These air fryer pork chops are boneless, about 1 inch thick, coated in a simple dry rub and cooked at 380°F for 12 to 14 minutes, flipped halfway. Mine come out juicy inside with a browned, seasoned crust outside. The rub is pantry spices plus a spoonful of brown sugar, which helps the outside caramelize.
Below you’ll find the recipe, a cooking time chart for different thicknesses, the safe internal temperature from the USDA, tips for keeping chops juicy, and what to serve with them. Each chop has about 36g of protein and 393 calories.
How Long Do You Cook Pork Chops in the Air Fryer?
For 1-inch boneless chops, 12 to 14 minutes at 380°F, flipping halfway, is what I use. Thickness changes everything, though. A thin chop can overcook in the time a thick one needs, so use the chart below as a starting point and let a thermometer make the final call.
| Pork chop (at 380°F, flipped halfway) | Starting time | Pull at |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless, ½ inch thick | 7 to 9 minutes | 145°F |
| Boneless, 1 inch thick (this recipe) | 12 to 14 minutes | 145°F |
| Boneless, 1½ inches thick | 16 to 20 minutes | 145°F |
| Bone-in, 1 inch thick | 14 to 17 minutes | 145°F |
Air fryers also vary. Basket models and oven-style models with racks don’t cook at exactly the same speed, so start checking a couple of minutes before the low end the first time you make these.
What Temperature Should Pork Chops Be?
145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest. That’s the safe minimum internal temperature for pork chops, steaks and roasts, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. At 145°F the center can still look slightly pink, and that’s normal for whole cuts of pork.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chop from the side. Going past 145°F is the main reason pork chops turn dry, so pulling them right at temperature and letting them rest is the single biggest step toward juicy chops. Ground pork is different: it needs 160°F.
What Do You Need for Air Fryer Pork Chops?
- 4 boneless pork chops, about 1 inch thick (roughly 6 oz each). Center-cut loin chops are the most common in stores.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil. A thin coat helps the rub stick and the outside brown.
- The dry rub: 2 teaspoons smoked or sweet paprika, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
The brown sugar is a small amount spread over four chops, about 3.5g of sugar each, but it makes a real difference to color. If you’d rather skip it, the chops still brown, just a little less deeply.
How Do You Keep Air Fryer Pork Chops Juicy?
Most dry pork chops are overcooked pork chops. These steps keep them on the right side of done.
- Pat the chops dry. A dry surface browns; a wet one steams.
- Coat lightly with oil, then the rub. Press the rub on so it stays put when you flip.
- Preheat the air fryer for about 3 minutes, so the chops start browning right away.
- Leave space between chops. Crowded chops cook unevenly. Work in batches if you need to.
- Flip halfway and start checking early. Pull them at 145°F.
- Rest for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting, so the juices stay in the meat.
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Air Fryer Pork Chops
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. Mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the chops all over with the olive oil, then press the spice mix onto both sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for about 3 minutes.
- Place the chops in a single layer with space between them, working in batches if needed. Air fry for 6 to 7 minutes.
- Flip the chops and air fry 6 to 7 minutes more, until an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part reads 145°F.
- Transfer to a plate and rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Thickness: 1/2-inch chops take about 7 to 9 minutes total; 1 1/2-inch chops about 16 to 20; bone-in 1-inch about 14 to 17. Always go by 145°F.
- Air fryers vary: start checking a couple of minutes early the first time.
- Juicier chops: pull at 145°F and rest 3 to 5 minutes.
- Storage: refrigerate up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat at 350°F until they reach 165°F.
- Nutrition is per chop (about 6 oz raw), calculated from USDA FoodData Central (FDC 168286, 171413, 168833, 171329, 171325, 171327, 173468).
How Much Protein Is in a Pork Chop?
One 6-ounce boneless chop made this way has about 36g of protein, based on USDA FoodData Central values for center loin chops (FDC 168286). That’s a solid dinner portion with very few carbs, since the only sugar comes from the rub.
| Per chop (about 6 oz raw) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 393 |
| Protein | 36.2g |
| Fat | 25.6g (8g saturated) |
| Carbohydrates | 5g (3.5g sugar) |
| Sodium | 559mg (24% of the 2,300mg Daily Value) |
Want it leaner? Trim the fat cap before seasoning, or look for chops labeled “lean only.” For more high-protein dinners, our air fryer honey garlic chicken and air fryer salmon cook in about the same time. The sodium Daily Value comes from the FDA.
What to Serve With Pork Chops
Pork chops go with almost any vegetable side, and several of ours cook in the same air fryer while the chops rest:
- Air fryer asparagus, ready in about 5 minutes
- Air fryer roasted vegetables for a bigger, meal-prep friendly side
- Air fryer sweet potato fries, which match the paprika in the rub
- Air fryer baked apples, for the classic pork and apple pairing
How Do You Store and Reheat Them?
Refrigerate leftover chops in an airtight container and eat them within 3 to 4 days, the USDA’s guideline for leftovers. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes, until they reach 165°F, the USDA’s reheating temperature. Slicing them first helps them warm through faster without drying out.
Cold sliced pork chop is also good in wraps and salads, or tucked into a lunch box. Our high-protein adult lunchables have more ideas for using leftovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you flip pork chops in the air fryer?
Yes. Flipping halfway through helps both sides brown and cook evenly. For 1-inch boneless chops at 380°F, flip at about 6 to 7 minutes, then check the temperature from 12 minutes on.
How long do bone-in pork chops take in the air fryer?
Bone-in chops about 1 inch thick usually need a few minutes longer than boneless, roughly 14 to 17 minutes at 380°F, because the meat near the bone cooks more slowly. Check near the bone and pull them at 145°F.
What temperature should pork chops be cooked to?
The USDA’s safe minimum internal temperature for pork chops is 145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest. The center may still be slightly pink at that point, which is normal for whole cuts. Ground pork needs 160°F.
Why are my air fryer pork chops dry?
Usually because they went past 145°F. Thin chops can overshoot in a minute or two. Use an instant-read thermometer, start checking early, choose chops about 1 inch thick, and let them rest for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting.
Sources
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart, retrieved 2026-10-09. fsis.usda.gov
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Leftovers and Food Safety, retrieved 2026-10-09. fsis.usda.gov
- USDA FoodData Central: Pork, fresh, loin, center loin (chops), boneless, separable lean and fat, raw (FDC 168286); Oil, olive (FDC 171413); Sugars, brown (FDC 168833); Spices, paprika (FDC 171329); Spices, garlic powder (FDC 171325); Spices, onion powder (FDC 171327); Salt, table (FDC 173468); retrieved 2026-10-09. fdc.nal.usda.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (sodium 2,300mg), retrieved 2026-10-09. fda.gov
