops are cooked to. You want to remove the chops when they are about 143°F and allow them to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into them. The temperature will continue to rise up to 145°F even after the chops have been taken out of the air fryer.
Choosing chops. Make sure to get pork chops that are 1-inch thick or thicker. If they are not thick enough they are going to dry out in the air fryer. The cooking time is going to depend on the thickness of the pork chop. It’s more important to go off of the temperature of the pork rather than the length of cooking time.
Don’t cut off the fat. Leave the fat band around the outside of the pork cut. This will ensure that the edges don’t dry out in the cooking process.

What to Serve with Pork Chops

Of course, the mom in me tries to put together well rounded meals, so that means some veggies to be served with these amazing pork chops. We love eating them with these cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus with parmesan, or even brown sugar glazed carrots. You could also make these mouth watering salt and vinegar smashed potatoes.

Since I already have the air fryer out, I love tossing in some broccoli to make parmesan roasted broccoli or air fryer squash and zucchini.

What are the Best Pork Chops for Air Frying

The best pork chops are the ones that are over 1-inch thick, this will ensure that they don’t dry out while they are air frying.
Pork chops are actually a cut from the pig loin that runs from the butt to the shoulder. The most popular cuts are the loin chop and the rib chop. I use bone-in center cut pork loin chops for this recipe.

Up close of best damn air fryer pork chops on a plate with a fork.

How Long Does it take to Cook Pork Chops in Air Fryer?

Air fried pork chops cook much quicker in the air fryer than in the oven. These pork chops take between 10-13 minutes to cook in the air fryer. The exact length of cooking time is dependent upon the thickness/size of the pork chop and the fat content.

The best method to know if the chops are done is to use a instant read meat thermometer to check the temperature after about 10 minutes (make sure not to have it touching a bone). If you are cooking much thinner pork chops they may be done after 6-8 minutes.

How to Know When Pork Chops are Done in Air Fryer?

The USDA recommends that pork be cooked to 145°F to be safe to eat. If you remove the pork chops when they reach about 143°F and allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes they will continue to rise up 5 degrees to reach that 145°F (or more) mark. This is called carryover cooking.

Recipe Ingredients

Pork Chops: In this recipe, I use 1-inch bone-in pork chops. You can also use boneless pork chops.
Oil: Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil such as canola oil or avocado oil can be used.
Smoked Paprika: I definitely recommend using smoked paprika and not just plain paprika.
Salt: I like to use sea salt or kosher salt
Pepper: Freshly ground pepper will taste the best in this recipe.
Onion Powder: Just make sure that it is not expired for best flavor.

All of the ingredients needed to make the best damn air fryer pork chops.

How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops

Here are the basic instructions for cooking the best damn pork chops in the air fryer. The full instructions are down at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.

Pull pork chops out of the refrigerator to let them come up to room temperature about 20-30 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
Mix together the salt, paprika, pepper, and onion powder in a small bowl.
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel.
Drizzle on the oil and brush evenly on both sides of the pork chops.
Sprinkle on the dry rub as evenly as possible on both sides. Rub into the pork chops. Place onto the baking sheet.
Carefully place the pork chops in the air fryer.
Cook the pork chops flipping over half way through the time. Check temperature with the meat thermometer. Let rest for 5 minutes before eating.

Step by step instructions on how to make the best damn air fryer pork chops.

How to Make Pork Chops in the Oven

I have included baking instructions to cook your pork chops in the oven just in case you do not have an air fryer. Just follow these directions.

Pull pork chops out of the refrigerator to let them come up to room temperature about 20-30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. And line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together the salt, paprika, pepper, and onion powder in a small bowl.
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel.
Drizzle on the oil and spread evenly on both sides of the pork chops.
Sprinkle on the dry rub as evenly as possible on both sides. Rub into the pork chops. Place onto the baking sheet.
Place into the oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees. The pork with continue cooking (carryover cooking) and the pork will raise in temperature a few degrees. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve.

Do you Bake Pork Chops Covered or Uncovered?

Pork chops get air fried without being covered. If you are using the oven instructions, you do not need to cover the pork chops while baking.

At what Temperature to Air Fry Pork Chops?

When cooking air fryer pork chops, the air fryer needs to be preheated for 5 minutes at 380°F. After the air fryer is preheated, the pork chops need to be cooked for 10-13 minutes.

Can you Stack Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

You want to make sure to keep the pork chops in a single layer with at least a little space between each one so that air can circulate between the chops. I can fit 2 pretty large bone-in pork chops into my air fryer. I use a Cosori 5.8 quart basket style air fryer. If you are using boneless chops you may be able to get a couple more in there.

What Kind of Seasoning to Use for Pork Chops?

I use my favorite simple pantry staples to season these pork chops: salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.

I love this combination but there are so many different seasonings that work really well with pork chops. Pork chops have such a delicate flavor that they really lends itself to a variety of flavors. You can try a mixture like Italian or Creole seasoning.

Making Air Fryer Pork Chops Ahead of Time

I do not recommend making pork chops in advance. They tend to dry out and will not be nearly as tender as when you first make them.

You can prepare the dry rub ingredients in advance though and set them off to the side. Not a huge time saver, but every second counts (especially at crazy busy dinner time).

Best Damn Pork Chops Tips and Variations

Smoked paprika. I highly recommend using smoked paprika and not just plain paprika, the flavor will be completely different.
Buying pork chops. Make sure to buy pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick to make sure they don’t dry out.
Make them spicy. If you enjoy a little heat in your pork chops you can add a little cayenne powder, chili powder, or chipotle powder to the dry rub.
Keep them in a single layer. When you cook these pork chops in the air fryer, you want to make sure you do not over lap them or they won’t cook correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does pork take in the air fryer? This will depend on the size of your pork chops. It will take about 10-13 minutes to cook these pork chops.

Can you use frozen pork chops? Yes, you actually can use frozen pork chops in this recipe. The steps will just be a little different.

How to air fry frozen pork chops? Mix the rub ingredients together and preheat air fryer to 380°F. Once preheated place the frozen chops in the air fryer and heat for 5 minutes. Separate the pork chops if they are stuck together. Brush oil on both sides of the chops and rub on the dry rub. Air fry for 13-15 minutes until no longer pink and it has reached 145°F. Let rest 5 minutes and then enjoy!

How to Air Fry Pork Chops so they are Juicy and Tender? The best way to keep pork chops tender is to not overcook them. Check the temperature with an instant read meat thermometer at about 10 minutes.

Best Damn Pork Chops Storage Instructions

How to refrigerate best damn air fryer pork chops? Let the chops cool and put in an air tight container. They should last about 3-4 days in the fridge.

How do you reheat cooked pork chops in an air fryer? Pre-heat the air fryer to 380° F. Heat pork chops for about 3-5 minutes.

How to freeze air fryer pork chops? Let pork chops cool completely before putting into an air tight, freezer safe container. They can be frozen for 2-3 months, just be sure to label with the recipe and date.

How to thaw frozen cooked pork chops? Thaw frozen cooked pork chops on a plate in the refrigerator overnight until defrosted.

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