Easy Pork Chop Recipe

So, you've got about 20 minutes until dinnertime and no idea what the entrée is even going to be? Well, do you have an air fryer? And a couple of pork chops in the fridge? Do you have a few common spices (paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper)? Then you have yourself the makings for an excellent meal, thanks to this pork chop recipe care of chef and recipe developer Melissa Olivieri of The Olive Blogger.

In fact, Olivieri's chop recipe is so easy, we might as well talk about the rest of the meal! For that, Olivieri says: "To pair the chops will depend on if you are doing them for Sunday dinner or a weeknight dinner. For a big dinner, I would pair [them] with garlic mashed potatoes and some steamed vegetables. For a quick weeknight dinner, pairing them with a simple spring mix salad is my go-to." Both sound good — now let's go to work cooking these chops!

As noted, it doesn't take much to make great air fryer pork chops. You'll need varying amounts of the spices we talked about — paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper —a couple of pork chops, and some cooking spray (or brushed cooking oil) to help prevent the chops from sticking to the air fryer. And that's literally all you'll need! 

To start off, pat down the pork chops with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Then, preheat the air fryer to 375 F.

Next, in a small bowl mix together the salt, paprika, garlic powder, and ground pepper, combining them evenly. Then liberally sprinkle the spice mixture on each side of the pork chops, being sure to gently pat the spices into the pork.

When the air fryer is preheated, spray or brush some cooking oil into the basket to prevent the pork chops from sticking. Then place the pork inside the main basket and set the timer for 12 minutes. You'll also want to set a turn reminder for halfway through.

When the turn reminder buzzes, flip the pork chops to ensure an even cook. Remove them from the air fryer after 12 minutes, or when the temperature of each pork chop reaches at least 145 F. "As far as mistakes [to avoid], the biggest one is to not overcook them," Olivieri says, adding: "Pull them [out] when they are done and let them sit. If they are overdone, they will be dry."

And why should you let the chops rest for a few minutes after they cook? "This will keep those delicious juices in," Olivieri says.

It's good news these chops require so little prep and that they cook fast, because they're not a food you can prep ahead and enjoy later. Olivieri says: "Leftover pork chops [are] a no-no for me. When you reheat them they get super dry and tough. This is definitely a dish to eat [the] same night." 

But she does have a thought for you: "If you have leftovers, I would suggest cutting the pork into cubes and tossing [it] into a stir fry with a nice sauce to perk it back up."