These easy Instant Pot air fryer pork chops (no breading) are juicy and tender, and are done in no time! With just a handful of ingredients, you can make a tasty main dish with little effort and delicious results. If you don’t have an Instant Pot air fryer or air fryer lid, you can use a traditional air fryer or bake them in the oven.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pork chops can be tricky to get just right. Oftentimes, they end up being overcooked and dry. My new favorite way to make pork chops is in my Instant Pot Duo Crisp or Cosori air fryer.
I love the fact that I can have dinner ready in just minutes by air frying the pork chops. The no breading recipe calls for a simple spice rub with spices that I always have on hand, and you probably do too.
A couple of easy side dish ideas include air fryer cauliflower, air fryer brussel sprouts or air fryer roasted potatoes – they both go wonderfully with the pork chops!
You may also want to check out my other air fryer recipes like frozen french fries, chicken wings, or sweet treats such as almond cake and pound cake.
Tips for Success
How to Prevent Sticking
I don’t usually encounter any sticking with this recipe but I do coat the air fryer basket (or metal rack if using an Instant Pot air fryer) with a bit of vegetable oil. I also coat the pork chops with a minimal amount of oil. I use about 2 teaspoons of oil.
To coat the air fryer basket, you can either spray the oil on or apply it using a paper towel. If using a spray, don’t use the canned oil spray, but instead use an oil spray mister that can be filled with oil. [Read More: Go to the section Air Fryer Tips in my guide on how to use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp]
It is also important to make sure that the pork chops are dried really well before applying the oil and seasonings. I use paper towels to thoroughly dry them.
Using your hands to apply the oil and spices to the pork chops is the best way to get maximum coverage. Just be sure to wash your hands really well afterward!
Pork Chop Cuts
I use boneless pork chops that are about 1-inch thick. If you have thicker pork chops, you need to increase the air frying time by a couple of minutes.
If you’re using bone-in pork chops, air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the same amount of time.
If you have very thin-cut pork chops, reduce the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Checking for Doneness
Check for doneness a couple of minutes before the cooking time is up. Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the meat.
Once the internal temperature is close to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, turn off the air fryer and immediately remove the pork chops and let them rest for 5 minutes.
Keep in mind that the pork will continue cooking after removal, so it’s very easy to overcook them.
I highly recommend investing in a digital thermometer. I really love the Thermoworks brand of digital thermometers. I’ve had the red Thermopop for years and it still works great and is very accurate.
Spices
The recipe gives you the seasonings that I usually use when I make pork chops. The spices are similar to a Cajun blend. But you can change things up. Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to make the pork chops spicier. Or you can omit the cayenne to make them mild.
Here are some other ideas for seasonings. Just watch out for the salt content. Each brand is different:
FAQS
No, the pork chops need to be in a single layer and they shouldn’t be packed close to each other.
Yes, you can use the same timing and temperature to make these Instant Pot air fryer pork chops using the air fryer lid.
Yes, the timing and temperature will work with other brands of air fryers such as a traditional air fryer or a Ninja Foodi.
Use a nonstick spatula to gently move the pork chops. Sometimes letting meat cook for a few more minutes loosens it. You can also line the basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent sticking next time.
You can purchase parchment rounds with pre-cut holes but if you don’t have them, make sure you poke holes in parchment or foil to allow for circulation.
It could be because the pork chops were thinner than 1 inch or your air fryer runs hotter. The next time you make them, check the internal temperature to see if it’s at 145 degrees Fahrenheit a few minutes before the time’s up and decrease the cooking time. Different air fryers may have slight variations, so you have to find a time and temperature that works for you.
Yes. Though the Duo Crisp has a built-in preheat time, for this recipe I recommend preheating the air fryer before air frying. Preheat for 4 minutes before adding the pork.
Overcrowding the air fryer can result in soggy or undercooked food. It depends on the capacity of your air fryer. Some air fryers can accommodate more food.
If you need to air fry double the quantity, you can do it in two batches.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.
- Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
Air Fryer Pork Chops – Ingredients
- Paprika
- Cayenne
- Onion powder
- Thyme
- Black pepper
- White pepper
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Oil
- Pork chops
Ingredient quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post
How to make pork chops in the Air Fryer (Step by Step Instructions for Duo Crisp model)
- Season the pork chops
- Place pork chops in air fryer
- Program the air fryer
- Remove lid partway through cooking to turn the pork chops
- Turn the pork chops and continue cooking
- Remove lid after cooking is complete
- Transfer pork chops
Season the pork chops
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
- Dry the pork chops thoroughly and rub a small amount of oil on both sides.
