Tender 3 Ingredient Pork Chops in the Air Fryer

Healthy Go-To Dinner Idea: Herb-Crusted Pork Chops

Are you looking for a healthy dinner idea? Pork chops are a great way to make a quick, filling meal. They take little planning because they pair nicely with many side dishes. It’s easy to whip this one up with what you already have in your kitchen. And in the air fryer, you can make this recipe in less than 30 minutes!

Keep reading to learn awesome hacks, money-saving tips, and air fryer tricks for making a delicious dinner in no time!

The 3 Ingredients You Need to Make Herb-Crusted Pork Chops in the Air Fryer:

One reason why this recipe is so fast is because you only really need 3 ingredients. To make juicy, tender pork chops, you will need:

• 1 pork loin roast or 4-6 pork chops
• Oil- preferably avocado oil or a high smoke point oil. I love my oil sprayer in this recipe.
• Herb and garlic seasoning blend- or you can use your own favorite seasoning blend.

Pork chop seasoning blend

I love to buy McCormick seasoning blends, but you can make blends that are pretty similar to the Garlic & Herb seasoning. The ingredients include onion, sea salt, garlic, black pepper, oregano, parsley, and thyme.

What kind of pork loin roast should I buy?

You can buy pre-cut, frozen pork chops or a pork loin roast. But before you run off to the store, check out this money-saving tip:

Cut your own pork chops from a large pork loin roast.

I like to make this recipe by purchasing one large pork loin roast. Then, when I am ready to cook it up, I will cut up the roast into 1/2 to 1-inch thick slices. Normally, when I make this recipe, I will only need 4 to 6 pork chops. Now, I take any leftover pork chops that I have already cut up and place them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. It saves me money and time!

Quick and Easy Pork Chops

This recipe is so easy to throw together:

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 350˚F (176˚C).

Step 2: Prepare the pork chops

If you’re cooking from a pork loin roast, cut your pork chops from the pork loin as described above. Pat the pork chops dry. Spray or drizzle a little oil onto one side of the pork chops. Sprinkle and season them with the Garlic and Herb seasoning or your favorite blend. Rub the seasoning into the meat. Repeat this with the other side of the chops, if desired.

Step 3: Air fry

Place the pork chops in a preheated air fryer basket. Cook the pork chops in the air fryer at 350˚F (176˚C) for 9 minutes. Check on the pork chops after 6 minutes. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to get the internal temperature. If the pork chops need more time, flip them. Continue cooking for the last 3 minutes or until the meat registers between 140˚F (60˚C) and 145˚F (63˚C).

So, what’s the secret to juicy pork chops?

You don’t want to overcook pork chops and dry them out. An instant-read thermometer is going to be your best friend! Take the temperature of the pork chops halfway through cooking time to either add or subtract the remaining time. Because the pork chops can vary in size, check each chop’s temperature and pull them out of the air fryer when they’re nearing 145 degrees. Allow them to rest in tented tin foil until they come to temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pork loin roast and pork tenderloin?

Pork loin comes from the generally same back area of the pig as pork tenderloin. However, pork loin is usually a wider cut of meat. So much so that you can get a steak-sized piece of meat from a pork loin. Pork loin can come bone-in or boneless. For making pork chops in this recipe, you want boneless.

Pork tenderloin, also known as pork fillet or pork steak, is a long, thin cut of meat from the psoas major muscle of a pig. It is boneless.

Can I substitute pork tenderloin with pork loin?

The cooking process will be different because pork tenderloin and pork loin are of different sizes. I do not recommend using pork tenderloin for this recipe as you will have much smaller and thinner slices of meat.

If you are looking for a quick and easy pork tenderloin recipe for the air fryer, check out this air fryer brown sugar spiced pork tenderloin recipe.

Can I cook frozen pork chops in the air fryer?

If you freeze the leftover pork loin, you can enjoy more pork chops in the air fryer for later. The best way to do this is to take the pork chops out of the freezer and let them sit in the refrigerator during the day until thawed. Then, you cook them as usual.

How to cook frozen pork chops in air fryer

If your pork chops did not get time to thaw, you can cook frozen pork chops in the air fryer as well:

1. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F/204°C.
2. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil.
3. Lay the frozen pork chops in the air fryer basket.
4. Close the air fryer basket and cook the pork chops for 5 minutes at 380°F/193°C for 5 minutes. Slightly defrosting the frozen pork chops will prepare them for your spices or rub.
5. Now, you can prepare the pork chops as usual but add additional cooking time. Lightly spray them with oil and massage the seasoning of your choice onto them. Then, cook the pork chops for 13-15 minutes at 380°F/193°C. Flip the pork chops at the halfway point and add seasoning, if desired. Continue cooking the pork chops until the center is no longer pink and the inside reads 145°F/63°C.

If you freeze the leftover pork loin, you can enjoy more pork chops in the air fryer for later. The best way to do this is to take the pork chops out of the freezer and let them sit in the refrigerator during the day until thawed. Then, you cook them as normal.

Our Favorite Sides to Serve with Pork Chops

I love how simple this recipe is to cook! You can whip it up in under 30 minutes as a complete meal. Pork chops pair nicely with so many different side dishes. I grew up eating pork chops with applesauce, but try serving some of our favorite vegetable sides with pork chops for a well-rounded and complete meal:

•  scalloped potatoes
• carrots
•  zucchini
•  fruit salad
•  and more!

More tasty pork chop air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Pork Chops
• Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
• Go-To Pork Chops with Brown Sugar Rub in the Air Fryer

Air fryer tips and tricks

• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer

Herb Crusted Pork Chops

Pair this healthy 3 ingredient pork chop recipe with a tasty side for a complete and filling meal.

5 / 5 ( 5 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 6 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Serves: 12

Adjust Servings: 12

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 Pork loin roast
• Oil
• Herb and Garlic Seasoning or other favorite seasoning of your choice

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F/204°C.
• Cut the pork loin roast anywhere from 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick. Freeze any extra pork chops you aren't using for later.
• Pat the pork dry. Lightly spray the chops with oil and season with seasonings to your liking. Rub the seasonings into the pork chops. Flip, oil, and season the other side of the chops.
• Place pork chops in the air fryer. Cook at 350°F/175°C for about 9 minutes, check the temp and flip at the 6 minute mark. Continue cooking for the last 3 minutes, or until pork is cooked to internal temp of 145°F/63°C.

Nutrition

Calories: 241kcal | Protein: 41g | Fat: 7g | Sodium: 90mg