Make this single serving Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chop when you need a quick dinner. It just takes about 20 minutes at the most, and, you can even cook potatoes and vegetables with it for a full meal.
Table of contents
This Air Fryer bone in pork chop recipe is so easy, but even better, it is made, essentially on 'one pan' because you can add some cut potatoes or fries and vegetable to the Air Fryer basket and cook it all together.
I've tested this recipe with ½-3/4 inch thick bone in pork chops (that's what I found at the store) and also 1 ½ inch thick pork chops. The thinner pork chops take between 5-7 minutes to cook, the thicker ones take 10-12 minutes.
That's such a quick dinner with limited clean-up! Yay for that!
I made a paprika based seasoning for this Air Fryer bone in pork chop recipe, but you can use any seasonings like ranch seasoning, seasoning salt, or salt and herbs. The flavoring options are endless.
To make it extra easy when testing, I used cooking spray instead of oil (so I didn't have to rub it in!), and added sides directly to the Air Fryer tray. I really wanted mashed potatoes for this, so I made them while it was cooking.
Mashed potatoes just take an extra 5-10 minutes. Try this Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes (skip the 'roasted' garlic for more time savings). Or make them even easier by adding some butter, milk, salt, pepper, and herbs.
Honestly, I think pan frying pork chops is just a bit better. They get browned, which adds extra flavor (you can't get that in the Air Fryer), but it does require a bit of attention, which the Air Fryer doesn't. Both are great options!
Ingredients
Scroll down to the Air Fryer bone in pork chop recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Bone in Pork Chop: ½-3/4 inch thick pork chops are totally fine, they just cook faster. I like this serving size better for myself than thicker ones, that's just me. Many other recipes suggest 1 ½ inch thick for juicy pork chops.
- Cooking Spray: Spray the basket so it doesn't stick. Also I spray the pork chop so the seasonings stick easier. I prefer spray vs oil because you don't have to rub it in. Either works though.
- Dried Thyme: I like adding some dried thyme (or other herbs) for a bit of herby floral flavor.
- Paprika: It adds a great sweet, slightly peppery taste. It also adds great color to your pork chop since it won't brown when cooking in the Air Fryer.
- Salt
- Onion Powder: Adds a bit of sweetness to your Air Fryer bone in pork chop
- Garlic Powder: Easily add some garlic flavor without it burning or turning bitter. Plus using powder is easier than mincing or grating garlic cloves.
- Brown Sugar (optional): I didn't notice a big difference in flavor between adding it and not. You can choose!
- Serve your Air Fryer bone in pork chop with potatoes or a grain and vegetables for a full meal.
Instructions
Scroll down to the Air Fryer bone in pork chop recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.
2. Mix seasonings together in small bowl (dried thyme, paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and optional brown sugar).
3. Spray one side of pork chop with cooking spray, sprinkle about ½ of seasonings over whole side. Set aside.
4. After 5 minutes of preheating, spray bottom of Air Fryer basket where pork chop will cook, then add pork chop, seasoned side down and potatoes (if cooking).
If cooking frozen or fresh broccoli, add when there's about 5 minutes of cooking time left so they don't get too crispy. Other vegetables can cook for longer.
5. Spray other side, and sprinkle seasonings on other side, evenly. (You can sprinkle leftover seasonings over potatoes or vegetables, if you'd like).
6. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until center of pork chop is 145 degrees F.
7. Let pork chop rest for 3-5 minutes. Enjoy your Air Fryer bone in pork chop with your favorite sides, see options below.
Cook Pork Chop on the Stove
I recommend cooking your pork chop on a cast iron skillet, it will give you a great sear and cook it evenly. Cook your pork chop for 5-12 minutes over medium heat (in cast iron skillet, higher for another pan).
Cooking times:
- ½-3/4 inch thick pork chop for about 2-4 minutes per side
- 1- 1 ½ inch thick pork chop for about 6-8 minutes per side.
Check center with instant read thermometer for best results. Let rest for about 5 minutes after cooking.
Here's a GREAT video from Lan Lam at Americas Test Kitchen on resting meat.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store any leftover Air Fryer bone in pork chop in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. You can freeze it for longer too.
