Easy Frozen Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

It is super easy to make Frozen Pork Chops in the Air Fryer to save yourself the time and effort involved in thawing them. They turn out just as juicy and delicious as from fresh.

I enjoy pork chops and because they are so easy to make they are one of my go-to dinner options. Now, with the air fryer, it is ok if I forget to take them out of the freeze and allow them time to thaw. I can cook them frozen with great results.

Why You’ll Love It

• These air fryer frozen pork chops are a great dinner idea for when you’re in a hurry. You can season the frozen chops and put them in the air fryer without the need to thaw first. Use bone-in or boneless chops – the only difference will be a minute or two of extra cooking time.
• There are always those days that you didn’t get around to thawing something for dinner. That’s okay with the air fryer because you can cook almost anything from frozen and it only takes a few extra minutes.

Jan M says: Just tried this tonight and they turned out great! Followed the recipe as written and was impressed by the flavor. Yummmm!!

» You might also like Perfect Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin.

Ingredients You Need

• Bone-in or boneless pork chops: You can use whatever pork chops you have in the freezer. And if your chops aren’t frozen, that’s okay too. You’ll just need to adjust the cooking time according to what you’re using. 
• Spray cooking oil: I use olive oil spray.
• 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.

Helpful Tips

• Let the cooked pork chops rest outside of the air fryer for a few minutes after cooking. 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.
• 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. The meat must reach a minimum of 145°F(65°C) internal temperature.
• 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.

How to Make Frozen Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Season the pork chops

Get the pork chops out of the freezer. Set them out on a clean surface.

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

Step 2: Place the pork chops in the basket

Place the pork in the air fryer basket or tray, 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.

Step 3: Cook

Cook at 380°F(195°C) 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.

The meat must reach a minimum of 145°F(65°C) or higher internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached this temperature.

Step 4: Rest & Enjoy

Let the cooked pork chops rest outside of the air fryer for a few minutes after cooking. Resting the meat will keep the juices in the meat, so you end up with a much juicier result. 

What if Your Pork Chops Are Frozen Together?

In some cases, the pork chops might be frozen together, which isn’t a problem, but will have to be cooked slightly differently.

If you find your chops are frozen together, place them as one piece into the basket or tray. You’ll need to watch the chops as they cook. When they can be pulled apart, stop the cooking, detach them and season both sides before continuing cooking.

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(65°C), to avoid it becoming tough.

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 also vary based on the thickness of the chops.

Typical cooking times:

• Boneless thin frozen pork chops = 15 minutes
• Bone-in thin frozen pork chops = 16 minutes
• Boneless or bone-in thick (2″) pork chops = 18 minutes

Remember that this is just a rough guide. Don’t base your cooking times solely on these estimations. Use a meat thermometer to determine the correct 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

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