Easy Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops

Laura Lynch

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These easy Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops are seasoned with paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, and garlic powder then cooked in the air fryer for a quick and tasty dinner.

» You might also like Air Fryer Turkey Steaks and Air Fryer Lamb Chops.

I love using an air fryer to cook bone-in pork chops. It is by far the easiest way to cook perfect pork chops, and ensures a tender, juicy outcome. Cooking the meat in the air fryer makes it much easier to avoid burning the seasoning, too. We love these sweet and sour pork chops and if you’ve never tried a tomahawk pork chop you really should.

Cooking the perfect pork chop doesn’t have to be difficult, even when cooking from frozen! With my simple pork chop recipe, you can enjoy a delicious meal with little to no frustration. By using a mix of savory and sweet seasonings, each bite of the pork will be packed with flavor, just like this juicy air fryer chicken breast.

Ingredients You Need

• Bone-in pork chops: As this is a lean cut of meat, I recommend using bone-in as the bone adds more flavor. 
• Spray cooking oil: A neutral oil is best for this kind of recipe, as to not change the flavor of the dish. 
• Paprika: Spanish or smoked paprika can be used for this recipe.
• Brown sugar: Both light brown and dark brown sugar work. Dark brown sugar has more molasses, so it will have a stronger taste. 
• Onion powder: Adds a little sweet and savory note to the rub.
• Garlic powder: Compliments the sweetness of the onion powder for an extra layer of flavor.
• Salt & pepper: The must-have of dry rubs.

What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?

The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.

My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.

How to Make Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops

Mix the spices together in a bowl. Pat dry the pork and rub the seasoning liberally on each side.

Place the pork in the air fryer basket, preferably not overlapping.

Spray lightly with oil. If you don’t have spray oil, first coat the pork with oil, then dust on the seasoning. You can brush on olive oil with a silicon brush.

Cook at 380°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping over halfway through cooking. After 15 minutes, be sure to keep a close eye on the pork chops so you don’t end up overcooking them.

Since all pork chops come in different sizes, large to small, thick and thin, it’s impossible to say exactly how long it will take to cook yours. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the chops.

The meat must reach a minimum of 145°F internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached this temperature – or higher for more well-done meat – before removing it.

Continue cooking until the desired internal temp is reached. Even if you like it well-done, I wouldn’t suggest cooking it past 150°F, to avoid it becoming tough.

Remove the pork chops and allow them to rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Why Use an Air Fryer

An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.

• I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
• See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
• Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
• Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
• Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.

Tips & Advice

• Bring the pork out of the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
• Let the cooked pork chops rest outside of the air fryer for a few minutes after it’s been cooked. Resting meat will keep the juices in the meat, so you end up with a much juicier result. 
• Your pork chops may be thicker than the ones I used, so the cooking time may vary. Keep an eye on the pork, and use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature. 

Substitutions 

• Boneless pork chops work just as well as bone-in pork chops.
• You can swap out the seasonings for others you may enjoy. You can also use a seasoned salt or dry rub you like instead. Red pepper flakes or cayenne powder could be good options for those that want a kick. 
• If you don’t have brown sugar on hand, just leave it out. Replacing it with other sugar won’t have the same outcome.

Questions About the Recipe

Can I use boneless pork chops with this recipe?

You can cook boneless pork chops in the air fryer, just the same way you would bone-in. It will take slightly less time to cook boneless chops because of the lack of bone, so be sure to keep a close eye on the internal temperature of the meat.

How do I know when the pork is cooked?

The internal temperature of the thickest part of the pork should be at 145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest. It’s best to use a meat thermometer to measure the pork’s internal temperature. 

Do I need to brine the pork chops?

You don’t need to brine pork chops to lock in great flavor. My recipe skips the brining, and it still makes juicy and flavorful pork chops. The key to great pork chops is adding a flavorful rub with plenty of salt and making sure you don’t overcook it, which will turn it tough and leathery.

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Easy Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops

These easy Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops are seasoned with paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, and garlic powder then cooked in the air fryer for a quick and tasty dinner.

4.8 from 56 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Servings

Calories 294 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 bone-in pork chops
• Spray cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika Spanish or smoked
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Mix the spices together in a bowl. Pat dry the pork and rub the seasoning liberally on each side.
• Place the pork in the air fryer basket, preferably not overlapping.
• Spray lightly with oil. If you don’t have spray oil, first coat the pork with oil, then dust on the seasoning.
• Cook at 380°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping over halfway through cooking.
• Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the chops. The meat must reach a minimum of 145 degrees internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached this temperature – or higher for more well-done meat – before removing it. Continue cooking until the desired temp is reached.

Notes

• The time it takes to cook these pork chops depends greatly on the thickness of the meat. If they are thin, it might take 12 or 15 minutes, and 20 minutes for thick. Always check the internal temp of the meat to ensure it’s done.
• You can use boneless pork chops if you want, but they will take less time to cook, so flip them at 5 minutes and check them at 10 minutes.
• You can use any seasoning you like in place of our dry rub.
• You can cook more than 2 pork chops, but most air fryer baskets are not big enough to do so without overlapping, which is not ideal, so you’ll have to cook them in batches.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 35gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 675mgPotassium: 598mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 89IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Pork

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Laura Lynch

Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.