JUICY Air Fryer Pork Chops Recipe with Rub

Air fryer pork chops make the most tender and juicy pork chops you’ll ever have! With just oil and a simple rib rub, these air fryer pork chops have no breading, yet you won’t even need it since these have so much flavor.

The high heat and quick cook time seal in the juices in this air fryer pork chops recipe. Not only are the boneless pork chops gluten-free, but they’re also paleo, low carb, and keto air fryer pork chops too.

This recipe was originally published on November 15, 2019, and was updated with cooking tips on June 15, 2020.

A printable recipe card is at the bottom of the post!

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If you just got an air fryer and are looking for more recipes, then you’ll definitely want to check out our others like our super crispy air fryer chicken wings, air fryer turkey breast, and air fryer kielbasa.

Don’t have an air fryer yet?? After tons of research, we decided to purchase an air fryer/toaster oven combo that replaced our old countertop toaster oven. Instant Pot sells another model through Walmart will most of the same features but for less.  

Air Fryer Pork Chops Recipe

Why You’ll LOVE these air fryer pork chops

• They are SO juicy, we were actually incredibly impressed
• In less than 20 minutes, dinner is on the table which makes these perfect for weeknights
• These are low carb, keto, paleo, and gluten-free since there’s no breading
• The pork chops are seasoned with easy ingredients you probably already have

Air Fryer Pork Chops (No Breading)

We’ve been experimenting with both air fryer pork chops with breading and air fryer pork chops no breading. To be honest, the air fryer boneless pork chops in just a simple pork rub mix with olive oil were our favorite!

If you have a smaller air fryer, you might just need to make 2 chops at a time. It’s important to leave a little space in between each chop when you’re baking them, so you don’t want the pork to be squished together in the pan.

And again, making air fryer pork chops with no breading makes this recipe much more versatile and accommodates many diets and food restrictions. 

• 2-4 boneless pork chops (1 1/2 lb for 4 chops)- about 1.5″ thick each
• 2 Tbsp+ pork rub (or homemade version)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

You can use your favorite store-bought rib rub mix or our easy recipe. This is the exact same dry rub for pork recipe we also used in our oven-baked baby back ribs and instant pot country-style ribs.

We love to make our own meat rub mixes since they’re so easy, and they don’t have artificial ingredients or sugar. I know pork chops aren’t technically ribs, but I can assure you the rib mix goes well with all cuts of pork, plus using it on the air fried pork chops recipe was so delicious!

The ingredients for the homemade pork rub are cumin, chili powder, ground garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and sweetener (we used stevia).

How to Make Airfryer Pork Chops 

Cooking air fryer pork chops is super simple! Many people struggle with pork chops and dry them out or overcook them. Learning how to cook air fryer pork chops makes mastering them as easy as can be.

The boneless pork chops in an air fryer took 3 minutes to preheat, 12 minutes in total to cook, and 5 minutes to rest. If you have bone-in pork chops, follow the recipe just cook the pork chops a little longer until cooked through to 145F.

The air fryer pork chops recipe cooking steps are similar to all of our air fryer dishes, coat both sides of the protein with a little oil and seasoning, roast on one side, then flip halfway to get both sides nice and crisp. It’s hard to believe you can cook super moist pork chops in under 20 minutes!

Prep the Chops

Make our homemade pork rub mix if you don’t already have a favorite store-bought brand by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl. The recipe makes a lot more than you’ll need for this one dish, but it’ll keep for many months in a mason jar or small covered dish.

Brush both sides of the pork chops with olive oil. You’ll use about 1 Tbsp+ of olive oil for 4 boneless pork chops.

Spread pork rub seasoning on both sides of the pork chops. It works well to gently press the rub into the pork chops to help get the seasoning to stick.

Air Fryer Pork Chops Temperature

We cooked the air fryer chops on 400F, you might see other recipes that cook the chops at a lower temperature, but one of the secrets to juicy meat is the high temperature and quick cook time!

Cooking air fryer pork chops at 400F is truly the best temperature for tender and moist meat.

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to help make clean-up easier.

Put 2-4 boneless pork chops into the air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Pork Chops Cook Time

You’ll be cooking the pork for a total of 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145F. Cook the air fryer pork chops for 7 minutes on one side. 

Flip them over and continue cooking for 5 more minutes. We couldn’t believe we had perfect juicy and tender pork chops after 12 minutes of cooking! It would’ve taken double this time in an oven!

If you’re baking 4 pork chops in an air fryer, make sure to flip and ROTATE the pan to ensure an even cooking time. Meaning, the pork chops that were in the front for the first 7 minutes, don’t just flip them, but also put them in the back of the pan for when they finish cooking.

The air-fried pork chops are done cooking when the internal temperature in the center of the meat is 145F. Different air fryer models might vary in their wattage, which could mean some air fryers cook a little slower than others. It’s super important to keep an eye on the temperature to get the hang of how long to cook pork chops in air fryer in your exact model.

Remove the chops from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. This is a critical step and one of the reasons many people don’t end up with juicy chops. It takes at least 5 minutes for the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat and make every bite juicy and moist.

Enjoy! Please leave us a recipe review after making the air fryer pork chops! We’d appreciate the feedback!

Recipe Tips

Here’s a few air fried pork chop recipe tips to help make sure these are the BEST air fryer pork chops EVER!

