Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer (Quick Cooking)
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At this point, what can’t you cook in the airfryer?! Thin pork chops in the airfryer are the perfect duo as the result is juicy, tender and flavoursome. Cooked in less than 10 minutes!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Big Flavor – I love love love the flavour profile of the pork rub that I’ve used in this recipe. It includes smoked paprika, brown sugar and onion/garlic powder. The perfect salty, smoky sweet combo to pair with your thin pork chops!
Never Overcooked: If the flavour alone doesn’t have you obsessed already with these thin pork chops in airfryer, then the tenderness will have you hooked. A big issue with pork chops is that they’re easily overcooked and become tough. Cooking them over a high heat for a short amount of time prevents this from happening (a big issue with pork chops is they easily get overcooked and become tough).
Fast cooking & easy clean-up: Ideal for a mid-week dinner when you’ve had a long day at work. You don’t have to mess around with any foil, just chuck them in and you have a delicious protein source in 10 minutes. Throw your airfryer basket in the dishwasher and you’re good to go (check that it’s dishwasher safe first!)
Healthier Choice: This recipe requires minimal oil which reduces that fat content in this recipe. As pork loins can be a fattier cut of pork, we want to minimize the additional fats that we add.
Budget Friendly: It’s delicious and feels expensive but you’ll be surprised by the price tag – pork loins (especially thin ones) are an affordable cut of meat.
Need inspiration for some other tasty pork recipes? Try my; Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly, Simple Pork Curry and Pork Stroganoff
How do you keep thin pork chops from getting tough?
Opt for thin over thick: My pork loins were around 1.5 cm thick, this meant that the cook time was really quick, ensuring I didn’t have to cook them for a long time to ensure the middle was cooked.
Don’t overcook: Air fry thin pork chops for 145°F/63°C max then cover and rest, so temp comes up by a few degrees.
Let rest: Letting your pork chops rest allows the succulent juices to be retained in the meat. This prevents dryness. If you slice them straight away, the juice will release from the meat.
How long to cook thin sliced pork chops in airfryer: This is dependent on the size of your thin pork chops. Ideally they will be around 1.5cm thick like mine were which will ensure a quick cook time. If they’re a lot thicker, you could pound them to become thinner to decrease the cook time.
Alternatively if you don’t want to do that, increase the cook time by a couple of minutes and use a meat thermometer to ensure you don’t go over 145°F/63°C.
Love using the air fryer? Try these high protein recipes; Gammon Joint in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Ribeye Steak and Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
Thin pork chops – I bought a pack of 4 thin pork chops which equated to around 480g/1lb.
Spice rub – A smoky combo of paprika, onion and garlic powder works fabulously with airfryer thin pork chops as it’s a versatile flavour which pairs with many dishes.
Brown sugar – This promotes caramelization even with the short cook time. It contrasts nicely with the salty, smoky flavors of the rub.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Use bone-in, thicker pork chop – If you do this, I would recommend only cooking 2 pork chops at once in your airfryer to prevent overlapping/promote even cooking/browning. You may have to adjust the cook time to 10-12 minutes, or until the temp reads 145°F/63°C.
Different spices/dried herbs: A more festive pork chop recipe would include more of a neutral seasoning, i.e. garlic granules, onion granules and dried Italian herbs. You could then finish with a squeeze of lemon and serve with applesauce. Note: you will get less browning due to there being no brown sugar. Or try my cowboy butter with these chops.
How to make thin pork chops in the airfryer
Preheat the airfryer to 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Add smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic granules, onion granules and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl and then mix together. Pat the thin pork chops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture (Image 1).
- Coat the pork chops in oil, then add to the bowl with the seasoning and use your hands to evenly distribute (Image 2).
3. Place the thin pork chop into your airfryer basket (Image 3).
4. Cook at 390°F (200°C) for 5-8 minutes depending on size (Image 4).
5. Once it’s cooked, use a meat thermometre and check the internal temperature which should be 145°F/63°C (Image 5).
6. Let the pork rest rest for a couple of minutes, then enjoy. Optionally drizzle or brush some additional hot sauce onto your pork chops. Serve with fresh parsley and a crack of black pepper (Image 6).
Pair these yummy chops with some creamy pasta; Creme Fraiche Pasta, Cottage Cheese Pasta and Boursin Cheese Baked Pasta
Tips for the best result
Preheat your airfryer – This ensures that your pork can cook quickly.
Use a meat thermometer/don’t overcook – The number one kitchen gadget you should have when it comes to cooking meats. Cook until the temp is 145°F/63°C.
Don’t overcrowd – You may have to do batches if you have a small air fryer. I managed to fit 4 in my airfryer with them touching on the sides but not overlapping. This is ok.
Dry them – Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel before seasoning. This will ensure that the spices and seasoning will bind to your airfryer thin pork chops better, which leads to a better flavour profile.
Let them rest! Letting pork chops rest retains their juices, preventing dryness. Slicing them immediately causes the juices to escape.
Serving Suggestions
Any type of potato or rice – mashed potatoes, fries, wedges, you name it – these thin boneless pork chops in airfryer work really well as a pairing.
A pasta dish that would work great is my creamy cajun pasta or if you wanted to opt for rice, you could make this spicy rice & add some vegetables with these pork chops as the source of protein.
Vegetables – go low carb and pair with stir fried veg, roasted broccoli or a simple salad.
Other air fryer serving suggestions; Garlic Bread in Air Fryer, Easy Diced Air Fryer Potatoes and Air fryer Zucchini Fries
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
Refrigerator – store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Freeze – it is possible to freeze for up to 3 months, however I think that this recipe is best served fresh or reheated within a couple of days. It only takes 10 minutes to make, so if you did have an abundance of pork then I would suggest freezing it uncooked and then following this recipe after thawing.
Reheat – reheat in the microwave on high for 2 minutes, using 30 second increments to see when it’s heated through. To reheat in the airfryer, cook for 2 minutes at 400°/205°C.
FAQs
Yes you can – I would recommend only cooking 2 pork chops at once in your airfryer to prevent overlapping/promote even cooking/browning. You may have to adjust the cook time to 10-12 minutes, or until the temp reads 145°C/65°C.
Cook time is around 5-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of your pork chop.
This will happen if you over cook them and don’t allow them to rest. This is why I recommend checking the temp at 5 minutes and then continuing to cook if you’re still under.
The oil that we add to the pork chops will prevent this from happening. If they’re sticking, cook for a bit longer to allow them to release from the basket.
If you tried this Thin Pork Chops in Airfryer recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Thin Pork Chops in Airfryer
Ingredients
- 480 gram (4) thin pork chops (£3.60)
- Optional hot sauce of choice and parsley
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- ½ tsp onion granules
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- Salt and pepper
Method
Preheat the airfryer to 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Pat the thin pork chops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- Combine the smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic granules, onion granules and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Coat the pork chops in oil, then add to the bowl with the seasoning and use your hands to evenly distribute.
- Place the thin pork chop into your airfryer basket and cook at 390°F (200°C) for 5-8 minutes depending on size. Once it’s cooked, the internal temp will be 65°C/145°C.
- Let the pork rest rest for a couple of minutes, then enjoy. Optionally drizzle or brush some additional hot sauce onto your pork chops. Serve with fresh parsley and a crack of black pepper.
Notes
- Preheat your air fryer to ensure the chops cook quickly and evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Cook in batches if necessary to ensure even cooking without overcrowding.
- Pat dry with a paper towel before seasoning.
- Allow the pork chops to rest after cooking to retain juices and prevent dryness.
Nutrition
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