Air fryer pork chops are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. In under 25 minutes and using ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, you’ll get restaurant-quality boneless pork chops that never come out dry.
If you are looking for more pork air fryer recipes, you have to try out Korean air fryer pork ribs. They are insanely tender and juicy!
Boneless pork chops are one of the most full-proof air fryer recipes. When pan-fried or baked, this cut tends to be finicky and prone to drying out and turning rubbery. What a shame! However, when you leverage the powers of the air fryer, the pork chops turn out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – just the way it should be.
This easy air fryer recipe is also super versatile. You can use air fried pork chops as your main entree, a salad topping, or as a sandwich protein. Make a batch for the week to have quick pork chops on hand for a variety of meals. What’s better? You can quickly reheat them in the air fryer to return them to that fresh-out-of-the-fryer state.
How to Cook Pork Chops in an Air Fryer
- Season the Pork Chops – Pop pork chops into a plastic storage bag. Add in salt, pepper, olive oil, parsley, and pressed garlic. Massage the bag to distribute the seasoning and allow it to marinate for 10 minutes.
- Air Fry the Pork Chops – Spray the air fryer tray with cooking oil and place the seasoned pork chops inside in a single layer. Set the temperature to 360°F and air fry for 15 minutes, flipping the chops halfway through to ensure that both sides get equal love and attention from the hot air.
- Serve the Pork Chops – Serve the air fryer pork chops hot and fresh, alongside your favorite side dish, atop a fresh salad, or sandwiched between bread.
Looking for a great air fryer? If you are on the market for an air fryer, the most affordable and quality model is the Gourmia Digital Air Fryer. It worked great for us when we were just starting out. Recently, we have upgraded to Cosori Air Fryer. To find a model that works best for your specific needs, take some time to read reviews. There are so many models out there to choose from!
What are the Best Types of Pork Chops to Air Fry?
When it comes to air frying, the best pork chops to use are the thickest ones you can find. General rule of thumb: the thicker the pork chop, the more juicy it will be on the inside. From boneless to bone-in pork chops, use the quick-hitter guide below to help you choose the right cut when you’re at the butcher shop:
- Shoulder Chop: Cut from the shoulder, fair amount of gristle and blade bone, tends to be a bit tougher
- Rib Chop: Cut from the rib section of the loin, bone-in, medium amount of fat, tender yet lean
- Loin Chop: Cut from combination of hip and loin meat, very lean and mild flavor, the more tenderloin present the more tender the cut
- Boneless Chop: Cut from head of the loin and above loin chops, boneless, very lean
- Sirloin Chop: Cut from hip area toward back of the loin, highest amount of bone in relation to other pork chops, lots of pork flavor, tends to be on the tougher side
How Long Does It Take to Cook Pork Chops in an Air Fryer?
Pork chops can take anywhere between 15-20 minutes to cook in an air fryer depending on how many inches thick they are and your preferred doneness (see temperature guide below). Typically, 1-inch thick pork chops will take about 15 minutes. Note: Keep in mind that using bone-in chops will extend the cooking time as well.
Pork Chops Temperature and Doneness
Pork chops can be eaten at a range of temperatures, spanning from well-done to medium-rare. Check out quick guide below to help you gauge doneness and cooking time:
- Medium-Rare: 145-150°F
- Medium: 150-155°F (Recommended)
- Medium-Well: 155-160°F
- Well-Done: 160°F
Meat Thermometer Recommendation: The Thermapen is my thermometer of choice at the moment. For less expensive options, venture over to Amazon.
Serving Air Fryer Pork Chops
Serve your air fryer pork chops alongside a classic cucumber and tomato salad (a Ukrainian favorite!) for a quick and healthy dinner. If you’re looking to make a more elaborate spread, pair your chops with air fryer asparagus (you already have it out, so why not use it twice?!) and some crispy smashed potatoes.
Leftover Alert: You can substitute leftover pork chops for shredded pork in our Cuban pork sandwich recipe.
Making Pork Chops Ahead of Time
Air fryer pork chops are even better when making ahead of time. Although you can get away with a quick, 10 minute marinade, the longer you let them marinate the better! You can whip up the bagged marinade up to 2 days in advance and pull out individual chops as you need them for air frying.
Reheating Air Fryer Pork Chops: Reheat your air fryer pork chops with – you guessed it – the air fryer. 1-3 minutes in the tray will return them back to their fresh and crispy state.
