Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops are a favourite summer barbecue-inspired entree to enjoy with family and friends.
Our simple Air Fryer recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and cook and features common pantry ingredients like brown sugar, spices and olive oil.
We know you’ll love slicing through these juicy, flavourful pork chops as soon as they sizzle out of your air fryer!
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What Are Bone In Pork Chops?
A pork chop, like other meat chops, is a loin cut taken perpendicular to the spine of the pig and is usually a rib or part of a vertebra.
Pork chops are unprocessed and leaner than other cuts. Chops are commonly served as an individual portion.
Take a trip to the butcher counter and you may notice two major types of pork chops—boneless and bone-in. Is one pork chop tastier or easier to cook than the other? What exactly is the difference?
My local butcher shared, “there are subtle flavour and textural differences, but the type of pork chop you ultimately buy comes down to personal preference and how you intend to use it. Some of my customers prefer the convenience of a boneless pork chop, while others prefer the fuller flavor of a bone-in pork chop.”
The two most common types of bone-in pork chops you’ll find are rib chops and center-cut chops. The blade chop, while less common, is another type of bone-in chop that comes from the shoulder end of the loin.
Pork rib chops are less expensive than center-cut chops or boneless pork chops, but they also contain the least amount of meat overall. Because of the bone, a rib chop appears larger in size than a boneless chop, but it may contain a fair amount of fat.
Easy Seasoned Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe
Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked in just minutes, these Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops are a weeknight game-changer.
With a simple blend of brown sugar, paprika, and spices, the pork chops develop a slightly sweet, smoky, and savoury crust that pairs beautifully with almost any side dish.
Thanks to the air fryer, you get that golden-brown, seared exterior without the hassle of frying in oil or heating up the whole kitchen.
Bone-in pork chops are naturally more flavourful and stay tender during cooking, and with this easy seasoning rub, you’ll have a delicious dinner on the table in under 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Customizable: Adjust spices or sugar to suit your taste
- Quick and easy: Ready in under 20 minutes
- Juicy and flavourful: Bone-in chops retain moisture while the spice rub adds depth
- Minimal cleanup: No frying pans, no splatter, just your air fryer
Best Air Fryers
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven designed to simulate deep frying without submerging the food in oil. A fan circulates hot air at high speed, producing a crisp layer via browning reactions.
Early air fryers were barrel-shaped, though more recently, many have come to resemble toaster ovens and pressure cookers, offering additional functions like toasting, baking, dehydrating and rotisserie.
A decade after their launch, Air Fryers are now one of the trendiest kitchen appliance. They are particularly popular with gourmands living in condos or apartments in big cities as they reduce the number of appliances taking up space in your kitchen.
- Hamilton Beach: I tested this recipe with a Hamilton Beach toaster oven-style air fryer. They are an excellent option for those looking for an affordable air fryer and I particularly like mine as it allowed me to replace my toaster, dehydrator and rotisserie. It’s also easier to spread food out and make it crispy by using a baking tray rather than a basket.
- Instant Vortex: This popular air fryer is brought to you by the inventors of the popular Instant Pot. It’s 6 quart capacity features an easy to clean tray that air frys, roasts and bakes.
- COSORI: This 5.8 quart air fryer is an 11-in-1 cooker featuring a nonstick basket and helpful shake reminder setting.
- Ninja: This premium brand is the perfect option for those looking to invest in a heavy duty stainless steel air fryer. The product has been designed to look similar to an Instant Pot, with the top of the air fryer flipping backwards so you can easily lower a basket filled with food.
- NuWave: This sleek digital air fryer features a traditional removable basket and reaches temperatures up to 390 F.
How To Make Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops
Our Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops recipe is so easy to make you’ll have it ready to serve in under 20 minutes!
There are two methods to making bone in pork chops in an air fryer, which depend on the style of air fryer you are using.
- Traditional Basket: air fryers with a removable basket are still the most common. In order to make Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops in these machines, simply place the seasoned meat in the bottom of the basket and cook.
- Toaster Oven Tray: modern air fryers featuring a glass door and tray configuration make it easy to prepare pork chops at home. Simply place the bone in pork chops on the air fryer tray and cook. You’ll have the added benefit of being able to watch the pork chops sizzle by peaking through the glass door.
Step By Step Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set the air fryer to 400°F while you prepare the pork chops.
- Pat dry: Use a paper towel to pat the pork chops dry, this helps the seasoning stick and ensures a nice crust.
- Make the spice rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, ground mustard, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Season the pork chops: Coat each chop with olive oil, then rub the spice mixture evenly over all sides using your hands.
- Air fry the pork chops: Place the seasoned chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through at 6 minutes, until the chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F and are golden brown on the outside.
- Rest and serve: Let the chops rest for 3–5 minutes before serving to lock in the juices.
Tips For The Perfect Air Fryer Pork Chops
- If you’re serving frozen bone-in pork chops, thaw them in the fridge overnight so they are ready to cook on the night of your dinner.
- Use paper towel to pat dry the exterior of the pork chops before adding the spice rub.
- Thickness matters: Chops 1 1/2–2 inches thick work best for even cooking in the air fryer
- You can make simple bone in pork chops in an air fryer by spraying the meat with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkling with salt and pepper.
- Add a smoky flavour to your pork chops by adding a few drops of liquid mesquite smoke.
- If you only have access to boneless pork chops, simply reduce the cooking time by 2-3 minutes and keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook.
- Check internal temperature: Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking; 145°F is ideal
- Resting is key: Let chops rest after cooking to keep them juicy and tender
What To Serve With Pork Chops
These pork chops pair well with a variety of sides, making them versatile for any meal. Some favourites include:
- Garlic mashed potatoes or roasted baby potatoes
- Crispy oven baked sweet potato fries or air fryer sweet potato fries
- Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans, or carrots
- A fresh garden salad for a light contrast
- Apple sauce or caramelized onions for a classic sweet-savoury pairing
You May Also Enjoy These Air Fryer Recipes…
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Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- tongs
Ingredients
- 3 Bone-in Pork Chops 1 1/2-2 inches thick
- 3 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1.5 tbsp Paprika
- 1.5 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1.5 tsp Black Pepper
- 1.5 tsp Ground Mustard
- 1.5 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F.
- Pat dry pork chops with paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.
- Coat bone-in pork chops with olive oil and rub over the spice mix with your hands.
- Cook bone-in pork chops in air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping pork chops over after 6 minutes.
Nutrition
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