Perfectly seasoned & juicy air fryer pork chops are so easy to make. You will be amazed at how tender & moist these thick-cut boneless pork chops come out in just 20 minutes. With just a few simple ingredients you will be wowed by how truly tasty these air fryer pork chops without breading are.
What makes this recipe so amazing is the flavorful pork chop dry rub. It is so easy to make this homemade & it is sweet, savory, salty, & a little bit spicy. These gluten-free air-fried pork chops are great for anyone on a low-carb, keto, or diabetic diet too.
Get these babies in the air fryer & in less than 30 minutes dinner is ready. They are perfect for a no-fuss weeknight meal paired with crispy Air Fryer Green Beans or a fresh & fruity Spinach Blueberry Salad.
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Ingredients for Air Fryer Pork Chops
For this recipe, you only need a few basic ingredients. You may already have everything you need in your refrigerator and pantry. Grab some spices, herbs, & a package of fresh pork chops. Dinner is about to get delicious!
The Best Kind of Pork Chops to Air Fry
Any cut or type of pork chop can be cooked in the air fryer. It all depends on what you like best & how much time you have. With my test recipes, I found that thick-cut work better than chops that are thin. The thin pork chops tend to cook quickly on the inside before getting a nice sear on the outside. That outer crust is key for flavor, color, & holding in the juices.
So with that being said, thick-cut is the best kind of pork chop for air frying. That's why I am using center-cut boneless pork chops that are thick-cut. They are between an inch to an inch & a half in thickness. Going up to 2" in thickness will also result in moist meat.
- Thick-Cut Pork Chops - we prefer boneless but bone-in will work as well
- Dry Rub for Pork Chops - my homemade blend of sweet brown sugar, spices, & dried herbs goes great with pork
- Avocado Oil - the high-heat cooking abilities of this spray oil is my favorite when cooking in the air fryer
These pork chops do not have any breading, batter, or coating. Therefore there are made without any breadcrumbs, panko, or wheat of any kind. They will still have a nice crunchy exterior thanks to the char they get by air frying them.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Air Fry Pork Chops Without Breading
I know what you are thinking, pork chops are hard to cook & come out tough & dry. Well, that was before today. I have recipe-tested many times how best to cook pork chops by air frying. After some trial & error, this recipe is my go-to & it works every time.
Here is everything you need to know to cook the juiciest pork chops in the air fryer.
Begin by patting dry the pork chops on all surfaces. Removing the moisture is important for two reasons:
- The dry rub sticks better to the meat that is dry.
- The crust & caramelization of the exterior of the pork chops come out so much better when any surface moisture has been removed. That outer crust seals in the juices giving you that juicy pork chop you desire.
Combine all spices in a small bowl and mix together.
Pat the dry rub all over the pork chops making sure to get the top, bottom, & sides.
For added flavor let the dry rub penetrate the meat as it sits at room temperature for 30-90 minutes. This is not a necessary step but does help work the salt into the pork chops for a bit of tenderizing.
Temperature & Time
Now that the boneless thick-cut pork chops are seasoned, time to get the air fryer ready. This recipe is using chops that are between 1-1.5" thick. Mine were 1" thick for example.
How Long to Air Fry Pork Chops?
Here is how long it takes to cook these in the air fryer. Begin by preheating the air fryer to 380°. For the time, set it for 20 minutes. NOTE - for pork chops a bit thicker or thinner the amount of time to air fry will vary.
Here are some times that I have tested for you to use as a cooking guide for various cuts of pork chops. The times are the same whether useless boneless or bone-in. All are for air-frying at 380°.
- Thin-Cut Pork Chops (¼" - ½") = 10-13 minutes
- Medium-Cut Pork Chops (½"-1") = 13-17 minutes
- Thick-Cut Pork Chops (1"-1.5") = 17-20 minutes
I own a Breville Smart Oven and love it. The large tray-style air fryer toaster oven combo is great for our large family. This recipe will work in a basket-style air fryer as well.
Once preheated, add the pork chops in a single layer to the basket or tray of the air fryer. Try to space them out so that the heat can get to the sides too.
Spray the seasoned pork chops with avocado spray on both sides.
Let the 1"-1.5" thick pork chops cook for 17-20 minutes- see the guide above for cooking times for any cut.
