This recipe for Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops is so simple, and will result in the tastiest pork chops ever!
Recipe Overview
These are the BEST pork chops you can make in your air fryer! While you might think it’s tricky to air fry bone-in pork chops, I’m here to show you that it’s very, very simple.
And I know that these gorgeous, perfectly cooked pork chops look fancy, but they are truly very easy to make. Simply mix up the seasoning blend, slather it on the chops, and pop them in the air fryer. Dinner will be ready in less than 20 minutes.
If you have boneless pork chops to cook, we have you covered there too! Check out our recipes for Air Fryer Breaded Porkchops or Air Fryer Pork Chops with No Breading. Both of these recipes were developed for pork chops with no bones.
Ingredients
- Bone-in Pork Chops – Pick up two pork chops that are about ¾ pound each and 1 inch thick. Thinner pork chops won’t cook the same way. I had these pork chops trimmed so that the bone is sticking out. You may not find them this way, but rest assured that you can still cook them using this recipe if the bones are trimmed short.
- Butter and Olive Oil – The combination of olive oil and butter adds great flavor to the pork and helps the seasonings stick to the meat. If you only want to use one, I recommend butter.
- Fresh Sage – Sage is an herb that pairs beautifully with pork. Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. If you only have dried sage, use ½ teaspoon of it in place of the full teaspoon of fresh minced sage.
- Garlic – Mince your garlic very, very finely, or grate it on a microplane.
- Spices – Kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, smoked paprika, and mustard powder finish off the delicious seasoning rub for our pork chops.
Steps to Make
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer using the preheat function or by heating it at 350ºF/175ºC for 5 minutes. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and set them aside while you mix up the seasonings.
- Make the Rub: In a small bowl, mix together butter, olive oil, sage, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder.
- Season the Pork Chops: Rub the butter and spice mixture all over both sides of the pork chops and place them in the preheated air fryer.
- Cook: Increase the air fryer temperature to 370ºF/190ºC. Air Fry bone-in pork chops for 12-15 minutes, or until your desired doneness.
- Rest: Allow the pork chops to rest for 5 minutes in the air fryer.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately with your favorite side dishes.
Tips and tricks 🪄
- Choose the right chops. This recipe will work perfectly with bone-in chops that are 1 inch thick. If they are thinner or thicker you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. You can also use this recipe to make thick boneless pork chops, but keep an eye on them because they will cook a bit quicker.
- Trim away the fat. Because the chops cook so quickly in the air fryer, there isn’t enough time for the fat to render down. While some fat on your pork chops is ideal, you should trim away any really thick pieces.
- No Need to Flip. The air fryer will cook the chops from both sides using circulating air, so there’s no need to flip them over!
- Leftovers: Store any extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
What To Serve With Bone-in Pork Chops
A simple yet delicious meal like this one goes perfectly with homey side dishes like mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans.
I like to serve apple compote with pork chops too. It’s such a great combination, especially in the fall.
FAQs
For juicy, perfectly cooked air fryer bone-in pork chops, we recommend cooking at 370ºF/190ºC. Preheat the air fryer first, then air fry the pork chops for 12-15 minutes.
Resting air-fried meats is an important step! After cooking, all of the moisture in the pork chops will be on the inner surface of the meat. Resting will allow the juices to redistribute evenly into the pork, giving you a moist and juicy meal, rather than a dry one.
Any time you have tough pork chops, it means that they have been overcooked. Be sure to keep a close eye on your pork chops, and take them out of the air fryer when they are ready. Remember that bone-in pork chops will continue cooking for a bit as they rest too.
I highly recommend checking the doneness of your pork with an instant read thermometer– it will give you the most accurate reading of how your pork chops are cooked.
The FDA recommends that pork be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. To reach that temperature, I recommend stopping the air fryer when the chops are at 135°F and allowing the pork to continue cooking as it rests.
More Ways to Cook Pork in the Air Fryer
Try a simply seasoned Pork Steak in the air fryer! This inexpensive cut of meat comes out perfectly juicy using our recipe.
Pork roasts also work very well in the air fryer. Check out our recipes for Air Fryer Pork Loin Roast or Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin.
Air Fryer Pork Chops Bone In
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in pork chops about ¾ pound each and 1” thick
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh minced sage or ½ teaspon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic or ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 12 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer using the preheat function or by heating it at 350ºF/176ºC for 5 minutes.
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and set them aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, sage, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder.
- Rub the spiced butter evenly over both sides of the pork chops and place them in the air fryer.
- Cook at 370ºF/187ºC for 12-15 minutes, or until your desired doneness (see notes). Allow the pork chops to rest for 5 minutes in the air fryer.
- Enjoy immediately, with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Choose the right chops. This recipe will work perfectly with bone-in chops that are 1 inch thick. If they are thinner or thicker you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. You can also use this recipe to make thick boneless pork chops, but keep an eye on them because they will cook a bit quicker.
- Trim away the fat. Because the chops cook so quickly in the air fryer, there isn’t enough time for the fat to render down. While some fat on your pork chops is ideal, you should trim away any really thick pieces.
- No Need to Flip. The air fryer will cook the chops from both sides using circulating air, so there’s no need to flip them over!
- Leftovers: Store any extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
