Air Fryer Pork Chops
, Published Jun 28, 2024
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Make the best-ever Air Fryer Pork Chops using my easy recipe. A little brining, a sweet-smoky dry rub and your air fryer are the secrets behind tender and juicy pork chops that are packed with flavor!
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Ok, I am calling it. Air Fryer pork chops are the BOMB, so delicious quick and easy that you will want to make them again and again! I know I bore you with how much I love my air fryer every week but seriously when you get such amazing results with so little effort what’s not to love?
The air fryer gives the chops a beautiful char and crispy edges with beautifully juicy and tender meat within. You could be fooled into thinking they have been grilled, that’s how great they turn out. Plus they cook in about 10-12 minutes, making them a perfect option for a quick meal.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST AIR FRYER PORK CHOPS!
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
Pork is quite a bit leaner these days than it used to be. So I am borrowing a page from Sookie’s playbook (Gilmore Girls 4Ever!) and giving the chops a water bath in brine to keep them lovely and juicy.
I used thick-cut pork chops (at least an inch thick – bone-in, center-cut rib chops are ideal) and placed them in a brine made up with salt, sugar and water for a few hours. If you can remember to prep the chops the night before cooking them, so much the better.
Prepare a simple dry rub, combining brown sugar, ground cumin, garlic powder, sweet paprika, ground mustard powder, salt and pepper.
Rinse the chops and pat them dry using paper towels. Brush with avocado oil and cover with a generous amount of pork rub on both sides. Allow the chops to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Mist the basket with oil and place the chops in the basket. Depending on their size you may need to cook them in batches. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping over halfway.
Transfer the chops onto a plate and rest for a three minutes, loosely covered with aluminum foil, before serving with your favorite sides, such as baked potatoes or a potato salad.
HOW TO CHECK FOR DONENESS
Pork chops need to be cooked until they reach an internal temperature of at least 71°C (160°F), according to the UK Food Standards Agency. In the US, the recommendation differs, with 62.8°C ( 145°F) deemed safe. I air fried my pork chops to the US recommended temperature and they were perfectly tender and juicy.
RECIPE NOTES
- Thin-cut chops are not really suitable for the air fryer as they will cook super quickly and can end up being tough.
- Be generous with the dry rub – you need to liberally cover the pork chops not use it as a seasoning.
- You may need to adjust the cooking time, depending on the thickness of your pork chops. Always use a meat thermometer for best results.
- Don’t forget to preheat your air fryer – you want the chop to hit the basket with a sizzle to get that nice sear.
RELATED RECIPES
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For the chops
- 2 pork chops , thick-cut
- 2 tbsp avocado oil (or canola oil)
- half a lemon
For the brine
- 2 tbsp salt
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 120 ml (½ cup) boiling water
- cold water to top up
For the spice rub
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground mustard , (mustard powder)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Add the salt, sugar and boiling water to a pyrex dish and stir well. Dilute with cold water and add the pork chops, submerging them in the brine. Cover and chill in the fridge for 8-12 hours.2 tbsp salt, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 120 ml (½ cup) boiling water, cold water to top up, 2 pork chops
- Rinse the chops well and pat them completely dry using paper towels.
- Combine all the dry rub ingredients together. Brush the chops with the oil and cover with the dry rub on both sides. Leave them to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp sweet paprika, 1½ tsp salt, 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground mustard, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp avocado oil
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Mist the basket with oil and add the chops, in batches if needed (don’t crowd them). Place the lemon, cut side down, next to the chops.half a lemon
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, using tongs to flip the chop over halfway through. Check for doneness using a meat thermometer (see notes). Drizzle with some of the roasted lemon juice.
- Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Rest for three minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
