Air Fryer Pork Chops

Published by Fork Around & Find Out Kitchen — presented in the Lila editorial voice. Editorial standards

Quick Answer

Air Fryer Pork Chops get a quick spice rub and air fry until golden outside and juicy inside in about 20 minutes.

There is an entire generation that grew up believing pork chops were supposed to have the moisture content of a coaster. These air fryer pork chops take a more reasonable approach. One-inch bone-in chops are patted dry, brushed with olive oil, and seasoned with garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. The dry surface helps the outside brown at 400°F, while the bone gives the chop a little protection from overcooking. Thickness matters here, which is why thinner chops need their cooking time shortened instead of being sent through the same schedule out of habit.

The chops cook for about 12 minutes, with a flip near the end, and the thermometer gets the final vote: pull them at 145°F. Then give them five minutes to rest before cutting so the juices stay in the meat instead of immediately forming a puddle on the plate. That rest is only slightly longer than the amount of time people spend hovering over dinner asking whether it is ready yet. The payoff is a browned, spice-rubbed exterior and a juicy center—pork chops behaving like actual meat instead of something you could use to level a wobbly table.

Prep15 minutes

Cook12 minutes

Total27 minutes

Serves4 servings

DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

Servings

4 bone-in pork chops, about 1 inch thick
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
2Pat pork chops completely dry with paper towels.
3Brush both sides with olive oil. Mix garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Season both sides generously.
4Place chops in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Cook 12 minutes, flipping at the 8-minute mark.
5Check internal temperature — pull at 145°F. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information

Estimated per serving: 1 of 4 servings.

420Calories

49 gProtein

1 gCarbohydrates

25 gTotal Fat

7 gSaturated Fat

0 gFiber

0 gTotal Sugars

690 mgSodium

125 mgCholesterol

Estimated from the ingredients and quantities in this recipe using standard food-composition values. Brand choices, trimming, cooking loss, optional ingredients, and actual portion size can change the numbers. How we calculate nutrition estimates.

Pro Tips

Bone-in chops stay juicier than boneless. The bone insulates the meat.
Resting is not optional. Cut into a pork chop right out of the fryer and all the juice runs onto the plate instead of staying in the meat.
If your chops are thinner than 1 inch, reduce cook time by 2 to 3 minutes.

Substitutions

bone-in pork chops → boneless pork chops Reduce cook time by 2 to 3 minutes. They dry out faster so watch the temp closely.

smoked paprika → chili powder for a spicier rub Adds heat and earthiness instead of smoke.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate cooked pork chops in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat only until hot so the chops do not dry out; a covered skillet or gentle oven works better than repeatedly blasting them with high heat.

Make Ahead

Mix the garlic, paprika, onion, thyme, salt, and pepper ahead and keep the pork chops refrigerated. Pat the chops dry, oil and season them, and air-fry close to serving so the surface browns and the pork stays juicy.

Freezing

Yes. Cool the cooked Air Fryer Pork Chops completely and freeze it in airtight portions with any pan juices or sauce that belong with the dish. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating so the meat is easier to warm without drying out.