Perfect Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer Recipe
If you’re looking for a super-simple thin pork chops in air fryer recipe, look no further! This recipe offers seasoned pork chops in just 10 minutes – including prep and cook time. Perfectly cooked to be crispy on the outside and moist on the inside every single time.
Total Servings: 4
Total Cost: $28.67
Cost Per Serving: $7.17
Table of Contents
Ingredients & Costs*
4-6 thin cut pork chops ($13.76)
1 tbsp olive oil ($6.64)
1 tsp paprika ($1.12)
1 tsp garlic powder ($1.12)
1 tsp Italian seasoning ($1.12)
1/2 tsp onion powder ($1.12)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.67)
1/2 tsp pepper ($3.12)
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*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made at the time of this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com so we can update this post.
FAQs About this Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer Recipe
Can I use boneless pork chops instead?
Yes! In fact, I would prefer to use boneless pork chops. Unfortunately, when I made this recipe, our local grocery store didn’t have any boneless pork chops, so we had to opt for bone-in. If you use boneless pork chops, you may need to reduce the amount of time that they cook for.
My pork chops came out a bit dry. How do I fix it?
The most common reason pork chops dry out in the air fryer is because they are overcooked. To safely be consumed, pork chops need to be cooked until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Don’t let them cook too far beyond that temperature or they will begin to dry out. I use a Ninja air fryer, and I’ve found that 5 minutes is the perfect amount of time to cook thin boneless pork chops. However, air fryer cook times can vary ad depending on the air fryer you use, it cook take anywhere from 4 to 8 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 145°F when air frying at 375°F.
How do you season your pork chops?
As you probably noticed, my seasoning technique isn’t as pretty as a lot of other food blogs. There are certain seasoning blends that I use frequently (like this one and my blend for chicken wings) that I keep in old seasoning bottles. When I make recipes that use the seasoning blends, I just dump the seasoning on top. If I wanted to “pretty it up” I would mix the seasoning in a bowl and dip the pork chops into it.
Can I use frozen pork chops?
Technically, the answer is yes. Frozen pork chops will take roughly 20 to 25 minutes to cook in an air fryer. However, frozen pork chops won’t season as well because the seasoning won’t really adhere to the meat. Frozen pork chops will also have a slightly different texture. So, I wouldn’t recommend using frozen pork chops if you are able to use fresh and/or thawed pork chops. But if you’re in a pinch, you can certainly use frozen pork chops.
Tips to Make the Best Oven Baked Pork Chops
Skip the olive oil if you don’t want crispy pork chops: Covering the pork chops with olive oil helps to lock in the moisture while making the outside crispier. If you want a less crispy pork chop, skip the olive oil.
Add BBQ sauce: If you want to make BBQ pork chops in the air fryer, spread sauce on both sides of the pork chop before adding seasoning and placing them in the air fryer. I would also recommend serving these pork chops with a side of BBQ sauce if you want to add additional flavor.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: Overcrowding the air fryer (having food that’s touching or overlapping) can cause the pork chops to be overcooked or undercooked due to the lack of air flow through the air fryer. Be sure to resist overcrowding the air fryer and, if necessary, cook your pork chops in batches.
Pick a good side dish: These pork chops go well with just about anything – from veggies to potatoes. A few of my favorite side dishes for this recipe are broccoli and rice, mixed veggies, potato wedges or baked potatoes.
Season as desired: As you can probably tell from the photos, I generally have a heavy hand when it comes to seasoning. If you are looking to add more subtle flavor, go lighter on the seasoning.
Perfect Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4-6 thin cut pork chops bone-in or boneless
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Trim excess fat from pork chops and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Drizzle pork with olive oil, then top with the seasoning mixture.
- Place pork in a single layer in the air fryer, avoid overlapping and cook in multiple batches, if necessary.
- Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, checking periodically for the internal temperature to reach 145°F. Flip approximately halfway through.
