Learn how to perfectly Air Fry Thin Pork Chops with these easy to follow instructions. Not all chops are created equally and require slightly different treatment so make sure you’re cooking thin chops appropriately with my handy tips and step by step guide.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my Disclosures Page for more details.
As I’ve mentioned, not all chops are created equal. You can buy them thin and super quick to cook or you can buy behemoth 2 inch thick beauties which require a longer cooking time.
Beware recipes that just call for “2 pork chops” and don’t specify a vague weight or thickness. A confident cook can use instinct and adapt the given cooking times and temps. But for less confident cooks and strict recipe followers, this can be a bum steer.
Like all of my recipes, I’ve written these air fryer instructions with as much detail as possible to give everyone the best possible chance of success. The thin chops I’ve used were a budget supermarket buy. They range from 180 to 190g (6.3 to 6.7oz) and are around 1cm (3/8″) thick.
There will of course be some variation as all chops are slightly different but this is the sort of ballpark size chop this recipe is tested for.
How to Serve
Pork is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide number of cuisines. Its great served hot or cold too which makes it even more useful.
- You can’t go wrong with a pile of crispy chips, baked beans and a couple of fried eggs. Chops and chips is a classic of my childhood.
- Please don’t even dismiss the concept of a pork chop sandwich until you’ve tried it. Soft white bread, a generous helping of proper butter and a hot well salted chop is pure perfection.
- Nowadays I often make tacos or a tex-mex style salad bowl with cooked chops which I then thinly slice. Season with a fajita or Mexican spice rub (try this one from my Dry Rub Ribs with Mexican Seasoning) before cooking and serve with Guacamole, Peach Salsa and Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elotes).
- Stuff fluffy steamed bao buns with slices of teriyaki glazed pork chop. Add sliced spring onion (scallions) and a little mayo then serve with Miso Soup with Ginger & Tofu.
Ingredients to Air Fry Pork Loin Steaks
Pork Chops
A true pork chop includes the bone and the chop is cooked with the bone still attached. Take the bone off and you have loin steaks which are also unsurprisingly called boneless pork chops. The meat cooked next to the bone is extra delicious.
I do find that it is very common for thin chops especially to only come with a very small piece of bone attached. The cheaper chops can be poorly packed and not have been washed properly to get rid of any little shards of bone which have pinged off during the cutting process. Do make sure that you rinse the chops and dry them thoroughly to get rid of any of these pieces.
A good chop has a layer of fat on the side opposite the bone. The width of the fat can vary so select your chops to your preference. The air fryer is a brilliant way to get that fat lovely and crispy.
The thin chops I’ve used were a budget supermarket buy. They range from 180 to 190g (6.3 to 6.7oz) and are around 1cm (3/8″) thick.
For even thinner chops you will need to reduce the cooking time. For slightly thicker chops you will need to increase the cooking time.
Oil
Feel free to choose any regular cooking oil that complements your preferred seasoning flavours. Personally, I opted for vegetable oil which is neutral, cheap (relatively speaking) and versatile.
The trick with any cooking, but especially air frying is to oil the meat and not the air fryer. This prevents any being wasted and creating unnecessary smoke. It also makes cleaning your air fryer basket easier.
Please refrain from being stingy with the oil. Even though pork chops a natural layer of fat, using oil ensures even distribution of the seasoning and its adherence to the pork. Additionally, it jump-starts the browning process, resulting in enhanced colour and flavour profiles.
Seasoning
The choice of seasoning is down to you. Think about what you are planning on serving the pork with and in what style. Keep things very simple with just sea salt and a neutral oil or go heavy with a seasoning mix. You can add sauces or add the pork to other already flavoured food after cooking.
The only rule is that you must include salt. I used a 50/50 mix of garlic salt and paprika for the chops pictured on this page.
Allergen Information
This how to air fry this pork chops recipe is free from egg, dairy, gluten and nuts.
Please note that this recipe may contain other allergens not referred to above and any variations suggested have not been tested unless otherwise stated. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How Long to Air Fry Thin Pork Chops
I find that the perfect amount of time to air fry these pork chops is 10 minutes. This is based on thin pork chops that are from 180 to 190g (6.3 to 6.7oz) and are around 1cm (3/8″) thick.
As I’ve mentioned above, for extra thin chops you will need to reduce the cooking time. For slightly thicker chops you will need to increase the overall cooking time.
For actual thick pork chops, you can look at my dedicated recipe post – How to Air Fry Thick Pork Chops.
