This is a family favorite meal that’s easy to make.

Brined and seasoned in a sweet and savory rub, air fryer pork chops are tender and juicy every time.

Tender and Juicy!

  • So simple! The whole family will love these air fryer boneless pork chops and you’ll love how easy they are to make!
  • Pork chops are versatile, affordable, and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Make extra to enjoy all week long.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Pork Chops

Pork Chops – This recipe uses boneless pork chops about ¾-inch thick. If using thinner pork chops, you’ll need to cook them for less time, while bone-in chops will need a few minutes more.

Brine (optional) – A brine is a mixture of water, salt, and sugar that makes pork chops tender and flavorful. This brine is optional but it is recommended for the best results. No time to brine? Add a teaspoon of salt to the rub mixture instead.

Rub – In addition to salt and pepper – brown sugar, chili powder, and garlic powder add great flavor. You can add other herbs/spices like paprika or onion powder.

Two seasoned pork chops

How to Make Air Fryer Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops are fast and easy.

  1. If using the optional brine, cool it and brine the chops for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours.
  2. Season pork chops with the brown sugar rub.
  3. Cook pork chops according to the recipe below (400°F for 12 minutes).
  4. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

No Air Fryer? No Problem!

Pork chops are easy to make in the oven too!

Oven Baked Pork Chops

These easy baked pork chops are brined, seasoned, and broiled a perfect bite every time. You can bake them at different temperatures, so they’re a great main dish to go with all kinds of sides.

Tips for Perfect Pork Chops

  • Avoid crowding the basket so the hot air can freely circulate around the food.
  • Cook times depend on the thickness of the meat; it’s easy to overcook pork chops so check them early.
  • For juicy pork chops, cook to an internal temperature of 145°F.
  • Remove them from the air fryer at 140°F as the temperature will rise as they rest (carryover cooking).

Leftovers?

Keep leftover air-fried pork chops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer.

Serve as-is or slice and add to a veggie stir fry, ramen noodles, or a chilled Asian salad.

sliced Air Fryer Pork Chops on the plate

Did you love these Air Fryer Pork Chops? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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This air fryer pork chops recipe is an easy family favorite! Here are more air fryer recipes you’ll love.

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
Close up of an air fryer pork chop
5 from 33 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Air Fryer Pork Chops

Brined pork chops are rubbed with spices and air-fried until juicy & tender!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Brine time 30 minutes
Total Time 52 minutes
Servings 4
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

a black air fryer
Air Fryer
Instant Read Thermometer on white background
Instant Read Thermometer
buy hollys book

Ingredients  

  • 4 boneless pork chops ¾ inch thick

Brine (optional, see notes)

  • 4 cups water
  • ¼ cup kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Rub

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

For the Brine (OPTIONAL)

  • In a medium saucepan, combine water, salt, sugar and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once the salt and sugar are dissolved, remove from heat and cool completely.
  • Place the pork chops in a large bowl or freezer bag. Pour the cooled brine over the pork chops and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  • Drain well, discard the brine, and pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel.

To Air Fry The Pork Chops

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
  • In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, and black pepper (if you are not using the brine, add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt).
  • Using a sharp knife, cut a few slits in the fat cap on the sides of the pork chops. Massage the rub into both sides of the pork chops.
  • Place pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook 12 minutes, turning after 6 minutes or until chops reach 140°F. Do not overcook.
  • Transfer the chops to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

Notes

Brine: The brine is optional but recommended. To cool it quickly, use less water in the brine and add ice.
Salt: If you skip the brine, add kosher salt to the rub mixture, if using table salt, reduce the amount.
Cooking time: Thinner chops will need less time while thicker chops may need an extra minute or two. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the pork chops do not overcook.
Internal temperature: The pork should be cooked to 145°F. I remove the pork at 140°F as the temperature will continue to rise as it rests. Do not overcook.
5 from 33 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 259 | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 7160mg | Potassium: 524mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pork
Cuisine American

More Favorite Pork Chop Recipes

Air Fryer Pork Chops in the fryer and plated with a title
sliced Air Fryer Pork Chops with a title
Air Fryer Pork Chops cut into slices with writing
plated Air Fryer Pork Chops with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Thank you, thank you! I was determined to learn how to cook a tender pork chop and this worked wonderfully! I purchased what my grocery store called pork rib eyes so they are boneless and pretty thick. I followed your recipe, cooked 2 in my little air fryer. It took a little less cooking time, they turned out great.5 stars

    1. Yes, we always cook at the same temperature that we preheat to unless otherwise specified. Thanks for checking Henry!

  2. This recipe sounds absolutely delicious! We can’t eat anything to spicy (hot) is there another spice you could recommend for me to use instead of the chili pepper?

    1. This should work just fine. You may need to adjust cook time based on thickness to ensure the pork reaches 145°F without overcooking.