Air Fryer Pork Chops + Video
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Air Fryer Pork Chops are the solution to tired weeknight dinners. Thick-cut boneless pork chops coated in a smoky-sweet brown sugar herb rub, air fried until the edges caramelize and the outside turns deeply golden while the inside stays tender and juicy. The sugar melts into the surface, forming a lightly crisp, savory crust with hints of garlic, thyme, and oregano in every bite. Slice into one and you’ll see it: perfectly cooked, blush-pink, and glistening. No dry pork here!!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE BONELESS PORK CHOPS IN AIR FRYER
- Crispy, caramelized exterior
- Juicy, tender center
- Ready in under 25 minutes
- Bold herb rub with sweet balance
- Reliable, repeatable results
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Pork chops get a bad reputation. And honestly? It’s usually deserved. They get overcooked. They get dry. They get forgotten in the back of the fridge.
But thick-cut pork chops in the air fryer? That’s a different story.
The brown sugar in the rub melts and caramelizes just enough to create that savory-sweet crust. The herbs wake everything up.
And cooking them to 145°F (and not a minute more!) is what keeps these air fryer pork chops juicy instead of chewy.
Thickness matters. Temperature matters. Resting matters. Do those three things, and suddenly pork chops aren’t boring. They’re dependable.
And when dinner is on the line, dependable always wins.
PORK CHOP IN AIR FRYER RECIPE VIDEO
Want to see how easy this comes together? Watch our quick recipe video 👇
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Thick-Cut Boneless Pork Chops: Aim for 1½ to 2 inches thick for best juiciness.
- Light Brown Sugar: Helps create caramelization and balances savory herbs.
- Dried Thyme & Oregano: Bring earthy depth that pairs beautifully with the natural pork flavor.
- Garlic & Onion Powder: Build flavor without overpowering.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps the rub adhere and promotes browning. Avocado oil is a good substitute.
VARIATIONS
Spicy Sweet: Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne to the rub.
Maple Swap: Replace the brown sugar with maple sugar.
Smoky: Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika to the mix.
Italian Style: Include freshly grated Parmesan in the rub.
BBQ Finish: Brush BBQ sauce lightly over each pork chop in the air fryer during the last 2 minutes.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Pair with our Honey Glazed Air Fryer Carrots.
- Serve over garlic mashed potatoes or with cheesy Potatoes au Gratin.
- Add a crisp side salad with our Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Slice air fryer pork chops and serve over rice bowls.
- Pair with roasted green beans for a simple plate.
AIR FRYER BONELESS PORK CHOPS FAQ
They were likely overcooked. Pull them as soon as the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Also, let them rest for a few minutes before slicing to keep things juicy.
Yes. Thin chops cook too quickly in the air fryer and will dry out before they are done.
Always! Flipping them halfway promotes even browning and guarantees the best cook.
You can, but this brown sugar rub creates better caramelization while still delivering plenty of flavor.
Pork chops come from the loin, which is a lean cut of meat. And that means it dries out quickly if overcooked.
The key to the juiciest air fryer boneless pork chops is pulling them at 145°F and allowing them to rest. During that rest, carryover heat finishes cooking gently while juices redistribute throughout the meat.
Brown sugar in the rub helps with surface browning and creates a subtle crust under high air fryer heat.
Proper spacing in the basket allows hot air to circulate, which prevents steaming and promotes even caramelization.
This recipe isn’t complicated. It’s controlled heat and attention.
DONNA’S PRO TIPS
- Pat chops very dry before oiling. It helps with browning and getting the dry rub to stick to the surface.
- Don’t skip preheating the air fryer. You want the chops to start cooking as soon as they hit the crisper tray.
- Leave space between chops for airflow. It’s the best way to achieve even caramelization all around.
- Use a thermometer. Guessing almost always leads to dry pork.
- Rest at least 5 minutes before slicing. This locks in the juices so they stay in the pork, not on your plate.
- If in doubt, pull air fryer pork chops slightly early. Carryover heat will finish them off.