How to Air Fry Thin Pork Chops From Frozen
Although it makes no scientific sense, pork chops cook from frozen using the exact same temperature and time settings as when you cook them from fresh.
Cooking straight from frozen is really convenient. I usually give them a quick rinse under warm water to remove any surface ice crystals before thoroughly patting them dry.
You can then add the oil and seasoning to the frozen chops and carry on as normal.
You can also add the oil and seasonings before freezing – that way I just throw them in the basket and go – brilliant!
Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
Cooked air fryer thin pork chops can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They can also be well wrapped and frozen.
To reheat in the air fryer the chops will cook in around 6 minutes at 200c/390f. Check that they are piping hot all the way through and cook for longer if needed.
You can also reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.
Common Air Fryer Questions – A Brief Guide to Air Frying
- What exactly is an air fryer?
- What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
- Are all air fryers the same?
- Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
- Do air fryers need to be pre-heated?
- What is the best temperature to air fry at?
- What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
- Can food be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
- Can I reheat food in an air fryer?
- Are air fryer liners a good idea?
The Air Fried Feast Community
Come on over to Facebook and join my community discussing all things air fryer. Get involved in sharing your experiences and trials, help out others and find out what wonderful things everyone is cooking in their air fryers!
What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The benefit is that the hot air is circulated all around the food being cooked which speeds up the cooking time and cooks the food more evenly.
What are the Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?
Size, time and energy usage. Air fryers are ideal for cooking smaller quantities. Heating up a space that the food just fits into requires less energy and means that the heat source is much closer to the food. Combining these two things can speed up the cooking time.
Are all air fryers the same?
Nope! The term air fryer is now used very broadly. I consider there to be 4 main types:
Basket Air Fryers
These are what I would consider to be the most common, especially in the UK. A boxy type unit has a pull out drawer/basket. Food isn’t usually visible whilst cooking.
Some larger models have two drawers so different items can be cooked at different temperatures or for different times.
This is the type that you’ll see in the images in this recipe. I mostly use a Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. It isn’t an overly expensive or fancy model.
I’ve also recommended to several friends and family the model with a slightly larger basket. This is the Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501) with a 4.7 litre basket. The unit is no larger than the 3.8 litre model on the outside but does have a larger internal basket capacity. I’ve since bought this version to use for some recipes where my smaller model was just too small. I’ll always note this in the recipe.
Rotary Air Fryers
Round air fryers with a paddle in the centre that rotates to move the food. This is the type I used for years – the most common is a Tefal Actifry.
Rotary types are not usually good for recipes where the food is breaded, glazed, likely to break up or in a tray/container. They do however make the best chips and roasted veg.
My 2 in 1 version like the one I’ve linked also has a rotating tray for things that could be broken up by a paddle, but the height clearance with the lid isn’t deep enough to use it to cook some items like sausage rolls. I’ve now actually retired by Actifry in favour of having my two basket type fryers.
Mini Oven Air Fryers
These usually have a glass door, shelves and overall are really quite large. You can cook quite a decent quantity of food in them so are best if regularly cooking for multiple people. They often come with extra features like a rotisserie spit or kebab skewers.
Multicookers with Air Fryer Functions
Some like Ninja 11 in 1 and some of the earlier versions with a few less functions, have an air fryer option. They mostly operate the same as a basket fryer but the basket drops in the top rather than sliding in like a drawer.
Some electric pressure cookers like Instant Pots can also air fry when used with a specific lid.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. And the more detailed answer is that it will always depend on what you’re cooking, how much of it you’re cooking and what type and size of air fryer you have.
Once you need to cook in more than 2 batches, it often makes more sense to use an oven. If you already have the oven on to cook other items, it may make more sense to throw one more item in rather than using an additional appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
Do Air Fryers Need to Be Pre-Heated?
The answer to this is rather annoying – it depends. It depends entirely on your model and type of air fryer. The best advice I can offer is to check your manual and follow their guidance. My Cosori models have a preheat function. I press a button and it heats at 205c/400f for 4 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that regardless of whether you are supposed to pre-heat or not, if you are cooking in batches, it is quite likely that anything after the first batch will cook a little quicker because of the retained heat. It is best to check on them before the cooking time is completed.
What is the best temperature to Air Fry at?
It will always depend on what you are cooking and from what state. All of my air fryer recipes don’t use temperatures above 200c/390f because many of the most common fryers in the UK don’t go above this. Mine goes to 230c/450f and I use this temperature a lot but it is no help for me to share recipes which many people can’t use.
What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
Not all air fryers have different settings like this. When they do it usually relates to the fan speed. The default setting to use will always be “air fry” so unless something else is specifically stated in the recipe, always use the air fry option.