FAQ
How long does it take to cook boneless pork chops in the air fryer?
1-inch thick pork chops will take about 15 minutes in the air fryer. Be mindful to flip them halfway so that each side cooks evenly. Raise the cooking time up to 20 minutes if they are bone-in or ultra-thick.
Can you stack meat in an air fryer?
For best results, meat should not be stacked in the air fryer. Since air fryer operates by the circulation of hot air, stacking meat will prevent the air fryer from cooking food properly. If you really must stack meat in the air fryer, move chops around every 3-5 minutes to allow all sides to cook and increase the overall cooking time to compensate.
How do you cook pork chops without drying them out?
Prevent your pork chops from drying out by not overcooking them. Investing in a meat thermometer will really help you gauge accurate doneness.
How do you preheat an air fryer?
Depending on the model, your air fryer might already come programmed with a preheating setting. If you don’t have a preheating setting, just preheat it manually. Simply set the temperature to 350°F and give it about 2-3 minutes to warm up.
Why are my pork chops tough?
Pork chops become tough if they are overcooked or haven’t been marinated.
How can you tell if pork chops are done?
You can tell your pork chops are done and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F (medium-rare). See the guide above for more detailed temperature information as it relates to doneness.
Can I use frozen pork chops in the air fryer?
You can definitely use frozen pork chops in the air fryer. Simply increase the cooking time by a couple of minutes. Halfway through, remove the pork chops. Season them according to the recipe. Return them to the air fryer basket and finish cooking.
Other Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fryer Bacon (Perfectly Crispy) – Bacon without the mess
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Crispy and healthy chicken wings
- Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes – Perfect baked potatoes
- Air Fryer Salmon – Flakey, moist salmon
- Air Fryer French Fries – Fries without the guilt
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork chops
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp fresh or dry parsley
- 1 tsp black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- Place pork chops into a plastic storage bag. Add salt, black pepper, olive oil, parsley, and grated garlic. Massage the bag until the pork chops are completely covered with the marinade. Allow the bag to sit on the counter for 10 minutes or pop in the fridge to marinate overnight.
- Place pork chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set cooking time to 15 minutes at 350°F. Halfway through, flip the pork chops over.
- Check the internal temperature of pork chops with a meat thermometer to gauge doneness. Serve hot alongside your favorite side dish!
Loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Virginia, I am thrilled that you found a recipe that you love. Thank you for sharing your feedback! Enjoy!!
If I could give this recipe 20 stars I would!! I live with my sister and her partner and I made these tonight. They were SOOOO juicy and SOOOO tender!! David said these were the BEST pork chops he has ever eaten in his life! WOW!! I am so glad I found your recipe. Thank you!
Hi Susan, wow, thank you so much for the kind words! I am thrilled that the recipe was a success and that you loved it. Thank you for sharing your feedback. Enjoy!!
So tasty!! We make these often now so sometimes we switch out or add seasonings to mix it up. I always hated making chops because they never came out good but these are perfect every time
Hi Lauren- I'm so happy to hear that!! I'm glad you came upon this recipe and that it changed pork chops for you 🙂
I am so glad i found ur site i am just learning to use my air fryer my husband is the one who used out old and it finally quit working so i bought one that looks like the one pictured in ur recipes...thank u will definitely be trying the chicken legs one and the pork loin one..and many more .. thanks alot again..Rochelle
Hi Rochelle - Welcome to the air fryer club! Glad you loved the recipes. We have so many on our site, so definitely let us know which ones you like best.
Sorry. Flavorless and tough.
Hello, Dava. I'm sorry to hear you didn't get the results you were hoping for. I hope the next recipe you try is more enjoyable!
These were delicious- thank you for sharing! Based on the simple ingredients, I thought they’d be flavorless and boring, but I was wrong! This recipe is being printed for my “go-to” quick, easy and favorite recipes binder. Thank you!
Hi Jodi - YAY! Love to hear it. Sometimes simple seasoning is all you need. Happy New Year!
I’ve never been very good at making pork chops, but these came out SO GOOD! Most definitely the BEST pork chops I have personally ever made! The olive oil marinade truly makes these TASTE like they were fried on the stove, but they are actually juicy and, I would imagine, without all the extra calories of deep-frying. I cooked mine from mostly frozen and I initially put them in for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, but ended up cooking another 4 minutes or so on each side. PERFECT!
