These quick and easy air fryer bone in pork chops are on the table in less than 30 minutes, and they’re incredibly juicy and flavorful. Even picky eaters love this recipe thanks to the incredible spice rub made with pantry staples!
Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops
These bone-in pork chops are super easy to prepare in the air fryer. They’re smoky and sweet, which is my favorite flavor combination for pork. It cooks quickly, which locks in the juices and creates an incredibly delicious crust that will have everyone asking for seconds.
The best part is that you only need a few pantry staple ingredients, minimal effort, and less than 30 minutes before this dinner is on your table ready to serve. It’s practically foolproof, and is a total game changer for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Pork Chops: Thanks to the bone, bone-in pork chops tend to stay juicier and have more flavor. Look for ones that are roughly 1” thick, with a nice pinkish red color and good marbling.
Olive Oil: This is the fat we’re using to lightly coat the pork chops. It helps the seasonings stick and it helps the pork chops brown. Feel free to swap this for your favorite neutral flavored cooking oil. If you want to avoid oil, you could use Dijon mustard instead. It will add extra tang, but it’s delicious.
Brown Sugar: Pork has a sweeter flavor than other meats, which means it tastes amazing with sweeter rubs and glazes. The sugar also caramelizes a bit in the air fryer, which helps develop the delicious crust.
Salt and Pepper: Salt enhances all of the other flavors in this dish, while the slight heat from pepper helps balance out the sweet and savory elements. Keep in mind that freshly cracked pepper will taste spicier than ground pepper.
Garlic, Onion, Thyme, and Smoked Paprika: Garlic adds a savory element, onion adds both a savory and sweet flavor, thyme adds an herby earthy note, and smoked paprika adds a beautiful color as well as a delicious smoky flavor. If you want to add some heat, try adding a bit of cayenne pepper.
How To Cook Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops
Make the Rub: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and black pepper until well combined. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Prep the Pork Chops: Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and place them on a plate. Brush both sides with olive oil.
Season: Sprinkle half of the rub over one side of the pork chops and gently press it into the meat. Flip and repeat with the remaining rub. Let the pork chops rest at room temperature briefly to take the chill off.
Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer. Arrange the pork chops in the basket in a single layer without overlapping. Cook, flipping halfway through, until the exterior is caramelized and the internal temperature reaches 145F at the thickest part without touching the bone.
Rest and Serve: Remove the pork chops from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Serve warm and enjoy. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Pick Pork Chops that are the Same Thickness: Make sure to buy pork chops that are the same thickness. This allows them to cook in the same amount of time, so you won’t end up with one that’s overcooked while you wait for the second to finish cooking.
- Dry the Meat: Drying the pork chops with paper towels help them develop the maillard reaction, which means they brown better in the air fryer.
- Take the Chill Off: Letting them rest at room temperature briefly helps them cook more evenly.
- Don’t Crowd Them: The air fryer relies on hot, circulating air to cook food. It’s important to leave space between the pork chops so that the hot air is able to circulate. This both helps them cook evenly and develop a delicious, golden crust.
How Long Should I Cook My Pork Chops In The Air Fryer?
It totally depends on how thick your pork chops are. Standard pork chops are about 1” thick and tend to cook pretty quickly in the air fryer. For me, they took about 10 minutes. The only way to know for sure if they’re done is by using a meat thermometer though. They should reach 145F internally at the thickest point without touching bone.
Why Are My Air Fryer Pork Chops Tough?
If your pork chops are tough, it probably means that you overcooked them. Pork can get tough quickly when it’s overcooked. It might also mean that you didn’t let the meat rest before serving it. It needs a little bit of time to reabsorb the juices, making it taste juicy and tender when you eat it.
How Do You Keep Pork Chops From Drying Out In The Air Fryer?
To stop pork chops from drying out, it’s important that you both make sure you don’t overcook them and give them a chance to rest before you serve them.
How Do You Know When Pork Chops Are Done In The Air Fryer?
Use an instant read meat thermometer to check if pork is done. Insert it into the thickest point without touching the bone and make sure it reads 145F.
Should I Oil My Pork Chops?
Yes. Oiling your pork chops helps the seasonings stick and helps it brown better. If you’d rather not use oil, you can use a thin layer of Dijon mustard instead.
Do Bone In Pork Chops Take Longer To Cook?
Yes, they do take a little bit longer to cook than boneless pork chops. They still cook very quickly in the air fryer though.
What To Serve With Pork Chops
I love serving pork chops with a little something sweet, a starch, and a vegetable. My favorite side dishes to serve with it are:
- Applesauce
- Microwave Baked Potato
- Seasoned Rice
- Baked Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- Canned Green Beans
- Frozen Green Beans
Storing, Freezing, And Reheating Instructions
Let the leftovers cool, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen pork chops in the fridge overnight before you reheat them for the best results. I recommend reheating pork chops gently in the air fryer and avoiding the microwave if you can (the microwave can make them tough and dry).
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Pork Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other pork recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Instant Pot Pork Loin
- Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
- Slow Cooker Country Style Pork Ribs
- Oven Baked Country Style Ribs
- Pork Stew
- Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
- Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast
BEST Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops (Juicy and Perfect Recipe)
These quick and easy air fryer bone in pork chops are on the table in less than 30 minutes, and they’re incredibly juicy and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 bone-in pork chops (1” thick)
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- To a small mixing bowl, add the brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, smoked paprika, and pepper. Mix together thoroughly, creating the rub. Set aside.
- Pat the pork chops dry using a paper towel, then place them onto a clean plate.
- Brush the olive oil on all sides of the pork chops, then sprinkle half the rub over the top, and gently massage it into the meat. Flip the pork chops over, and repeat with the remaining rub. Set the pork chops aside and let them rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- After 10 minutes of resting, preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes. Once the air fryer is preheated, lay the pork chops in the air fryer basket, making sure they’re not overlapping. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip over. Cook for 6 more minutes, or until an instant-read meat thermometer reads 145F at the thickest point without touching the bone (if your pork chops are thicker, you may need an extra minute or 2).
- Once the pork chops are done cooking, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for 3-5 minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 618Total Fat: 39.1gCarbohydrates: 9.2gFiber: 0.7gSugar: 6.8gProtein: 54.3g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Make bone in pork chops in air fryer for a truly simple, quick, and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
