These juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops with the bone in deliver restaurant-quality results in just 17 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, these chops turn out incredibly tender on the inside with a beautiful golden crust outside. With only 5 minutes of prep time and 12 minutes of cooking, you’ll have a protein-packed dinner that’s both healthy and satisfying. At just 519 calories per serving with 39g of protein, these pork chops prove that delicious comfort food can also be nutritious.
Essential Ingredients
- Bone-in Pork Chops: Two 3/4-pound chops, 1-inch thickness for optimal results
- Butter and Oil Mix: 2 tablespoons softened butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil for perfect searing
- Fresh Seasonings: Minced sage and grated garlic (or dried alternatives)
- Spice Blend: Kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and mustard powder for rich flavor
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheating: Set air fryer to 350°F (176°C) for 5 minutes to ensure proper temperature
- Preparation: Pat pork chops thoroughly dry with paper towels for better seasoning adhesion
- Seasoning Mix: Combine butter, oil, and all seasonings in a bowl until well incorporated
- Coating: Apply the spiced butter mixture generously on both sides of the chops
- Air Frying: Cook at 370°F (187°C) for 12-15 minutes until desired doneness
- Resting: Let chops rest in the air fryer for 5 minutes to retain juices
- Serving: Present hot with your preferred side dishes for a complete meal
Cooking Success Tips
Getting perfect air fryer pork chops is super easy! The key is patting them dry first – this helps the butter mixture stick better and creates a lovely crust. Don’t skip the 5-minute rest time after cooking – it lets all those tasty juices settle back into the meat. If you’re new to cooking pork, grab a meat thermometer and aim for 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part for juicy, safe-to-eat chops.
Quick Substitutions
Out of some ingredients? No problem! You can swap fresh sage for dried (just use half the amount), and garlic powder works great instead of fresh garlic. If you don’t have smoked paprika, regular paprika is fine – you’ll just miss a bit of that smoky flavor. No mustard powder? Try a teaspoon of Dijon mustard instead. The butter can be replaced with all olive oil if needed.
Serving Ideas
These pork chops are amazing with so many sides! Try them with crispy air fryer potatoes (just cook them first and keep them warm). For a complete meal, add some steamed green beans or a fresh salad. Want something creamy? Mashed potatoes soak up all those wonderful juices. A simple applesauce on the side adds a sweet touch that’s just perfect with pork.
Storing and Reheating
If you have leftovers, let them cool down completely before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge – they’ll stay good for 3-4 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. This keeps them juicy, unlike microwave reheating which can make them tough. You can also slice up cold leftover pork chops for sandwiches!
Air Fryer Pork Chops Bone In
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Paper Towels
- Small Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in pork chops about ¾ pound each and 1″ thick
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sage fresh minced, or ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon garlic grated, or ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer using the preheat function or by heating it at 350ºF/176ºC for 5 minutes.
- Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and set them aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, sage, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder.
- Rub the spiced butter evenly over both sides of the pork chops and place them in the air fryer.
- Cook at 370ºF/187ºC for 12-15 minutes, or until your desired doneness (see notes).
- Allow the pork chops to rest for 5 minutes in the air fryer.
- Enjoy immediately, with your favorite sides.
