Get ready to be impressed with your air fryer all over again! You can get perfectly juicy pork chops made in your air fryer. Unlike a pan, where you risk uneven cooking or drying out the meat, the air fryer cooks pork chops evenly with just the right amount of crispness on the outside while keeping them juicy and tender inside. It’s also way faster than using the oven—these chops are done in under 15 minutes! Plus, there’s no need to babysit them like you would on the stove.

Make it a meal with lemon-garlic air fryer green beans and an air fryer baked potato.

Why Our Recipe

  • Juicy and tender every time: The air fryer keeps your pork chops perfectly cooked without drying them out.
  • Quick and easy: Ready in under 15 minutes, because who has time to wait?
  • Next-level flavor: That garlicky, herby compound butter melts right in for the perfect finish.
A bite sized piece of a pork chop on a fork.

We love bringing out the air fryer for dinner because the food cooks fast and it is so much easier to clean up. Your biggest obstacle with this recipe will be deciding what to make on the side! Trust us, you absolutely need to give this recipe a try.

Ingredient Notes

  • Pork Chops: Choose chops that are ¾ to 1 inch thick for the best results. Thinner chops may overcook quickly, while thicker ones might not cook evenly in the air fryer. Bone-in or boneless both work—just be sure they’re of similar thickness for even cooking.
  • Salt: Regular table salt works, but if you prefer kosher salt, use a slightly larger pinch for even seasoning.
  • Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper adds the best flavor. Pre-ground pepper works too but won’t have the same punch.
  • Garlic Powder: If you don’t have garlic powder, substitute with onion powder as the next best thing.
  • Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter for this. Just make sure it’s nice and soft.
  • Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic has the best flavor, but the jarred kind works too.
  • Fresh Parsley: If you don’t have fresh parsley, substitute with ½ teaspoon of dried parsley flakes.
  • Fresh Rosemary: If you don’t have fresh rosemary, use ¼ teaspoon dried.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a lot of flavor and a subtle tang to the butter. If you don’t have Worcestershire, soy sauce or a splash of balsamic vinegar can work as a substitute.

Pork Chop Options

For the best air fryer results, stick to rib or thicker boneless chops. Bone-in options tend to retain more moisture, while the air fryer’s quick cooking method prevents them from drying out. Always look for chops that are ¾ to 1 inch thick for even cooking!

Rib Chop: This cut is ideal for air frying. It’s taken from the rib section, featuring a small bone along one side and a nice marbling of fat. Rib chops cook evenly and stay tender and juicy, making them a great choice for this recipe.

Boneless Chop: These are the most commonly sold pork chops in the U.S., but they’re also the leanest, with no bones or marbling. They cook quickly in the air fryer but can dry out if overcooked. Opt for thicker boneless chops (at least ¾ inch) and use compound butter to help keep them moist and flavorful.

Loin Chop: These chops include a T-bone and two types of meat—loin on one side and tenderloin on the other. While flavorful, the two meats cook at different rates, which can make it tricky to get perfect results in the air fryer. If using loin chops, keep an eye on the internal temperature to avoid overcooking.

Shoulder Chop: This cut has a lot of flavor but also a lot of gristle and bones, which makes it less suitable for the air fryer. Shoulder chops are better suited for braising or slow cooking, where the connective tissue has time to break down.

Safe Internal Temperature for Pork

Pork needs to be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking times for pork chops will vary slightly based on how thick your chops are cut. Use a meat thermometer to ensure accuracy.

Thin Pork Chop Adjustments

If you’re working with thin pork chops (less than ¾ inch thick), you’ll need to adjust both the cooking time and temperature to avoid overcooking. Set your air fryer to 375°F instead of 390°F–400°F, as the lower temperature helps prevent the exterior from cooking too quickly while the inside stays tender.

Thin chops will cook in about 6–8 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Keep a close eye on them, and use an instant-read thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Because thin chops can dry out more easily, serving them with compound butter is a great way to keep them juicy and flavorful.

Overhead close up view of pork chop in an air fryer.

Why Compound Butter?

Compound butter might sound fancy, but it’s actually one of the easiest ways to take your pork chops to the next level. It’s loaded with garlic, fresh herbs. A little compound butter goes a long way in adding flavor to any meat.

Not only does it make the pork chops taste amazing, but it also helps lock in moisture, keeping them juicy and tender—especially important when cooking in the air fryer.

Adjusting for Different Styles of Air Fryers

Basket Air Fryers: Arrange the pork chops in a single layer with space between each chop for proper airflow. Cook at 390°F–400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Most basket air fryers can comfortably fit 2 pork chops, depending on size.

Toaster-Oven Style Air Fryers: Place the pork chops on the air fryer tray, ensuring they aren’t touching. Rotate the tray halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. Start checking for doneness at 12 minutes. These models usually fit up to 4 pork chops at a time.

Ovens with Air Fryer Settings: Use the provided air fryer tray or a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Cook at 400°F, and expect slightly longer cooking times—check for doneness around 12–14 minutes. You can fit 6 to 8 pork chops on a large baking sheet.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

Pork Chops are best eaten fresh. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

To reheat leftover pork chops in the Air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Place the pork chops in the air fryer and cook until they are heated through, about 3-5 minutes.

More delicious pork chop recipes…

Watch the video below where Caytlin will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.