Best Damn Grilled Pork Chops
Thick, bone-in pork chops, seasoned with an outstanding dry rub and grilled to absolute juicy perfection. This is what grilling is all about. The fire from the grill brings the sweet and savory flavors to life for some of the best pork chops youll ever have.
Theres nothing quite like grilling in the summertime , and pork chops are a grilling favorite. I simply love the flavors of grilled pork and with just the right amount of char from the caramelized brown sugar and other classic seasonings. This easy recipe will make you into a grilling expert on the first try.
Are 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 extra fat.
If youre on any other diet that eats meat, pork chops are okay to eat in moderation.
You typically use less 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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How To Make Air Fryer Bone
Mix the spices together in a bowl. Pat dry the pork and rub the seasoning liberally on each side.
Place the pork in the air fryer basket, preferably not overlapping.
Spray lightly with oil. If you dont have spray oil, first coat the pork with oil, then dust on the seasoning. You can brush on olive oil with a silicon brush.
Cook at 380°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping over halfway through cooking. After 15 minutes, be sure to keep a close eye on the pork chops so you dont end up overcooking them.
Since all pork chops come in different sizes, large to small, thick and thin, its impossible to say exactly how long it will take to cook yours. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the chops.
The meat must reach a minimum of 145°F internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached this temperature or higher for more well-done meat before removing it.
Continue cooking until the desired internal temp is reached. Even if you like it well-done, I wouldnt suggest cooking it past 150°F, to avoid it becoming tough.
Remove the pork chops and allow them to rest for 3 minutes before serving.
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Easy Air Fried Pork Chops Recipe
Pork chops can often be tough and dry. Or sometimes you might be using a lot of oil or butter just to get the chops to be juicy. You dont have to worry anymore about dry pork chops because these are juicy and easy pork chops. Air fryer pork chops come out tender, juicy and always perfect. Its fantastic about how little oil is required to make these pork chops tender. When compared to other methods, healthy pork chops in the air fryer is totally possible. We hardly used any oil in these air fried pork chops and they were some of the best weve ever had! Heres our air fryer pork tenderloin recipe to enjoy.
What Oil & Oil Sprayer Is Best For The Air Fryer
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so its very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has not harmful aerosols or chemicals.
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How To Cook Pork Chops In An Air Fryer
Cooking pork chops in an air fryer is incredibly easy. Heres a quick summary.
The great thing about an air fryer, is that youre not really frying, but the food comes out all crispy and amazing, as if you were. Its like an oven on steroids where the food cooks super fast without drying out, and bonus you can avoid heating up your entire house, which is so nice in the summer months.
How To Know When Your Pork Chops Are Fully Cooked
Your pork chops are officially done when you stick an Instant Read 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 couldnt wait an extra 5 minutes.
Once the pork chops are done, pull them out immediately. This means youll 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.
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Preheat Your Air Fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step! Youll want to preheat at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Then when its ready, cook the pork chops in the air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping them over after 6 minutes.
When the pork chops are done, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a plate and let them rest for a couple of minutes. Then youre ready to serve and enjoy! There will be a nice juice that will form from the seasonings and the natural juices of the pork. Slice the pork chops in thin slices, and get some of the seasoned juice on each bite. Youre gonna love it!
Thick And Juicy Pork Chops Made Easy
Have you ever had pork chops turn out dry? Thats a common issue with cooking pork chops at home. But, Im here to tell you, it doesnt have to be that way! My secret weapon for no-fail juicy pork chops? Air frying! Using your Air Fryer, its easy to make thick, juicy pork chops, every time.
Why does air frying pork chops work so well? The short answer is convection heating. Essentially, air fryers are mini convection ovens, which bake much more effectively than normal ovens. With convection heat, pork chops cook quickly, developing a crispy exterior while staying juicy inside.
This recipe for air-fried pork chops uses a seasoning rub, but no breading, so the finished chops are also low carb and keto-friendly.
The spicy rub is full of flavor, and slightly sweet to complement the natural sweetness of the pork. And, theres no need for excess oil! Air frying uses a minimum amount, for maximum results!
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Juicy Air Fried Pork Chops With Less Oil
Pork chops can often be tough and dry. Or sometimes you might be using a lot of oil or butter just to get the chops to be juicy. Well, worry no more about making juicy and easy pork chops. Air fryer pork chops come out juicy, tender and always perfect. Were obsessed with how little oil is required to make these pork chops tender. When compared to other methods, healthy pork chops in the air fryer is totally possible. We hardly used any oil in these air fried pork chops and they were some of the best weve ever had!
Tips For Air Frying Breaded Pork Chops
- Whats the best seasoned coating mix brand? All these brands are very similar and differ in texture. Some are more coarse and some are more fine. These seasoned coating or breading mixes all work the same. The flavors are different so try a few and see what is best for your personal taste.
- How to moisten the pork before breading? Most of the shake and bake style seasoned breading mixes say to moisten the pork chops. We added the mayo part because its a nice option for extra moist chops. And it also helps the breading stick better.
- Different cuts and thicknesses of pork chops. This factor will determine your final cooking time. So youll have to adjust the timing accordingly when you make your first batch. After that, youll know what your preferred timing is based on your specific cut of pork chops and size of air fryer.
- All recipe details for these air fryer shake n bake pork chops are in the recipe box below.
Seasoned Coatings & More Used in This Recipe
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How To Make Pork Chops In The Air Fryer
Cooking the chops is easy, and the air fryer does all the work. Because there is no marinating time needed, it really comes together quickly!
Add pork chops and olive oil to the bowl. Rub the olive oil all over the meat. Add all the spices and coat the pork chops on both sides.
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes.
