These air fryer pork chops are juicy, tender and perfectly seasoned! They cook quickly in the air fryer whether you use bone-in or boneless pork chops.
Pork chops are one of my go-to’s for a quick and easy dinner, and I have so many pork chops recipes that we love, including Baked Pork Chops, Crock Pot Pork Chops, and these air fryer pork chops. You’ll love how simple these pork chops are to prepare, with just a few everyday ingredients.
Cooking pork chops in the air fryer makes them so juicy and tender, and you can’t beat that caramelized crust on the edges. My secret is to rub the chops with olive oil and a simple dry rub before cooking. As the hot air circulates in the air fryer basket, the brown sugar spice rub caramelizes on the outside of the pork chops, for added juiciness and flavor.
What a great rub. The pork chops were delicious and not dry at all. Thanks for the recipe!
Blackavar
What Kind Of Pork Chops are Best for this Air Fryer Recipe?
Both boneless pork chops and bone-in pork chops work great in this recipe. It’s best to use pork chops that are at least 1-inch thick, because thin pork chops can easily dry out and become tough. If your pork chops are thin, check on them earlier so they don’t overcook.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Combine the seasoning rub ingredients in a small bowl: brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, dried thyme, onion powder, salt and pepper. Preheat the air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
- Season pork chops. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. Rub both sides of the pork chops with olive oil. Then rub the seasoning mix over all sides of the pork chops.
- Air fry pork chops. Place the pork chops in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry at 400° F for 5 minutes. Then flip them over and continue cooking until they are cooked through to 145° F in the center, about 3-7 more minutes for boneless chops or 6-10 more minutes for bone-in chops.
Tips for the Best Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Don’t overcook them. They’re done when the center registers 145° F on an instant read thermometer. Once the pork chops are nearly done, they finish cooking quickly so check them often.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. You want a little room in between the chops so air can circulate around them for even cooking. Cook in batches if needed.
- Let them rest for 5 minutes after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the pork chops, so they won’t run out all over your plate or cutting board when you slice into them.
What to Serve with Pork Chops
Here are some of my favorite side dishes for these air fryer pork chops:
- Potatoes: Potatoes and pork chops are a perfect pair! My family loves these with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Potatoes and Carrots.
- Vegetables: Add some color to your plate with Glazed Carrots or Steamed Broccoli.
- Salad: I especially love these with this massaged Kale Salad, my Spinach Quinoa Salad or a simple Cucumber Tomato Salad.
- Bread: We love these quick and easy Drop Biscuits. The edges get so crispy!
Made this recipe? I’d truly appreciate if you leave a comment and star rating below! Your review will help others who want to try this recipe. Thank you! 💛
BEST Air Fryer Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons paprika, sweet or smoked*
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick, or bone-in pork chops
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt, onion powder and black pepper.1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, 2 ½ teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Preheat air fryer at 400° F for 5 minutes.
- Pat the pork chops dry. Rub both sides with the olive oil. Rub the seasoning mix over all sides of the pork chops.4 boneless pork chops, 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- Place pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer (cook in two batches if needed).
- To cook boneless pork chops: Air fry at 400° F for 5 minutes. Then flip the pork chops over and continue to cook for 3-7 more minutes, until the internal temperature of the center of the pork chops is 145° F.
- To cook bone-in pork chops: Air fry at 400° F for 5 minutes. Then flip the pork chops over and continue to cook for 6-10 more minutes, until the internal temperature of the center of the pork chops is 145° F.
- Let pork chops rest for 5 minutes and then serve.
Notes
- Recipe can be halved to cook 2 pork chops.
- I used sweet paprika. Smoked paprika will give the pork chops a smoky, slightly spicy flavor.
- Thick cut (at least 1-inch thick) pork chops are best, since thin pork chops tend to dry out more easily.
- The cook time will depend on the thickness of the pork chops and whether they are boneless or bone-in. To tell if they are done, use an instant read thermometer to check if the center has reached at least 145 degrees F.
I first shared this recipe in January 2022. Updated August 2023 and December 2025 with new photos and more helpful tips.
Has anyone ever tried the air fryer method from frozen. Had a gift from Omaha Steaks, chops are individually frozen. Wondered if necessary to thaw?
I fixed my first item in my new AirFryer, It was the pork chop recipe. My husband really likes his pork chops, typically pan fried. I have to say he was quite supportive and complimentary to my first try at it! He liked the tenderness and the seasonings. I had asked for one and yet when I got it I was more than initimidated by it. Didn’t help since it was all black. Iol I am more of a silver or color other than black or anything dark in color. Look forward to trying some of your other recipes.
How do you clean the air fryer
In my How to Use an Air Fryer guide, please see the section titled “How to Clean Your Air Fryer.”
I just purchased an air fryer. I understand the need to eat smartly and healthily. I began to look at basic recipes I could try and found your website. I printed out a copy of this pork loin recipe and decided to give both my new air fryer and this recipe a try. SUCCESS! My pork chops turned out moist and tender. Thank you so much for giving a newbie like me the recipe and confidence to venture into the world of air fryers!!
What a great rub. The pork chops were delicious and not dry at all. Thanks for the recipe!
Yummy! Thank you!
Great chops, great recipe!
First time cooking boneless thick pork chops in my air fryer and both hubby and I enjoyed it. Very, very good but I did omit the dried thyme. Will make again.
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
Excellent recipe!! I used a substitute brown sugar (Swerve) and it worked great.
Followed the recipe exactly to the instructions. Chops were the same thickness and temp gauge was at 145 degrees but the chops were very tough.
I love your air fryer recipes and techniques but I have a question about parchment liners, I have with/without holes, would you recommend using them and if so can I use them for cooking in batches or do I need to use a new parchment every time I start a new session?
I have never used the parchment liners, since I find that the air fryer cleans up very easily without them. If you do use them, I believe that the ones with holes are better since they allow some air to pass through. You also need to wait to put the liner in when you add food, not when the air fryer is preheating. You don’t want the parchment to move around in the air fryer, where it could get close to the heating element and cause a safety issue. I am not sure if you need to use a new liner each time when cooking in batches, but I’d recommend using a new one each time you cook something different in the air fryer.
Good recipe! Quick and easy…I cut it in half as I only cooked 2 boneless chops. Perfectly cooked at 9 mins. Thanks 😊
This was really good! I put a dash of smoked paprika and the majority sweet.
My teen enjoyed this too, came back for seconds!
Good and easy to make
So delicious and easy!