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Air Fryer Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops with a deeply golden spice crust on all sides, cooked until juicy at 145°F in about 12 minutes. Quick pork chops with minimal prep for an easy air fryer dinner—no messy pan frying required.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
rest 3 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pork chops
  • 4 boneless or bone-in pork chops About 1 inch thick for even cooking.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Helps the spice crust adhere and brown.
Spice rub
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 salt To taste.
  • 1 black pepper To taste.
Serving
  • 1 lemon wedges

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer

Method
 

Prep and season
  1. Pat the pork chops dry and brush with olive oil.
  2. Mix garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper, then rub the spice mixture all over the pork chops.
Air-fry
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes, so the basket is ready to crisp immediately.
  2. Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping.
  3. Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F and the crust is golden.
Rest and serve
  1. Rest the pork chops for 3 minutes before serving to keep the centers juicy.
  2. Serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

Pro tip: Start checking at 10 minutes if your chops are thinner than 1 inch; stop at 145°F for safe, juicy results. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days in a covered container. Freezing is not recommended for best crust texture. For a lighter option, use cooking spray instead of olive oil (expect slightly less browning).