Air Fryer Pork Chops
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops with Warm Spice Rub
Thick bone-in chops get a generous coating of paprika, mustard, and garlic powder before hitting the air fryer's intense heat. The result is beautifully bronzed meat with a juicy interior that cuts like butter — no flipping required.
AmericanDinnerGluten FreeDairy FreeNut FreeHigh ProteinQuick MealsAir FryerPork
Ingredients
- 3 bone-in pork chops, thick-cut (1.5-2 inches)
- 1 tsppaprika
- 1 tspsalt
- 1 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tspground mustard
- ½ tsponion powder
- ½ tspgarlic powder
- 2 tbspolive oil
Instructions
- Fire up your air fryer to 400°F and let it run empty for 5 minutes. This preheating step ensures the chops start cooking immediately when they hit the basket, creating that coveted crispy exterior.⏱ 5 min
- Whisk together paprika, salt, pepper, ground mustard, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl. The mixture should smell warm and aromatic — that's your flavor foundation right there.
- Drizzle the olive oil over both sides of each pork chop, then massage it in with your hands until the surface glistens. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chops and rub it into every curve and crevice — don't be shy about really working it in.
- Arrange the seasoned chops in your air fryer basket with space between each piece — crowding leads to uneven cooking. Cook for 10-12 minutes without flipping until an instant-read thermometer reads exactly 145°F when inserted into the thickest part.⏱ 12 min
- Transfer the chops to a cutting board and resist the urge to cut right in. This brief rest allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, preventing them from running out onto your plate.⏱ 5 min