There are other air fryers that have an additional heating element which cooks from underneath rather than just the top. Just as with the other settings, unless you are using a recipe which states to use a second heating element, stick with just using the top down air fry option.
Of course if and when you become more confident with air frying, using recipes and the settings of your air fryer, you can start adapting them to suit.
Can Food Be Cooked From Frozen In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! To cook from frozen you usually will need to reduce the cooking temperature and increase the time to make sure your food is cooked right through to the middle.
It is best to check my individual recipes for cooking from frozen advice as some items are a little different. And there are occasionally exceptions to the rule.
Can I Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. As a general rule I reheat food for roughly 1/3 of the original cooking time at the same temperature. Or at 10 degrees lower for half the time for larger items.
Are Air Fryer Liners a Good Idea?
Unless otherwise stated, I do not use liners when air frying. Basket and rotary type air fryers are designed to be used without liners. Mini oven types will generally require some kind of tray like with a regular large oven although most come with crisper racks to use.
There are many air fryer liners available including quite thick silicone ones. These will affect the cooking times and possibly temperatures of your cooking/baking. I also don’t like how cooking juices are prevented from dripping through the basket rack. This can stop food from crisping all the way around.
When I do want to collect the juices, I mostly use some foil, or occasionally a foil tray which can be washed and reused.
If you do prefer to use them, once you have got a feel for how they affect your cooking and baking, you may need to make adjustments to the recipe accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
All my recipes with instructions for how to cook or bake them in the air fryer can be found in my Air Fryer Recipe Index.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
Pin How to Air Fry Thin Pork Chops For Later
Hit one of the share buttons to save this page to your Pinterest boards so you can come back and find it at anytime!
Keep Up to Date
Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter and avoid missing out on any of my newest and bonus content. Don’t worry, I promise not to spam you or bombard you too often. Plus you’ll receive a copy of my FREE 7 Day International Meal Plan!
Also please don’t forget to follow me over on my social media channels over at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I love to interact with my followers and I’d love you to share my content with your friends too.
The Recipe
How to Air Fry Thin Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 Thin Pork Chops - around 185g/6.5oz each
- ½ tsp Oil - see notes
- ½ tsp Seasoning - see notes
Instructions
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, start this setting now.
- Thoroughly dry 2 Thin Pork Chops.
- Drizzle over ½ tsp Oil and ½ tsp Seasoning and toss to thoroughly coat the pork.
- Place the chops into the air fryer basket. Leave a little space between each so the air can circulate.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 200c/390f.
- You can turn the chops after around 7 minutes. I'm more likely to do this than with other pork cuts as the chops can curl up.
- Check the pork is cooked through, you can see this by making a cut and checking that the meat is nearly white in the centre of the thickest part. Unlike chicken, pork can be eaten with a slight pink blush but if you prefer it more cooked, put it back in for 2 minutes at a time.
- Allow to rest for at least 3 to 4 minutes before tucking in. Spoon over juices that have collected in the bottom of the air fryer for extra flavour.
To Cook From Frozen
- Cook for 10 minutes at 200c/390f.
- Check that the pork is sufficiently cooked in exactly the same way as if cooking from fresh!
Notes
- Oil – Choose your oil to match your flavouring. For example use garlic, salt and rosemary with olive oil or for a more neutral flavour, sea salt and black pepper with vegetable oil.
- Seasoning – Choose any seasoning mix, spices or dried/fresh herbs. Make sure that salt is included in the mix. You can also add a little citrus juice.
- I used vegetable oil with a 50/50 mix of garlic salt and paprika.
- The air fryer version of this recipe is tested in a Cosori Lite (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal.
- Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
- For this recipe, I can fit 2 thin pork chops in the basket at a time. This gives plenty of room to allow air to circulate.
- As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time. Some models include stacking shelves which will increase capacity.
- Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.
Brandon says
Tucking in?
Chloe says
Eating!
Cat says
I’m usually a pork loin fan but I tried these for dinner tonight and they turned out so good!
Janice says
I made these thin pork chops in my air fryer today and they turned out perfectly, thanks.
Karen says
I cooked my pork chops from frozen and they were perfectly cooked. I’d never thought to do that before. Perfect recipe for those nights when I forget to take something out of freezer for dinner.
Kavita Favelle says
You are so right, it’s soooooo annoying when recipes say 2 chops but don’t give weight nor thickness, which makes such a big difference to cooking times! Love the simplicity of this and feel confident about the times given the extra info you give!