Yes, you can air-fry thick pork chops.
I’ve been in love with the air fryer for a long time. The air fryer is a more convenient and healthier cooking device than many of my kitchen appliances. From French fries to pizza toast and turkey meatballs, there are a variety of recipes I’ve already tried out in my air fryer. One of them is pork chops!
Today, I want to share the recipe for air-fried pork chops.
Get some nice thick pork chops. It’s better to get the chops 1-2 inches thick with bone in the center. Additionally, you’ll need brown sugar, paprika, onion, mustard powder, olive oil, salt & freshly ground black pepper.
Spray some non-stick oil on the air fryer basket. Apply seasonings to the pork chops. Now put the chops into the air fryer basket and air fry at 370 F for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 F. Don’t forget to turn the chops halfway through the recipe.
That’s a brilliant outlook on the recipe; we’ll discuss the details further. Along with that, I’ll address some FAQs in this blog as well.
Recipe For Air Fried Thick Pork Chops
For perfectly air-fried pork chops, you’ll need to know every inch of the recipe.
Ingredients
First, you must know the ingredients for making these juicy pork chops. You’ll need;
- 2 pork chops (extra 1.5-inch thick)
- Non-stick spray
- 2 tbsps Brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Mustard powder
- 1/8 tsp Onion powder
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Start with preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Rinse the pork chop in cold water and then dry them completely. You can choose a paper towel for the drying step.
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Rub the mixture on the chops, then apply a spray of non-stick oil in an air fryer basket. If you don’t have non-stick spray check out what you can use instead. Next, add pork chops to the air fryer and cook for 14 minutes at 370 degrees F, turning the chops over after 6 minutes.
Once cooked, dish the pork chops out and garnish it with your favorite seasoning and serve.
At What Temperature Should We Cook The Pork Chops?
Preheat the air fryer basket for 3 – 5 minutes at 200°C (400°F), then reduce the temperature to 187°C (370°F) and cook for 15 minutes or until thoroughly done.
Besides the temperature, let’s examine some key points regarding air-fried pork chops. This would be helpful for sure!
- Make sure the roast you buy will fit in your air fryer. Roast pork leg or shoulder (boneless).
- A 1.5 kg (3 lb.) roast fits wonderfully in a 5.5L (5.7 Qt) air fryer.
- You can use sea salt, cooking salt, or coarse salt if you don’t like table salt.
- Spraying the meat with olive oil works wonders!
Tips For A Perfectly Cooked Meal
- If you have the time, leave the meat in the refrigerator overnight. Don’t cover it. It aids in rind drying and guarantees a crispy texture.
- For this cooking method, I typically untie the pork before cooking. You can keep it tied also. It’s completely your choice. The pork’s height, when tied, makes it too high for the air fryer, so I untie it. It makes you worry less and focus more on the cooking. Trussing the roast can help it cook evenly.
- I recommend using a meat thermometer to check the temperature while cooking. It eliminates all uncertainty about whether your meat is thoroughly cooked.
The thickest section of the meat should be heated to a temperature of 70-75 C (155-165 F) for roasted pork.
Tips For Baking Time Of The Pork Chips
Pork chops approximately 1 1/4 inches thick should be baked at 370 degrees for 14 to 17 minutes. The thermometer should register the 145 F internal temperature of pork after 15 minutes.
If the temperature does not register at 145 F after 15 minutes of cooking, then cook for another 4-5 minutes. Then check the internal temperature again.
The baking time varied with thickness. If the thickness is the same, the baking time remains constant too. Reduce the baking time if the pork chops are less than 1 1/4 inches thick.
Nutritional Content
| Nutrients | Calorie Count (grams) |
| Carbohydrates | 2g |
| Protein | 49g |
| Cholesterol | 152mg |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Calcium | 53mg |
Perfectly Cooked Pork Chops: The Oven-Baked Version
- Step 1: Trim any visible fat from pork chops before cooking to avoid any greasiness and unhealthy fat. Use a sharp knife to trim it with ease.
