These flavorful, perfectly seasoned pork chops have all the complex tastes of ones you would order at a restaurant, but they’re made in the air fryer! So tender and juicy, yet basically hands off, they are quick and simple enough for a weeknight, but definitely fancy enough to impress.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
Pork chops – Packed with protein and flavor, pork chops are perfect for the simple but delicious seasoning.Olive oil – With slightly nutty, earthy taste, olive oil adds flavor, but also helps keep the pork moist while cooking.Paprika – The spicy flavor of paprika adds just a little kick to the other seasonings.Brown sugar – A little sweet with salty and spicy makes the flavors in this recipe just a little more layered. (Check the top tips if you’re on keto or low carb!)Garlic powder – While not as strong as a fresh garlic clove, garlic powder gives that same delicious, garlicky flavor.Onion powder – This easy seasoning adds the sweet sharpness of a fresh onion, but without the chopping (and crying!).
How To Make It
Preheat the air fryer at 380º F for 5 minutes. Pat the pork chops dry with some paper towels. Coat both sides of the pork chops with oil. Combine all the spices in a medium bowl, then completely coat the pork chops with the spice mixture. Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket and cook for 14-16 minutes at 380º. Flip the pork chops over halfway through cooking. After 14 minutes, check the pork chops for doneness (see the top tips). If they’re still not fully cooked, cook them in 2-minute intervals until done. Remove them from the air fryer immediately and let rest for about 5 minutes before serving or cutting.
Chef’s Tips
When buying pork chops, you can buy either bone-in or boneless. So long as they are about 1″ thick, either will work. It’s just whatever you prefer (or is on sale)!Your pork chop will be done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 155º F before resting. You may see a little pink inside your pork chop, but as long as it’s reached that temperature, it’s okay to eat. Don’t have a meat thermometer to gauge the temperature? (They’re pretty inexpensive, so they’re worth the investment!) You can test your pork chop by poking it with your finger and comparing it to the feel of your face. If it feels like your cheek, it’s still rare. The fleshy part of your chin and the top of your nose feel like medium-rare to medium.If you are doing keto or low carb, leave out the brown sugar. This will take down each pork chop to 2g net carbs per serving.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Zucchini ChipsAir Fryer Mozzarella SticksSausage in the Air FryerAir Fryer Hot DogsAir Fryer Frozen Chicken NuggetsEasy Air Fryer Shrimp with Comeback SauceAir Fryer Chicken BreastAir Fryer Cauliflower with Lemon-Garlic Aioli