Cook the pork chops: Add the pork chops in a single layer into the air fryer basket and cook for 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Serve: Serve your pork with your favorite sides.
How To Make Pork Chops In Air Fryer
Cooking pork chops in the air fryer couldnt be easier. Its the foolproof way to get juicy chops without turning on the oven or making a mess on the stove top.
Pro tip: Be sure to use pork chops that are the same size and thickness for even cooking time.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
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How To Serve Grilled Pork Chops
Your delicious grilled pork chops are excellent with just about any side-dish you have on hand. But, theres one thing that stands out above the rest potatoes. Our recipe for Irresistible Air Fryer Garlic Herb Potatoes is the perfect compliment for our pork chops. Theyre super easy to make and really live up to their name of being irresistible.
Best Air Fried Pork Chops
One of my favorite dinners to make for my family is pork chops. But of course, if you have any distractions at all , theres a chance you might accidentally overcook the chops and have them dry out. I know Ive had that happen more than once!
A good sauce can fix a dried pork chops recipe, but Id rather that not be an issue in the first place. An easy way to make sure you they stay moist while cooking is to air fry pork chops!
Air fryer pork chops are a total lifesaver and time-saver. They take under 20 minutes to make all told, and your only intervention, while they cook, will be to flip them halfway through. Thats it. No poking or prodding and wondering if theyre going to be done soon!
I just know youre going to love these air fryer breaded pork chops. They are truly delicious, easy to make, and perfect for a quick dinner recipe over the weekdays or as a part of your dinner ideas. They are truly one of the best Pork Chops Recipes!
Love it! Going to make it again!
Bianca on Pinterest
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Adjusting The Pork Chops Seasonings
You can skip adding the seasoning to the pork chops, but you will lose out on a fair bit of flavor. At a minimum, I recommend sprinkling the chops with some salt and pepper.
Do not be afraid to alter the seasoning so that it is better suited for your tastes. For example, other herbs and spices such as thyme, oregano, mustard, or even cumin will work nicely with the porks flavors.
If you come up with an amazing combination that you would like to share, then be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Simple Seasoning Rub For Grilled Pork Chops
Well make a simple BBQ dry rub for our pork chops, which is made from ingredients you likely already have in the pantry:
- Brown sugar
- Ground mustard
- Salt & pepper
These ingredients all work together to create a sweet and savory flavor. The brown sugar will caramelize to form the most amazing char/crust on the pork chops. One bite and youll be smiling from ear to ear.
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What Are The Best Types Of Pork Chops To Air Fry
When it comes to air frying, the best pork chops to use are the thickest ones you can find. General rule of thumb: the thicker the pork chop, the more juicy it will be on the inside. From boneless to bone-in pork chops, use the quick-hitter guide below to help you choose the right cut when youre at the butcher shop:
- Shoulder Chop: Cut from the shoulder, fair amount of gristle and blade bone, tends to be a bit tougher
- Rib Chop: Cut from the rib section of the loin, bone-in, medium amount of fat, tender yet lean
- Loin Chop: Cut from combination of hip and loin meat, very lean and mild flavor, the more tenderloin present the more tender the cut
- Boneless Chop: Cut from head of the loin and above loin chops, boneless, very lean
- Sirloin Chop: Cut from hip area toward back of the loin, highest amount of bone in relation to other pork chops, lots of pork flavor, tends to be on the tougher side
How To Make Air Fryer Pork Chops
Pro Tip: Be careful not to overcook the pork chops, or theyll become chewy and dry. One of our favorite tools for fail-proof meats is an instant-read thermometer. Air fry until the internal temperature reaches 145 in the thickest portion of the pork chops.
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Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops
Most of the time, we don’t get very excited over pork chops. Often overdone, they come out dry, sad, and flavorless. Cooking them in an air fryer changes all that. Due to the intense heat circulation that happens, the outside crisps slightly while the inside stays nice and juicy. 20 minutes latermost of it hands-off timeand it’s basically instant dinner. Try it once and let us know down below if you’ve got a winner on your hands.
Our version gets coated in Parmesan and plenty of spices for the perfect crust, but you can tinker with the formula to find what works for you. Rub it with cajun seasoning or burger seasoning for a slight twist, or go straight for pre-packaged spice mixes like Old Bay and Cavender’s Greek Seasoning.
One thing to note here is the cooking time: it totally depends on the size of your pork chops. For our recipe, we used boneless pieces about 1″ thick. If you’re opting for bone-in, that will take longer if your pork chops are thicker, you will need to increase the cooking time.
To adhere to the USDA guideline for food safety, pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°. If you’re a frequent carnivore, we highly recommend investing in a good cooking thermometer so that you can be sure your chops are fully cooked before digging in!
Made them? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
Editor’s note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on March 7, 2022 to include more information.
freshly ground black pepper
How To Choose Pork Chops For Air Frying
You can make air fryer pork chops boneless or bone-in, at your preferred thickness. Use these tips to choose the best chops:
- Bone-in vs. boneless pork chops in the air fryer: Boneless chops have a quicker cooking time. If you choose to make air fryer pork chops bone in, you will get more flavor with a longer cooking time.
- Rib vs loin chops: Rib chops contain a bit more fat, while loin chops are leaner. Both have a mild flavor.
- Thickness: Choose pork chops that have a similar size and thickness, so that they cook evenly. The best air fryer pork chops will be at least 3/4 to 1 inch thick, but if all you can find is 1/2 inch, they will work fine.
- Appearance: A firm chop with some marbling is ideal look for firm, pinkish-red flesh and avoid chops that look very pale or have dark spots.
- Humanely-raised or not: I find that humanely raised pork has better flavor, especially for air fryer pork loin chops without breading. If that matters to you too, you might like this meat delivery service I use.
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