To reheat, microwave your Air Fryer pork chop until heated through, or it reaches 165 degrees in the center.
Of course, you can also reheat it in the Air Fryer. If your air fryer dries out food more, you can consider wrapping it in foil.
Substitutions/Tips
- Adjust cooking time if you're using a pork chop that's thicker or thinner than what I used.
- You can use a boneless pork chop as well, it will cook quicker than bone in. I also cooked a boneless pork chop that was about 1 ½ inches thick, it took about 12 minutes to cook.
- I added frozen broccoli spears with my Air Fryer bone in pork chop, it were great after cooking for 5 minutes. They get very crispy florets after about 5 minutes, so I don't recommend cooking them for longer than that.
- Serve your Air Fryer bone in pork chop with rice, pasta, on a sandwich, or other ways.
- Other great add-ins: try other seasoning ideas like: salt and pepper, serve with sauteed apples or applesauce. Season your Air Fryer bone in pork chop with about 1 teaspoon of ranch seasoning, use a seasoned salt, etc.
FAQ
It depends on the thickness of your pork chop. ½-3/4 inch thick bone in pork chops will cook in about 5-7 minutes, 1-1 ½ thick pork chops will cook in about 10-12 minutes.
Check temperature with instant read thermometer. Cook until it's 145 degrees F in the center. You can also cook it until about 135 and let it rest in the air fryer, closed, for about 5-7 minutes and it will continue cooking.
Technically, lower is better for juicy pork chops, but it'll take longer. I use an Air Fryer that dries out food more than others I've used, and all pork chops I made came out juicy. Check the temperature and don't over cook them.
Yes! It's so quick and easy too. Keeping the bone in helps your pork chops stay juicy and tender. Just watch the temperature and don't overcook them. An instant read thermometer is a great tool for cooking meat.
Other good pork recipes
Repurpose pork chops
- Slice leftovers and serve in a sandwich with swiss or provolone cheese and other toppings including mustard.
- Slice leftovers and brown on the stove. Serve over rice or pasta and vegetables. It'd be great with Mushroom Green Bean Pasta for One.
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Pork Chop: see other good pork chop recipes above.
- Paprika: Single Serve Mac and Cheese,
Did you make this Air Fryer bone in pork chop? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chop
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Measuring Spoons
- tongs
Ingredients
- 1 Bone-in pork chop ½- 1 ½ thick (or boneless)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon brown sugar optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- cooking spray
- sides: frozen vegetables and mashed potatoes or potato wedges, etc
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees, about 5 minutes.
- Mix together seasonings in small bowl (½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon brown sugar (optional), ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- Spray one side of pork chop with cooking spray. Sprinkle about ½ of seasoning mix over pork chop.
- Spray Air Fryer basket with cooking spray, place pork chop in basket, seasoned side down. Add vegetables, and other sides if you want.
- Spray unseasoned side of pork chop with cooking spray. Sprinkle remaining seasonings over pork chop evenly. If any remains, sprinkle over sides or vegetables.
- Cook 5 minutes or until pork chop reaches 145 degrees F.(frozen broccoli will likely get very crisp after about 5 minutes, I like to just cook it 5 minutes)
- Once pork chop reaches 145 degrees F, remove and let rest for 3-5 minutes. Continue cooking sides until done. See approximate cooking times for different thicknesses in notes below.
- Serve with sides and enjoy.
Notes
- I cooked one ½ inch thick bone in pork chop and ¾ inch thick bone in pork chop in my testing. The ½ inch thick took about 5 minutes to reach 145 degrees F, and the ¾ inch took approximately 6-7 minutes to reach 145 degrees F.
- I also tested this recipe with 1 ½ inch thick boneless pork chop, and it took 12 minutes to cook.
- Potato wedges cook in about 10 minutes, and frozen broccoli spears take about 5 minutes to cook. If you're using a thinner pork chop, start potatoes and pork chop at the same time, then remove pork chop to rest, and add in vegetables so it's all ready at about the same time.
- You can use a neutral oil or olive oil to coat the pork chop instead of spray, I just like spray because it's less messy and very easy. Oil helps the seasonings stick and helps your pork chop stay juicy on the inside.
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