• Pull the pork chops out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking. Letting the meat start to come to room temperature helps to ensure that it cooks evenly.
• If you have an aluminum air fryer tray it’s ok to spray it with cooking oil, if you have a non-stick basket, be sure not to use sprays like Pam since it’ll actually ruin the non-stick coating.
• Press the rub into the airfryer pork chops so that the seasoning stays on the meat and doesn’t fall off during cooking or flipping.
• Don’t crowd the boneless chops, leave space on all sides, and do not stack them. While you might be able to cook 4 air fryer pork chops in a large air fryer, it might only work to make 2 in a small model.
• Flip and rotate the tray or basket after 7 minutes to make sure all 4 chops cook evenly.
• Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. This is critical and helps the juices to distribute throughout the chops and makes them extra juicy.
• Mix grated parmesan or breadcrumbs with the seasoning as a variation, or coat the chops with a mix of olive oil and mustard instead of just oil.

Common Questions

Are Air Fryer Pork Chops Healthy?

We’d definitely consider air fried pork chops healthy! Boneless pork chops are one of the leanest cuts of pork, which is why it’s also known as “the other white meat.” 

Food is as healthy as the ingredients used in a recipe. To keep this recipe sugar free, dairy free, starch free, and with no artificial ingredients, we highly recommend making your own rub mix. 

Dietary wise, the airfryer pork chops recipe is gluten free, low carb, Whole30, paleo, and keto friendly.

Can You Cook Frozen Pork Chops in an Air Fryer?

Did you forget to frost your pork chops and are now wondering if you can still cook them?? The answer would be YES! It will take on average an extra 5 minutes to cook air fryer frozen pork chops. 

What about Bone-in Chops?

Our recipe is for boneless pork chops, can you cook bone-in pork chops using this same method? YES, you can follow this same recipe for air fried pork chops that have a bone. Check the internal temperature after a total of 12 minutes of cooking time, if it isn’t yet 145F add 1-2 more minutes to the cook time.

Can You Stack Meat in an Air Fryer?

We do NOT recommend stacking meat in an air fryer. While some models say it’s ok to stack foods like french fries or tater tots, to have the pork chops and other types of meats turn out as BEST as possible, you’ll want to place them in a single layer with space on all sides. 

What to Serve with Pork Chops?

Here’s a list of our favorite side dishes that go great with pork chops. Some of these are cooked in an air fryer and others are not. Serving side dishes is a great reason to get a second air fryer! One large one for meats and another for small sides.

• coleslaw
• peppers and onions (cook them alongside the pork chops)
• corn on the cob (instant pot corn)
• potato salad (warm mustard potato salad)
• other potato dishes (herbed potatoes, air fryer baked potatoes)
• air fryer baked sweet potato
• cucumber salad
• Baked beans (bourbon baked beans in a pressure cooker)
• roasted vegetables (Brussel sprouts, radishes– a low carb potato alternative)
• macaroni and cheese
• baked cauliflower mac and cheese (a low carb mac and cheese variation)
• a simple green salad

Other Air Fryer Meat Recipes You’ll Love 

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe
• Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
• Air Fryer Kielbasa

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Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops with Rub

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 17 minutes

Air fryer pork chops make the most tender and juicy pork chops you'll ever have! With just oil and a simple rib rub, these air fryer pork chops have no breading, and you won't even need it since these have so much flavor.

The high heat and quick cook time seal in the juices in this air fryer pork chops recipe. Not only are the boneless pork chops gluten-free, but they're also paleo, low carb, and keto air fryer pork chops too.

Print

Ingredients

• 2-4 boneless pork chops (1 1/2 lb for 4 chops)
• 2 Tbsp+ pork rub (or homemade version)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Brush both sides of the pork chops with olive oil. You'll use about 1 Tbsp+ of olive oil for 4 boneless pork chops.
2. Spread pork rub seasoning on both sides of the pork chops. It works well to gently press the rub into the pork chops to help get the seasoning to stick.
3. Spray the aluminum air fryer basket with cooking spray to help make clean-up easier. If it's already non-stick, do not use spray like Pam.
4. Put 2-4 boneless pork chops into the air fryer basket.
5. Set the temperature setting to 400F with a total cooking time of 12 minutes.
6. Cook the air fryer pork chops for 7 minutes on one side. 
7. Flip them over and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145F.
8. If you're baking 4 pork chops in an air fryer, make sure to flip and ROTATE the pan to ensure an even cooking time. Meaning, the pork chops that were in the front for the first 7 minutes, don't just flip them, but also put them in the back of the pan for when they finish cooking.
9. Let rest 5+ minutes before serving. Very important!
10. Enjoy!

Notes

• Pull the pork chops out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking. Letting the meat start to come to room temperature helps to ensure that it cooks evenly.
• If you have an aluminum air fryer tray it's ok to spray it with cooking oil, if you have a non-stick basket, be sure not to use sprays like Pam since it'll actually ruin the non-stick coating.
• Press the rub into the airfryer pork chops so that the seasoning stays on the meat and doesn't fall off during cooking or flipping.
• Don't crowd the boneless chops, leave space on all sides, and do not stack them. While you might be able to cook 4 air fryer pork chops in a large air fryer, it might only work to make 2 in a small model.
• Flip and rotate the tray or basket after 7 minutes to make sure all 4 chops cook evenly.
• Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. This is critical and helps the juices to distribute throughout the chops and makes them extra juicy.
• Mix grated parmesan or breadcrumbs with the seasoning as a variation, or coat the chops with a mix of olive oil and mustard instead of just oil.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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  Instant Pot Omni Plus Toaster Oven, 26L
• 
  Ninja Air Fryer, 1550-Watt Programmable Base for Air Frying, Roasting, Reheating & Dehydrating with 4-Quart Ceramic Coated Basket (AF101), Black/Gray
• 
  GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer with 8 Cook Presets, GW22638 - Black
• 
  Air Fryer Accessories,Phillips Air Fryer Accessories and Gowise Air Fryer Accessories Fit all 3.7QT-5.3QT-5.8QT,Set of 5-7 inch

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 445Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 140mgSodium 142mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 48g

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