The Best Way to Cook Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

An air fryer is the ideal kitchen gadget for people who want a simple, healthy, and foolproof tool for preparing their favorite foods at home. It barely takes up any counter space, requires no additional frying oil, and because it uses hot air circulation to cook food, it delivers a crispy finished product every time. You can fry virtually anything, like chicken wings, burgers, ribs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and even pork chops.

Usually, pork chops are cooked in a pan or on the grill, but these techniques require a lot of time, energy and attention. To cut your effort in half and still get a delicious piece of pork in less than 15 minutes, Chef Chris Nirschel of New York Catering Service recommends using an air fryer.

“My secret to a delicious, quick and easy pork chop, believe it or not, is an air fryer. It guarantees a perfect, flavorful and juicy pork chop every time,” says Chef Nirschel.

Read on to learn Chef Nirschel’s expert method for making perfect air fryer pork chops every time, then check out the 5 Healthiest Oils to Cook With and 5 to Avoid.

How to cook pork chops in your air fryer:

Step 1: Gather your ingredients and preheat the air fryer.

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need. Grab your favorite pork chops and seasonings (more on that below) and make sure your air fryer is clean and ready to go. Once you have all of these things in order, Dear Nirschel recommends preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees.

As for whether there’s a favorite type of air fryer, the chef’s favorite is the Fritaire Self-Cleaning Glass Bowl Air Fryer (pictured), but he says any air fryer will do.

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Step 2: Season and place the pork chops in the air fryer basket.

You can use any seasonings you like (but for inspiration, you’ll find Chef Nirschel’s spice sauce recipe at the bottom of this story). Once you have your mixture, “Wipe the pork chops dry with paper towels and rub the spice mixture evenly on both sides of each pork chop, making sure they are well coated,” says Nirschel .

Before placing your pork chops in the air fryer, Chef Nirschel says to “lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.” Next, “Arrange the seasoned pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each chop for even cooking.”

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Step 3: Cook your pork chops in the air fryer.

You’ve preheated your air fryer and seasoned your pork chops; Now it’s time to fry them!

“Cook pork chops at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking,” says Nirschel. “Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your pork chops, so make sure they reach an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.”

You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your pork and make sure it is completely cooked.

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Step 4: Leave to rest and serve.

And now for the fun part: enjoying your delicious pork chops.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“Once the pork chops are cooked through and have a golden crust, remove them from the fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving,” says Nirschel. “This final step allows the juices to redistribute and moisten the meat.”

If you need help deciding what to serve with your pork, Chef Nirschel says he likes to serve it with “mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, or a crunchy salad.”

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Chef Nirschel’s Spicy Air Fryer Pork Chop Rub:

Mix the following ingredients according to your taste, mix well and voila: you have an easy and delicious spicy pork chop sauce!

• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Dried thyme
• Salt
• Black pepper

Samantha Boesch