TOOLS NEEDED
- Air Fryer: Basket style preferred.
- Instant-Read Thermometer: Essential for perfect doneness.
- Small Mixing Bowl: For making the dry rub.
- Paper Towels: To pat dry the pork before adding the rub.
- Tongs: For safely flipping boneless pork chops in air fryer.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) THE QUICK VERSION
- Thick chops only
- Cook to 145°F
- Brown sugar rub caramelizes beautifully
- Flip halfway through
- Rest before serving
- Juicy, reliable weeknight dinner
- Pork chops redeemed
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut boneless pork chops, about 1 ½ to 2 pounds total
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
FOR THE RUB
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Instructions
- PREHEAT AIR FRYER: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- PREP PORK: Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels.
- OIL: Drizzle 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil evenly over the pork chops and rub to coat all sides.
- MIX RUB: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, and 1 tablespoon dried thyme. Stir well.
- SEASON: Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the rub mixture onto each pork chop, pressing gently to adhere and coating all sides evenly.
- COOK: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place pork chops in a single layer with space between them. Air fry at 400°F for 14 to 17 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- REST: Transfer pork chops to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- SERVE: Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.
Video
Donna’s Notes
1 ¼-inch pork chops cook in about 14 minutes.
1 ¾-inch pork chops cook closer to 17 minutes. Internal Temperature: Pork is done at 145°F. Remove slightly early to prevent overcooking. Rub Yield: This rub recipe generously coats 4 thick chops. If using thinner chops, you may have a little leftover. Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published August 2020, updated and republished March 2026
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
Could these be made in a regular oven? If so, what temp and how long?
Air fryer is on my wish list.😊
Your still using oil on the chops.
Yes, that is true, but it is also about the cook and making them juicy. I don't think too much oil is necessary either.
The oil helps give them a nice crispy finish on the outside. If you are doing your pork in the oven, bake them @ 350° for an hour (1-1/4″ chops) or until an internal temp of 145° is reached. You can then do a quick reverse sear on them at the end. Rest for 5-10 min. afterward.
My mouth is watering! dish is so look delicious.
Maybe the brand depends on the cooking time. Because it took my chops 24 minutes too cook using a Hamilton Beach Air Fryer/Toaster/Oven. It also recommends 450° to use it in Air Fryer mode. I didn't notice until I was flipping it at the first 7min.
Please try this recipe…you will not be disappointed! Pork chops were juicy and the favor was outstanding! This will be a recipe I will turn to frequently!
Made this for dinner tonight it was delicious 😋 seriously it was really amazing!!! Meat was crispy on the outside tender and juicy in the center. At first I was nervous that it might make the meat dry,, but it did not.. wonderful recipe!!
I'm so happy to hear that you are enjoying our recipes! Let us know if you make anything else. We love to hear from you.
Happy cooking!
These look and taste absolutely amazing. Air fryer recipes are a staple in my household because they’re so easy
Will this recipe work for cooking frozen pork chops?
Thank you for the rub recipe and instructions for cooking pork chops in an air fryer. I had complete success following both the recipe and cooking instructions. The rub was very tasty. I halved the recipe and still ended up with a lot of leftover rub.
We had these for dinner tonight and enjoyed them immensely. They were juicy, bursting with flavor and very easy t prepare. I think I’ve just found my go-to pork chop recipe for the air fryer.
Hi Kim!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
loin chops about 1 inch thick My air frier my not heat as well as a better brand but I preheated 450 for 5 min and then cooked the chops for 7 min on each side. Did not get that crips coating but I may have used a little more oil than needed. Moist and tender, best chops I have ever cooked. Pork loin chops will go on my dinner rotation. The wife loved them too.
Hi Cecil!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Thank you for a great recipe. My chops were not very thick so I was not very confident that they would turn out great. Well gosh I was wrong. They were scrumptious!
FYI, I used Swerve brown sugar and air fried 10 min total (flipping 1/2 way) due to the thinner chop. 145 internal temp.
Hi Jen!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn