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How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops

How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
 

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One thing I love about air fryers is you can cook just about anything in them. That even includes meats from everything from steak, chicken, pork loin, and pork chops.

They make cooking so easy too. You’ll honestly be amazed and how easy this recipe is and how fast you can cook your pork chops in an air fryer with little effort.

There’s no breading involved, so these are gluten-free and low carb (yep, they’re keto!)

Growing up, we had pork chops frequently. For some odd reason, we used to eat them dipped in applesauce.

Now that sounds like a horrible combination even to me. I’m not sure why we did it and I don’t recommend trying it.

 

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What I love about this Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe is that it’s pretty versatile. You can use boneless or bone-in pork chops and follow the recipe as is.

You can also use a thin cut or a thick-cut pork chop and adjust the bake time as stated below.

 

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The juicest low carb air fried pork chops

 

 

How to Make Pork Chops in an Air Fryer

First, take your pork chops and season them with salt and pepper. I like to use a ratio of 3:1, double the salt and a little pepper.

When I first started cooking, I used to try to remove as much salt as possible from all recipes. Sometimes I just wouldn’t even add it!

While I do still like to make things lower in sodium, I realized salt is needed to create flavor and that ‘s exactly what the salt does here.

So please, do not make the mistake I did, and just add the salt in.

 

Juicy and Moist Pork Chops Recipe Picture

 

Once you season your pork chops, place them in a single layer in your air fryer. It’s important to keep things in one layer to ensure the pork cooks evenly on all sides.

Placing them on top of each other will get you half raw and half overcooked pork and who wants that?

If you need to cook more pork chops than can fit in your air fryer, you’ll have to cook in batches. This is the main reason I recommend people buy a larger air fryer from the start.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they’ve upgraded their small air fryer for that reason. Myself included.

This recipe typically is a no-oil air fryer recipe.

Now, if you’re air fryer tends to stick, spray the basket with a little oil using an oil mister before placing them inside. Here is a list of oils you can use in an air fryer.

Just make sure you are spraying the basket and not the pork chops.

 

Magically Moist Air Fryer Pork Chops for Healthy Keto

 

Turn your air fryer on to 400 degrees and cook the pork chops for about 10-15 minutes, flipping them over halfway through. The exact time to cook them depends on the thickness of your pork.

If you have thicker pieces of pork chops, they will take longer to cook. Thinner pieces will take less time.

*Note: If you have extra-thick pork chops, they may take up to 20 minutes to cook.

 

This Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe pairs perfectly with any cooked vegetable (like these air fryer carrots) and a dinner roll.

The best part is it frees up your stove and oven to cook anything else you please. It’s like making two ovens possible in even the smallest of kitchens.

 

How to Know When Your Air Fryer Pork Chops are Cooked Fully

Your pork chops are officially done when you stick a meat thermometer inside them and the temperature hits 145 degrees.

Make sure you are checking the thickest part of the pork chop and check the temperature of each one you cook.

It is completely possible to undercook pork chops just as it is with other meats. I take temperatures of meat very seriously with a 3-year-old in the house.

No need to cause salmonella and get anyone sick because you couldn’t wait an extra 5 minutes.

Once the pork chops are done, pull them out immediately. This means you’ll want to get them as close to 145 as possible.

Pork chops continue to cook for a few minutes outside of the air fryer, making them easy to overcook.

Overcooking pork chops is what makes them taste tough and dry instead of being tender and juicy like they should be.

 

Keep reading for tips on how to make air fryer pork chops even juicier.

 

Perfectly moist air fried pork chops
 

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A Few Tips to Cooking Pork Chops in an Air Fryer

Although an air fryer keeps its temperature well when opened for a few seconds, it’s important to leave the pork alone as much as possible.

I recommend flipping these pork chops at about 7 minutes and just look at them for a quick second. If they look basically raw still, give them at least another 5 minutes to cook.

If they are starting to brown, cook them for another 3 and then check the temperature.

This helps cook the pork faster and more evenly. Plus, the less time you touch the pork, the juicier the pork will be.

Yes, that is a trick to get magically moist pork chops too (and of course the overcooking part).

 

 

Are Air Fryer Pork Chops Good for You?

Pork chops are on the healthier end of meat when it comes to calories and protein. According to Food Diary, 4 ounces of boneless pork chops contain 180 calories and 20 grams of protein!

Pork chops tend to be on the fattier side with 5 grams of saturated fat. This makes for the perfect combination for a low carb keto-friendly diet looking for the extra fat.

If you’re on any other diet that eats meat, pork chops are okay to eat in moderation.

You typically use less oil (or even no oil) when cooking them in an air fryer, making them even healthier than cooking them in a saute pan on the stove or even in the oven.

 

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Crispy Air Fried Gnocchi
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Looking to vamp up these juicy Pork Chops? Try these Honey Garlic Air Fryer Pork Chops!

Low Carb Keto Air Fryer Pork Chops

Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes

Delicious and easy air fryer pork chops perfect for any keto or low carb diet.

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops (boneless, bone-in, thin, or thick)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Season each pork chop with salt and pepper generously.
  2. Place pork chops in the air fryer in a single layer.*
  3. Turn air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 10-15 minutes, until pork chops just hit 145 degrees at its thickest point. Flip halfway through. See notes if using a thicker pork chop above.

Notes

* if you air fryer tends to stick, spray a little oil in the basket before placing pork chops inside.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 328Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 160mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 40g

This recipe was originally posted on our recipe site, Everyday Family Cooking. You can view that post here.

 

 

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Joann

Monday 24th of January 2022

I have an air fryer oven which holds 5 racks. Which level do I cook meat on? Such as pork chops.

Samantha

Monday 24th of January 2022

I typically use the middle or rack right above that. If you see it browning too much on the outside, you can drop it down a rack or two to help.

Mike

Wednesday 11th of August 2021

Prepared this tonight for dinner. Turned out perfect. Went very well with air fryer roasted Potatoes and corn on the cob. I also prepared some Cabbage fried in bacon grease. Easy 30 minutes meal.

Ian

Monday 15th of February 2021

It says it is strange to eat apple sauce with pork chops, well in the UK you would never eat a pork chop or roast pork without apple sauce an absolute essential accompaniment, a bit like proper cheddar cheese with apple pie good old English dishes.

Kacy

Wednesday 10th of March 2021

@Ian, When my kids were little they called pork apple sauce meat. We always served it that way. I’m in Canada.

Samantha

Tuesday 16th of February 2021

I absolutely love that it is normal there, Ian because it's so good together! Here in the US, I mention it and people give me the weirdest look!

Judy

Tuesday 2nd of February 2021

Made this recipe for Pork Chops for my family last night and everyone LOVED them, very delicious. I recommend this recipe for beginner Air Fryer people. This was my first time using my Air Fryer for anything and it was a home run! I'll continue making my Pork Chops this way in the future.

Sandra

Monday 23rd of March 2020

Thank you for the great recipes. we aRe cooking pork chops tonight.

Samantha

Monday 23rd of March 2020

You're welcome, Sandra! Enjoy the pork chops. They are the juiciest ones I've cooked!

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