- Coat the pork chops with the seasonings, making sure all surfaces are covered. You don’t need to use up all the seasonings, but I do!
Place pork chops in air fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket liberally with vegetable oil.
- Transfer the pork chops into the air fryer basket.
- Put on the air fryer lid.
Program the Air Fryer
- Press the Air Fry Button.
- Press Temp + or – until the temperature says 380F.
- Press the Time + or – until the time says 00:13.
- Press Start.
- The display will say On, and once it has heated up, it will start counting down from 00:13 to 00:00.
If you’re using another model of air fryer, press the Shake button if available. This allows you to turn the food halfway through cooking. If your air fryer doesn’t have this feature, set a timer to turn the food at the halfway point.
Remove lid partway through cooking to turn the food
- Partway through air frying, the Instant Pot will beep and the display will say Turn Food.
- Lift the air fryer lid and place it on the protective pad.
Turn the pork chops and continue cooking
- Using silicone tongs, turn the pork chops. If you find that the pork chops are sticking to the bottom, use a nonstick spatula to gently lift the pork chops.
- Close the lid.
- Cooking will automatically continue.
Remove lid after cooking is complete
- When the timer runs down, the Instant Pot will beep and the display will say End.
- Lift the air fryer lid and place it on the protective pad.
- If the food’s not cooked to your liking, program the Instant Pot to air fry for another few minutes.
Transfer Pork Chops
- Transfer the pork chops to a serving dish and let them rest for about 5 minutes.
- Serve with a side dish such as mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, brussel sprouts, or beet arugula salad.
Oven Instructions for Baked Pork Chops
To make this recipe in the oven:
- Stir together all the dry spices.
- Pat the pork chops dry and rub them with oil on both sides.
- Rub the seasoning on both sides until evenly coated.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Coat baking sheet with oil.
- Lay the pork chops on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Pork Chops
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 boneless pork chops 1 inch thick
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp vegetable oil or olive oil
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels until they're completely dry. This is an important step.
- Mix the paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, white pepper, and thyme in a small bowl.
- Rub the pork chops with oil. Sprinkle spice mix on both sides of the pork chops.
- If using the Instant Pot air fryer, place the metal rack in the basket. Place the air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Grease the rack. You can either use a paper towel soaked with oil or an oil sprayer. Don't use canned aerosol oil as that can harm the coating of the air fryer basket.
- Place the pork chops in the basket and make sure they're evenly spaced and not crowding each other.
- Close the air fryer and air fry for 13 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you are using an Instant Pot air fryer, partway through cooking, the display says turn Food. If you are using an air fryer without this feature, set a timer to turn the pork chops 7 minutes into the cooking process.
- Open the air fryer and using a pair of tongs, turn each pork chop. Close the air fryer and continue cooking.
- When the cooking time is up, open the air fryer and use a digital thermometer to make sure the pork chops are just about 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, cook for another minute.
- Press Cancel and transfer the meat to a serving plate. Let the meat rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.
Oven Instructions *
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels until they're completely dry. This is an important step.
- Mix the paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, white pepper, and thyme in a small bowl.
- Rub the pork chops with oil. Sprinkle spice mix on both sides of the pork chops.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and coat with oil.
- Lay the pork chops on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is just about 145 degrees.
- Transfer the chops to a serving plate and let the meat rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.
Notes
- Cooking time can vary based on the air fryer model and the size of the pork chops. At the 11-minute mark, check the pork chops to see if they’re done.
- * If baking in the oven, the recipe can be doubled or tripled.
- See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.
Nutrition
Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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Conner
If I want to use the same spices for chicken, how long should I air fry?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Conner, thanks for your question. If you’re using bite-size pieces of chicken, air fry for about 8 minutes at 360 degrees F. If they’re whole bone-in chicken thighs, about 22 to 25 minutes at 380 degrees F.
Susan
My pork chops had a bone so they took a bit longer to cook. I’ll definitely be making this again. Thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Glad you liked the recipe, Sue. Thanks for commenting.