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Pork chops are one of those foods that have to be done right or they taste uninspired. I promise you that these air fryer pork chops are definitely done right! They are deliciously seasoned with my homemade cajun seasoning and parmesan cheese blend. Plus, they’re slightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside using my favorite multi-cooker.
Why make Air Fryer Pork Chops
On a busy weeknight, using an air fryer comes in handy because it cooks food quickly and evenly without too much prep or hands-on time. Besides the convenience, I personally enjoy being able to have a crispy tender result without lots of ingredients, oil, or pans.
How to Cook Pork Chops in an Air Fryer
Cooking pork chops in the air fryer is a quick and easy one-pot meal. There’s a video tutorial in the recipe card (just scroll down and click play), but I’ll summarize the steps below:
- Prepare the pork chops: pat them dry with a paper towel
- Create the seasoning rub: mix the spices in a small bowl or Ziploc bag
- Dread the pork chops in the spices: you can drizzle olive oil on the pork chops to help the spice mix stick
- Air Fry the pork chops: I cooked mine for 12-14 minutes at 375 degrees
How Long to Cook Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
Butchers don’t always cut chops to the same thickness so there are some things you should keep in mind when you cook pork chops in the air fryer. In general, you can buy thick, normal, and thin-cut chops. And the one you choose will affect cook times.
The ones I used were about 8 ounces each. They were also about 1.5 inches thick. If you are using thinner chops, you can pop the lid of the Ninja Foodi to check on them as they cook. If you use the Instant Pot Air Fryer, you can open the drawer to check on them too. You should definitely check on thinner chops to prevent overcooking.
The safe internal temperature of pork chops is 145 degrees. I tend to take mine out when they reach an internal temperature of about 140 degrees. They will cook more as they rest so taking them out early will allow them to be just right when I enjoy them for dinner.
What Kind of Pork Chops work best in Air Fryers
When cooking pork chops, I prefer using fresh chops. I generally find fresh offers the best flavor and the result is always tender and juicy. If you have frozen pork chops, you can use them too. But before you cook them or season them, be sure to thaw them out. Once they thaw, pat off additional moisture with a paper towel.
Whether you use fresh or frozen, you can use either a regular or thick cut. If you have to use thin cuts, you will need to keep a closer eye on them. They can easily overcook, dry out, or burn.
Variations
Pork chops are versatile and they pick up the flavors you cook them in very well. There are lots of variations you can choose from. If you don’t like spicy cajun seasonings, you can use ranch seasoning instead.
These pork chops also go great with a range of sauces. Specifically, you could add the mushroom sauce that I used for my cast iron skillet pork chops or you could make a keto gravy to pour over them.
If you want an Asian flair, you could use my Low Carb Sweet Chili Sauce or Teriyaki Sauce as a variation too! Just keep in mind, you’ll need to make these sauces in a separate pan.
What to Eat with Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pork Chops
Air fryer pork chops pair well with lots of vegetables and side dishes. Some of my favorites are:
- Keto Cauliflower Mushroom Risotto
- Loaded Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Sauteed Green Beans
- Keto Creamed Spinach
More Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Recipes
If you love easy, fast meals, you should check out some of my other Ninja Foodi air fryer recipes. You can use my Ninja Foodi Recipe collection to search, but, some are:
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pork Chops Recipe
Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless pork chops, mine were 8oz thick & fresh
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, click for recipe
- 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan, from the refrigerated section of the market
- 1/2 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
Instructions
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel
- Mix the seasonings, parmesan, and salt
- Drizzle the pork chops with olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mix on the pork chops and toss them to get all sides coated.
- Add the pork chops to the cooking basket. Air Crisp them for 375 degrees for 6-7 minutes per side. I stop my air fryer when they are at 140 degrees.
- Let the meat rest covered lightly with foil for about 5 minutes. It continues to cook to 145 degrees as it rests.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
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