This recipe for the Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Chops is so juicy, tender and delicious, it’s sure to quickly become a favorite air fryer recipe. With a few simple ingredients, and only 12 minutes cook time, these air fryer pork chops are perfect for a tasty dinner any day of the week.
Which Pork Chop Do You Have?
Not all pork chops cook the same way. Start with the cut you’re using, then choose the method that works best for you:
- Using Boneless Chops? If you’d rather use your oven, my Best Damn Oven-Baked Boneless Pork Chops are a reader favorite for staying juicy and tender.
- Have Bone-In Chops? For that traditional “Sunday Dinner” flavor, follow my simple Guide for Bone-In Chops in the Oven.
- Want a Savory Twist? Try these Parmesan Garlic Air Fryer Pork Chops for a buttery, cheesy crust that uses basic pantry staples.
- No Air Fryer Available? If you want to use your stovetop, my Best Damn Pan Seared Pork Chops are perfect for a quick, 10-minute weeknight meal.
Let me start my saying how much i’m loving my air fryer. I’ve owned a lot of kitchen gadgets over the years and my two favorites are my air fryer and my Instant Pot. And honestly, not far behind is my George Foreman Grill – but that’s a discussion for another day. The thing about an air fryer, is that, well, you’re not really frying in the traditional sense. It’s honestly more like a rapid cook oven/broiler. And there’s plenty of times I don’t want to heat up the house by turning on the regular oven. Besides, for this pork chop recipe I get the best results in the air fryer anyways!
What are the best pork chops for the air fryer?
I’ve found that the very best pork chops for the air fryer are thick, center cut, bone-in chops. I try to get them as thick as possible – somewhere between 1 ½ inches to 2 inches thick. The reason I like the thick chops the best is that with the cooking time required, it’s gives the pork chops a beautiful char on all sides. Thin pork chops will cook too quickly and never get that nice char on them. Thick pork chops require a cooking time of about 12 minutes. And with our rub from this recipe, we get that beautiful char on them that’s delicious!
Make a rub for air fryer pork chops
For this recipe for air fryer pork chops, we will not be breading the pork chops. Rather, we will be making a rub seasoning mix which we are going to very liberally apply to the meat. The rub is very simple too. We’ll use brown sugar, paprika, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. We mix it together and rub it all in to pork chops that have been rinsed, dried, and coated with a little olive oil. Rinsing the pork chops and patting them dry with a paper towel is important so don’t skip that step.
Cooking
Preheating your air fryer is an important step! You’ll want to preheat at 400°F for 5 minutes. Then, when it’s ready, cook the pork chops in the air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping them over after 6 minutes. Check for doneness with an instant-read food thermometer. We’re aiming for an internal temp of 140°F. If your pork chops are very thick, they may require an additional few minutes.
When the pork chops are done, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a plate and let them rest for a couple of minutes. Then you’re ready to serve and enjoy! There will be a nice juice that will form from the seasonings and the natural juices of the pork. Slice the pork chops in thin slices, and get some of the seasoned juice on each bite. You’re gonna love it!
Recipe
Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2
Description
Juicy, tender and delicious air fryer pork chops.
Ingredients
- 2 center-cut, bone-in pork chops, 1 ½ – 2 inches thick
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Rinse pork chops with cool water and pat dry completely with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.
- Coat the pork chops with olive oil and rub in the mix. Rub it in well and liberally. Use almost all of the rub mix for the 2 pork chops.
- Cook pork chops in air fryer on the air fry setting at 400°F for 12-14 minutes or until internal temperature of 140°F. Flip pork chops over after 6 minutes.
Notes
Air fryer temperatures can vary. Remove pork chops when internal temperature reaches 140°F. The carryover cooking will bring the temp up to 145°F.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Pork chops
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: American
Mary Phillips says
I’m going to try this recipe today, will let you know how it turns out.Just gotten a airfryer as a Xmas gift so I’m a novice
Robert says
I tried this recipe tonight after finding some nice pork chops on sale at a local market. It’s easy and delicious. I cut the amount of brown sugar down a little but other than that I made them as directed. I will definitely make them again. Thanks.
Lena says
Best pork chop I have tasted. I cooked it today. It is great easy. Will have to make it often.
Arnold Fickle says
Well, thank you for your time spent to share. Okay I’m going to start at the beginning not the end of this adventure. I’ll be back. I’m gathering the spices and I have the pork chops their not thick so I’m going to put two together to make one larger. I have 5 chops one will be smaller. So far I will grade this a 5 Star. I’m So sorry just thinking about all the time and effort into this, I’m trying give you a perfect 5 star. The information you provided was so perfect I didnt have brown sugar how ever for the most part I had most everything to make it happen I put on the rub and let the chops tit for fiteen min and the chops looked happy with a scent so rich. After the warm up I put the chops timer for 12 minutes at 400. I forgot to turn them after 6min. and wala I pulled on the handle and steam was coming up and out of the fryier I could here the crackling of the hot juices. Then OMG Heaven picture perfect, moist, dripping wet chops. I cant give you a 5 however i can give a 10 10x’s for 100.
M Ro says
Yummy! It took only 19 minutes in my ninja air fryer from Costco. I used less salt because I don’t like it. Thank you very much Recipe Teacher!
Parris S Logan says
This was the first time that I didn’t overcook my porkchops! Nice and juicy and flavorful!
William says
Was looking for a fast air fryer Porkchop recipe. Found this one first and was sold when the rub had brown sugar in it! Best Damn Pork chop recipe indeed! Family loved it and it is going to go in the regular rotation here. Thanks!
Danielle says
I never brag about my cooking; that is until last night with this recipe. made dinner for my sister and both of us were “MmmmIng” our way through the whole thing. I bragged about the flavour of this rub to my boss and co worker ????
Victoria Lawhorne says
Awesome! I have a picture
Caroline says
Very tasty and tender. Will make again 🙂