🧀🐷🎉 Parmesan coated pork chops are seasoned with a rich spice rub and air fried until perfectly crispy on the outside yet tender and moist on the inside! Easy and ready in 15 minutes, they’re perfect for busy weeknights and a better-for-you way to enjoy “fried” foods. Air fryer, oven, and grilling options provided!
Boneless Parmesan Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
If you’re on the back-to-school hustle (or just juggling crazy days) and need a quick dinner, these crispy Parmesan pork chops are ready in just 15 minutes! Made in the air fryer with a flavorful dry rub, think garlic, onion, smoked paprika, and ground mustard, they’re juicy, golden, and naturally gluten-free. No egg, no regular or panko breadcrumbs, no flour, just tender, protein-packed pork chops with minimal oil and major flavor.
Naturally gluten-free, these chops turn out crisp and flavorful on the outside while remaining tender in the center. I even provide oven and grilling options to suit all your needs!
My favorite Air Fryers
Ingredients in Parmesan Pork Chops
To make these family favorite pork chops, you’ll only need a handful of common and easy-to-find fridge and pantry ingredients:
- Grated Parmesan cheese – For the best taste and texture, buy a block of cheese, and grate it yourself
- Spices – Onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground mustard, salt, and black pepper take these chops from good to great and eliminate the need for bread crumbs
- Boneless pork chops – For my air fryer pork chops I used boneless chops that are about 1 inch thick. In many ways, it makes these Parmesan-coated pork chops very similar to the boneless chicken breasts I used in my Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken. However, you can use bone-in pork chops if that’s what you have. They’ll take longer to cook. Pork top loin chops with a bone (sometimes called pork strip tops) or pork loin fillets (boneless) can also be used. I always use fresh rather than frozen pork chops. I suppose frozen pork chops are fine, too, as long as they’re fully thawed before air frying them.
- Olive oil – Avocado oil also works well
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts and more complete directions.
How to Make Parmesan Coated Pork Chops in an Air Fryer
Making pork chops in an air fryer is fast and easy! Just follow my straightforward steps:
Step 1: To a medium shallow bowl, combine the cheese, spices, salt, pepper, and stir to combine, creating a dry rub.
Step 2: Coat the pork chops in olive oil. Dredge the pork chops through the Parmesan dry rub mixture, making sure to really press it in.
Step 3: Spray the air fryer basket and the pork chops with olive oil cooking spray before placing them in the basket and air frying for 4 minutes.
Step 4: Flip and air fry 3 more minutes, plus more time if needed, until golden brown. Obviously, when cooking pork, you need to make sure it’s done, so use an instant-read meat thermometer to test that the meat has reached an internal temperature of 145ºF.
Step 5: Rest the chops for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving with your favorite vegetable or side dish, such as asparagus casserole or classic mashed potatoes!
What Kind of Air Fryer Is Best?
I use a Cosori model that I’ve had for a few years. I like that the basket is quite large.
That being said, even with an “extra large” basket, you may have to air fry the pork chops in batches.
The worst thing you can do with an air fryer is crowd it. The food doesn’t get crispy and steams rather than “fries,” which is contrary to the goal!
This double basket air fryer would be a near-guarantee that you won’t need to bother with batch cooking. And if you like making air fryer recipes, it’ll be right up your alley.
Can I Make Pork Chops Without an Air Fryer?
Yes, of course you can! In case you haven’t jumped on the air fryer bandwagon, let’s talk about alternative ways to cook your pork chops to perfection.
There are many ways to cook pork chops, and obviously, our grandparents weren’t air frying things!
If you don’t have an air fryer, here are my suggestions to cook the best pork chops:
- Oven Bake – Use a 350°F oven for about 25 to 35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Gas Grill – When it’s summertime or warm enough to grill, I am a fan of putting pork chops on my outdoor gas grill for about 12 to 14 minutes or as necessary, and flipping once.
- Charcoal Grill or Smoker – This is also a viable option if that’s what you have, noting that the flavor will be more charcoaly and smoky.
- Indoor Cast Iron Grill Pan– Sear the pork chops on both sides. This option could make your house a little smoky, but it will also provide lovely char lines on your pork chops, along with fab flavor.
Tip: Because we are working with a Parmesan coating, make sure that your grill of any kind or grill pan is well oiled so your chops don’t stick!
What to Serve with Parmesan Pork Chops
How to Store Leftover Pork Chops
Like anything that you make in an air fryer, these boneless pork chops are best hot and fresh from your air fryer after you’ve rested them for 5 to 10 minutes.
However, leftover pork chops will keep fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Just note that leftovers won’t have that lovely crispy-crunch to them, similar to most other fried food after it sits.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Spray the basket and pork chops: When you’re getting ready to air fry the pork chops, make sure you spray the basket well with cooking spray. I use olive oil cooking spray. And spray the pork chops themselves. This small amount of oil really helps the pork crisp up as well as take on a nice golden and cripsy appearance. Alternatively, you can use an olive oil mister if you have one. I know that they’ve already been patted with olive oil before applying the Parm coating, but I still spray them regardless.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket: Air fry the pork chops in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the basket. The pork chops need space to “fry”. If they’re crowded, they’ll steam, which doesn’t lend to producing a crispy, crunchy crust.
- Allow the pork chops to rest: This is true for all proteins, but especially this “other white meat” since it’s on the leaner side. You don’t want the natural juices running out if you slice into the pork chops prematurely. Keep those natural juices in the air fryer pork chops by giving them a little time to just rest.
Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
Equipment
- 1 Medium Bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, regular paprika may be substituted
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 4 boneless pork chops*
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Olive oil spray, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat an XL air fryer or double basket air fryer to 375F.
- To a medium bowl, combine the Parm, all the spices, salt, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Evenly divide and rub the olive oil over all sides of all the pork chops.
- Evenly press the Parmesan coating mixture into all sides of all the pork chops.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil cooking spay or mister, and spray the pork chops themselves with oilve oil spray too. Tip – Even though they have been rubbed with olive oil, this final spray helps encourage crisping and prevents sticking.
- Place the pork chops in the basket using tongs and air fry for about 4 minutes.
- Open the basket, flip, spray lightly again over the basket itself and the chops, close, and air fry for an additional 3 minutes, or until done. If the pork chops aren't done (internal temp of 145F) they'll likely only need an additional 2 minutes but of course cook until they are fully done since all air fryers and the thickness of all pork chops varies.
- If you need to cook in batches, repeat the cooking process in steps 5 through 7.
- Allow cooked air fryer pork chops to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Leftover pork chops will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months, noting that leftovers won't retain the same crispiness and crunchiness of freshly prepared pork chops.
Notes
- Oven Bake – Use a 350F oven for about 25 to 35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Gas Grill – When it’s summertime or warm enough to grill, I am a fan of putting pork chops on my outdoor gas grill for about 12 to 14 minutes or as necessary, and flipping once.
- Charcoal Grill or Smoker – This is also a viable option f that’s what you have noting that the flavor will be more charcoaly and smoky.
- Indoor Cast Iron Grill Pan– This option could make your house a little smoky but it will also provide lovely char lines on your pork chops along with fab flavor.
- Tip: Because we are working with a Parmesan coating, make sure that your grill of any kind or grill pan are well oiled so your chops don’t stick!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Very tender and moist. I would cut the Kosher salt in half next time.
Very tender and moist. I would cut the Kosher salt in half next time.
Thanks for trying the recipe. Yes always salt to your own taste. Some Parmesan cheese is saltier than others, too, so that is a consideration.