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These Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pork Chops have juicy centers and a flavorful Cajun Parmesan crust. I use thick-cut boneless pork chops so they stay tender while the outside gets browned and slightly crisp in the air fryer.
This air fryer pork chops recipe is an easy main dish when you want something different from chicken for dinner. Add air fryer broccoli for a mostly air fryer meal, or serve them with Southern green beans and garlic butter rice for a comfort-food plate.
Why You’ll Love These Ninja Foodi Pork Chops
- Quick for weeknight dinners: I turn to air fryer recipes and Ninja Foodi recipes when I want dinner with less hands-on cooking. These pork chops take just 12–14 minutes in the air fryer.
- Juicy with a browned crust: The thick-cut pork chops stay tender inside while the Cajun Parmesan coating browns on the outside.
- Simple ingredients: You only need pork chops, oil, seasoning, Parmesan, and salt, so there isn’t much prep before they go into the air fryer.
Ingredients Needed
- Boneless pork chops: I use center-cut chops that are about 1½ inches thick for this recipe.
- Olive oil: Helps the seasoning stick and the outside brown.
- Cajun seasoning: Gives the pork chops their savory flavor. You can use my Cajun seasoning or your favorite blend.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Use Parmesan from the refrigerated section for the coating.
- Sea salt: Seasons the pork chops along with the Cajun Parmesan mixture.
How to Make Pork Chops in a Ninja Air Fryer
My 1½-inch boneless pork chops take 12–14 minutes at 375°F, with a flip halfway through. Here’s what I look for along the way.
Coat the pork chops
Pat the pork chops dry first so the coating sticks well. Rub them with olive oil, then press the Cajun Parmesan mixture over both sides and around the edges. You want an even coating all around.
Arrange them in the air fryer
Place the pork chops in a single layer with some room between them. This gives the hot air space to circulate and helps the coating brown.
Air fry and flip
Air fry at 375°F, flipping after 6–7 minutes. The outside should be browned and the coating should look set as the centers get close to done.
Check for doneness
Toward the end of the cook time, check the thickest part of the pork chop with an instant-read thermometer. I usually remove the chops at about 140°F and let them rest on a plate for 5 minutes. Their temperature will continue to rise as they rest, bringing them to 145°F. Check that they reach 145°F before serving.
Don’t rest the pork chops in the closed air fryer, since the trapped heat can continue cooking them past 145°F, making them dry.
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What Kind of Pork Chops Work Best in the Air Fryer?
I prefer fresh, thick-cut boneless pork chops for this recipe. The chops I use are about 1½ inches thick, which gives the outside time to brown while the center stays juicy.
Using frozen pork chops: Thaw them completely before making this recipe so you can dry and season them properly. Once thawed, pat away any extra moisture with a paper towel before adding the oil and seasoning.
Regular-cut pork chops will work too, but they’ll cook faster than the thick chops I use here. If your pork chops are thin, start checking them early because they can overcook quickly.
Tips for Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Check early: It’s much easier to add another minute than to fix an overcooked pork chop.
- Use a thermometer: Pork chops can vary in thickness even when they look similar, so internal temperature is the best doneness check.
- Don’t crowd the basket: Leave room between the pork chops so the coating can brown.
Variations
- Change the seasoning: The Cajun Parmesan coating is the original flavor, but you can change it up with my pork chop seasoning. My Creole seasoning is another savory option that works with the Parmesan.
- Try bone-in pork chops: Bone-in chops take longer, so don’t rely on the boneless cooking time. If you prefer using the oven, my oven-baked bone-in pork chops are another easy option.
- Using a Ninja Crispi: You can make these Ninja Crispi pork chops using the same recipe, 375°F temperature, and 12–14 minute cook time.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Pork Chops
I like to build the rest of the meal around how hearty I want dinner to be.
- Comfort-food dinner: Add Southern green beans and browned butter mashed potatoes for a classic meat-and-sides plate.
- Mostly air fryer dinner: Make air fryer broccoli once the pork chops come out, then add garlic butter rice to finish the meal.
- Southern-style plate: Serve them with collard greens and homemade cornbread for a heartier dinner.
- Build your own plate: Browse my side dish recipes when you want another vegetable, starch, or easy side to round out the meal.
More Pork Chop Recipes
If you have pork chops on hand but want a different flavor or cooking method, try one of these next:
- Garlic butter: I make my garlic butter pork chops in a skillet and finish them with garlic and butter.
- Smothered: When I want pork chops with a rich, savory gravy, I make my Smothered Pork Chops.
- Bone-in with pan sauce: My cast iron pork chops use bone-in chops with a creamy mushroom pan sauce.
- Oven-baked: My oven-baked bone-in pork chops are another option when I want to cook thicker bone-in chops in the oven.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Warm the pork chops in the air fryer just until heated through so they don’t dry out.
- Meal prep: Slice leftover pork chops for an easy protein to add to lunch.
FAQs
My 1½-inch boneless pork chops take 12–14 minutes at 375°F, flipping halfway through. Start checking the internal temperature toward the end of that window and cook to 145°F.
I cook these thick-cut boneless pork chops at 375°F and use 145°F as the doneness check.
Yes. Use the same recipe, 375°F temperature, and 12–14 minute cook time
Yes, but they’ll need more time than the boneless pork chops used in this recipe. Use 145°F rather than the 12–14 minute cook time to determine when they’re done.
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Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pork Chops
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless pork chops, mine were 8oz thick & fresh
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, click for recipe
- ¼ cup Grated Parmesan, from the refrigerated section of the market
- ¼ tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt, optional or up to ½tsp depending on your taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel.
- Mix the Cajun seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Coat the pork chops with olive oil. Press the seasoning mixture onto both sides and around the edges.
- Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 375°F for 6–7 minutes per side, or 12–14 minutes total.
- Toward the end of the cook time, check the thickest part of each pork chop with an instant-read thermometer. I usually remove them at about 140°F and let them rest on a plate for 5 minutes. Their temperature will continue to rise as they rest, bringing them to 145°F. Check that they reach 145°F before serving.
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Recipe Notes
- Pork chops: This recipe uses two 8-ounce boneless center-cut pork chops that are about 1½ inches thick. The two chops make about 4 servings.
- Different cuts: Thinner chops will cook faster. Thick or bone-in chops may need more time.
- Ninja Crispi: Use the same recipe, temperature, and cook time.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
