The Crispiest, Juiciest Air Fryer Pork Chops

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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updated Oct 18, 2019
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Air Fryer Pork Chops
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Thanks to the convection heat of the air fryer, these breaded pork chops cook up crisp and juicy every time.

Serves4

Prep15 minutes

Cook24 minutes

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Air Fryer Pork Chops
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Air Fryer Pork Chops

Let me introduce you to the crispiest, juiciest breaded pork chop there is: the air fryer pork chop. The rapidly swirling air of the air fryer creates a deliciously crisp crust on all sides of the chops, all while cooking the inside to tender, juicy perfection. Plus, you don’t have to worry about dragging out a frying pan or dirtying the stovetop with splattered oil.

I’m convinced pork chops and air fryers were destined to work together — and I think this recipe might convince you, too.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Double the Breadcrumbs, Double the Crispy Crunch

You can achieve a crispy coating on pork chops a number of different ways, from crushed cereal to crushed crackers. Here, we found the absolute best breading to be a combination of light and flaky, panko breadcrumbs and more finely ground traditional breadcrumbs, which stick well to the chops and stay crispy throughout the cooking process.

For maximum crispiness, you’ll want to make sure your air fryer is preheated and coated with cooking spray before you add the chops. The air fryer’s convection heat, which cooks the pork chops quickly without drying them out, works best when there’s room for air to flow, so don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook two pork chops at a time for about 12 minutes each until they reach 145°F in the thickest part. Then, repeat with any remaining pork chops.

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Air Fryer Pork Chops

Thanks to the convection heat of the air fryer, these breaded pork chops cook up crisp and juicy every time.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 24 minutes

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 4

    (3/4 to 1-inch thick) boneless center cut pork chops (about 6 ounces each), trimmed if needed

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1

    large egg

  • 1 tablespoon

    Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 cup

    panko breadcrumbs

  • 1/4 cup

    fine, dried breadcrumbs

  • 1/4 cup

    finely grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    onion powder

  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Set an air fryer to 400°F and let heat for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the pork chops.

  2. Season the pork chops all over with the salt and set aside. Whisk the egg and mustard together in a shallow dish. Shake the panko breadcrumbs, fine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, and onion powder together in a gallon zip-top bag.

  3. Dip each pork chop in the egg mixture to coat, then place in the breadcrumb bag. When all 4 pork chops are in the bag, seal and shake to coat the chops evenly in the crumbs.

  4. Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Use tongs to transfer 2 pork chops into the air fryer and place in a single layer. Cook for 6 minutes. Flip and cook for 6 minutes more. The chops are done when the coating is golden brown and they register 145°F in the thickest part with a probe thermometer. Repeat with the remaining 2 pork chops.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

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Air Fryer
children
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dinner
Ingredient
Meat