If using a tray-style air fryer, no flipping is needed. For basket-style air fryers, flip the chops at the 10-minute mark.
Using an instant-read thermometer check for the internal temperature. You want to remove the pork chops at roughly 145°. See why below!
Let them rest on a cutting board for 3-5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat for a juicy texture that is tender & tasty. Slice and serve the pork chops immediately while they are warm.
Pork Chop Internal Temperature
The #1 way to make sure that pork chops are cooked to perfection is by using an instant-read thermometer. I recommend using one and testing the pork chops at the low range of the minutes shared above.
I checked my thick-cut pork chops at the 17-minute mark and they were almost ready. You want to remove your pork chops from the air fryer when the internal temperature reads 145°.
Removing them at this time allows them to rest before slicing into them. While the pork chops are resting the internal temperature will continue to climb & the juices will redistribute into the meat. Let the chops rest for 3 minutes and then slice into that heavenly juicy meat.
If you continue to cook it over 150°, you will end up with dry pork chops that are also tough. The USDA agrees that cooking pork at 145° is not only safe but yields the best quality & taste every time. Never overcook pork until 160°.
Equipment
Here are the items, kitchen tools, & ingredients that will help you be successful with this recipe.
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Storage
Leftover pork chops will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Place in an air-tight container until ready to enjoy later. To reheat, place them in an air fryer at 380° & reheat for 5 minutes.
I do not recommend freezing pork chops that have already been cooked.
Top Tips
All of these great tips are shared in the post. But these are so good and important they are worth mentioning again so you don't miss them.
- Make sure the pork chops have been patted dry so there is no surface moisture on them - the seasoning will stick better.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the meat.
- Use an instant-read thermometer & remove the pork chops when they reach 145° internal temperature.
- Let the pork chops rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing into them so they stay juicy & moist.
FAQ
If you don't want to make the homemade rub I shared in this recipe, you can use a pre-made one from the grocery store. I really like Kinder's Woodfired Garlic Blend, it has most of the same spices I use here (except the thyme & sage which you can then add if you want). If you want something spicy try Killer Hog's Hot BBQ Rub.
If you like to keep things clean, disposable liners are the way to go. They make clean up easy and they are so inexpensive. I recommend using these air fryer liners with holes in them so you can get that heat directly on some areas of the pork chops for a good char. NEVER put liners in an air fryer without food on top of it.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Side Dish Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with air fryer pork chops:
Air Fryer Pork Chops (no breading)
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 4-oz each thick cut boneless pork chops 1"-1.5" thickness
- 1 batch pork chop dry rub
- avocado oil spray
For the dry rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°. Set the timer for 20 minutes.
- Make the pork chop dry rub.
- Pat dry all the surface areas of each pork chop and place them in a shallow dish or plate.
- Liberally sprinkle all sides of each pork chop with the seasoning blend. Pat with your dry hands to help it stick & adhere to the meat. * For added flavor let the dry rub penetrate the meat as it sits at room temperature for 30-90 minutes.
- Once preheated, add the pork chops in a single layer to the basket or tray of the air fryer. Try to space them out so that the heat can get to the sides too.Spray the seasoned pork chops with avocado spray on both sides.
- Let the 1"-1.5" thick pork chops cook for 17-20 minutes - see the guide above for cooking times for any cut.There is no need to flip them if using a tray-style air fryer. If you have a basket model, flip the chops halfway through the cooking process.
- Using an instant-read thermometer check for the internal temperature. Remove them when they are 145°.
- Let them rest on a cutting board for 3-5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat for a juicy texture that is tender & tasty.
- Slice and serve the pork chops immediately while they are warm. ENJOY!
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 260 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 16.4g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat 6.3g | 31% |
| Cholesterol 56mg | 19% |
| Sodium 996mg | 43% |
| Total Carbohydrate 5.5g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.4g | 2% |
| Total Sugars 4.6g | |
| Protein 25.3g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 11mg | 1% |
| Iron 1mg | 7% |
| Potassium 31mg | 1% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
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Food safety
Here are some tips & handling guidelines for cooking pork so it is done safely.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 145 °F (68 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands & surfaces after touching raw meat
- Do not reuse any seasonings or marinades that came into contact with raw meat
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
I just got an air fryer. I'll need to try these! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - hope to see you again this Sunday!!