- Step 2: Pat the pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper. Pork chops should be patted with paper towels for the best sear and to help the seasonings stick to the meat.
- Step 3: Searing the pork chops first in a skillet is the secret to making delicious oven-baked pork chops. Heat 1 tbsps oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Place 4 chops in the oven at a time. Cook the surfaces for six minutes or until beautifully browned. For an even sear, flip the chops as necessary.
- Step 4: Use an oven-safe skillet and immediately put it in the oven. Or, transfer the cooked pork chops to a 15×10 Inches baking sheet if your pan is not oven-safe. Keep the pork chops uncovered and bake at 350 degrees.
Remove them and wrap them in foil when they are done. The endpoint is when the internal temperature is at 145 degrees with a golden brown texture of the chops.
Which Pork Chop Suits Best For Air-Frying?
Chops of pork are derived from the upper back (the hog’s loin). The following cuts can be found in the butcher section of most supermarkets:
- Loin chop (bone-in): This pork chop resembles a T-bone steak.
- The top loin chop (boneless) is sometimes known as a center-cut chop or a New York pork chop.
- The steak chop (usually bone-in): It’s also known as ribeye pork chops.
These sets are best suitable for your air-fried versions.
How Do I Know That The Pork Chops Are Ready?
To know that the pork chops are ready to serve: Insert an instant-read thermometer into the chop’s thickest portion to determine the temperature. Whether a pork chop is boneless or bone-in, its total cooking time will depend on how thick it is.
Typically, chops are between 3/4 and 1 1/4 inches thick.
In 2011, the USDA revised its recommendations for doneness, emphasizing that pork cooked at 145 degrees Fahrenheit is equally safe to consume as pork cooked at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. But, before eating, let it rest for 5 minutes.
The pork is pinker than most people are accustomed to, but it is also juicier and more flavorful at this level of doneness.
Are Air-Fried Pork Chops Good For Your Health?
Pork chops may be quickly and easily air-fried, which is healthier than traditional frying. No additional oil is required, and any surplus fat can drain away as the food is cooking.
Even more, the air fryers reduce saturated fat in food, making it even healthier. Although it’s quite debatable, if you’re a pork lover, the air-fried version is much healthier than the deep-fried version.
How to Serve Air-fried Pork Chops?
I adore how adaptable air-fried pork chops are; there are many different ways to serve them. Here are some recommendations from my side.
- Serve with fries and coleslaw for a delicious family dinner. Potato wedges are also a great combination.
- You can serve the pork chops with a fresh creamy salad with ranch dressing. Steamed and sautéed veggies work best when served with fresh pork chops.
- Slice and serve with teriyaki sauce, rice, and steamed vegetables. For a great fried pork sandwich, serve it in a sub with slaw and barbecue sauce.
What am I going to do with these cooked pork chops?
I occasionally eat a pork chop by itself, and other times I cut it up or use it to make other meals; it’s a versatile meat that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Here are some terrific suggestions for leftover Air Fryer Pork Chops or for using them after they’ve been cooked in the air fryer.
- Pork salad
- Nachos
- Pizza
- Jambalaya
How can I keep my pork chops moist?
There are various methods for keeping pork chops juicy.
- Bone-in pork chops retain the most juice.
- Searing the outside of the pork chops before cooking, then allowing the meat to “rest” after cooking to allow the juices to soak back into the meat.
- Avoiding overcooking your dish and pulling the meat as soon as the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Conclusion
- Air fryers can be a medium for delicious yet healthy recipes. For pork chops, remember the time and temperature you’re cooking them. 145-160 degrees Fahrenheit is the best possible rate to see that the pork chops are done.
- You can change the requirement according to the size of the pork chop and your air fryer capacity.
- Keep your cravings for pork chops satisfied beyond the oven.
- With some of our favorite slow cooker pork recipes, you can make your pork chops incredibly soft. Or use these air fryer recipes for pork to produce tender, delicious chops.
Have a look at this tutorial for a better understanding.