Hello Evelyn, I am so glad you loved the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment your feedback! I am so happy to hear that this recipe has made cooking pork chops an easier task! I hope you find many more recipes that you love 🙂
Very simple and quick to make. They came out tasty and did not dry out at all. Look forward to making again.
Hello Lois, I am so glad to hear that the recipe went well for you, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback 🙂
I'm always reluctant to cook pork chops because they usually get so dry. Not this time! Recipe worked out GREAT with my thick boneless chops! I happened to watch the video (I don't usually watch recipe videos) and appreciated that you talked about bone-in vs boneless, thick vs. thin. Thank you 🙂
Hi Jenny, I am so glad you watched the video and found it helpful, I love sharing tips in various ways!! Thank you for taking the time to comment your feedback 🙂 What did you serve your pork chops with?
I used salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. The pork chops were SO good! I’ll definitely be using this recipe from now on 🙂
Lexi, I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for your feedback!
Question?
Made these chops today and placed in air fryer tray then decided to remove and place in baking sheet. I was concerned with juices dripping into heating element. I'm new to air frying and I purchased a Calphalon toaster oven/air fryer. Would juices have dripped?
Please help
Hey Rose, I am not familiar with that brand air fryer. Juices/fat will drip ad the air fryer cooks it. I would suggest reading manual on how that particular air fryer works.
So good ❣️👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you, Kathy! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Just a typo correction - you have the air fryer needs to worm up for 3 minutes instead of warm up.
OH my, lol... Thank you for that!
Worm up … Warm up … at least you didn’t boil the Children (chicken) like I did (hehe). Think that post had the most “laughing” emojis on my FB in 2016.
LOL! Once the robots take over, we'll have no funny typos to laugh at. Thanks for giving me a much needed mid-day laugh, Rachael!
Mine were inedible! 15 minutes at that temp was way too long in my air fryer
It has A LOT to do with air fryer brand also.
Hi, depending on the thickness of the pork chops you may need to cook them longer or a shorter time. We did talk a little about different cuts of pork chops in the video.
If I am cooking in batches, how would you recommend keeping the first chops warm so they don't dry out?
What I do is serve the first batch out to my youngest kids first, then make another batch for my older kids and serve it out, then I make my own food. That way, nobody has to wait too long for their food, it's hot when everyone eats, and there are no complaints. If you make it with salad or a cold side, you can just stick it in the refrigerator in between batches.
Hey Donna, I would keep them wrapped in foil. Typically air fryer is best for a quick smaller portion serving.
I’m cooking 3 bone in sirloin chops but I don’t have fresh garlic cloves can I substitute it with powder if so how much would you recommend
Hi Melanie, I would do about 1/2 tsp. I hope you love it!
I’m trying the recipe for the first time. My pork chops are semi frozen & I placed sweet potatoes on the underneath tray.
Hopefully they come out amazing!
Keep me posted!
I made these pork chops for my hubby, and he loved them! thank you!!
I am so happy to hear this! I love the mess-free crispy pork 🙂
I live by myself and will cook one pork chop. Does timing change for just one item
It should be pretty similar, there are a few factors because the thickness may be different too. So the best thing to do is to check the temperature of the pork chop.
I have 8 chops; do I have to air fry them in batches? Thank you!
Yes, it will cook evenly and you will like the result better.
Duh! I got my answer from above! TY
🙂 NP! Enjoy them!
OMG! Thank you so much for posting this recipe. This was the fastest, easiest and such a tasty pork chop. Home cooked meal in 20 minutes. This will be my go to from now o .
Hey Tracy, I am so happy you loved the recipe. I hope you come back for more.
Mine were over 170F in 8 minutes and were nice and moist. They were very thin. Thanks for the recipe! I used Italian seasoning in lieu of parsley b/c I had run out!
Priscilla, thank you for sharing your feedback. The seasoning combo sounds really delicious!
This turned out PERFECT! So juicy and yummy. My new go to pork chop recipe.
Suzanne, thank you so much for such a sweet feedback! I am so happy you loved the recipe.
Absolutely delicious the best pork chops I've ever had. Resturant quality !
Wow, Barbra! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. I am honored that you stopped by!
Is this with frozen or thawed pork chops?
This would be with thawed pork chops.
do you have to preheat airfryer prior to placing pork chops in air fryer?
I would recommend preheating the air fryer for a minute or two. It is not required, it just adds that extra crispy layer if you do.