Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops

Breaded air fryer pork chops are flavorful, crispy, and so juicy. You’ll love the flavor and texture of these boneless pork chops. 

I recently asked my email subscribers for feedback about what type of recipes they’d like to see more of on Rachel Cooks. I was overwhelmed (in a good way!) by the number of responses I received. 

If you were one of the people that responded, thank you! I’m so grateful for your feedback, always. 

The results were mainly a mix of what we’re already doing here on Rachel Cooks. Slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, quick and easy meals, meals with few ingredients, some vegetarian. Basically a little of everything. So that’s what we’ll keep doing! 

Today I’m bringing you an air fryer recipe. The more I cook with my air fryer, the more I find that meat is really really great when it’s air fried! I love how juicy the meat stays when it is cooked in the air fryer. It gets a nice sear on the outside, too.

The recipes can be so simple too. Air fryer chicken breasts seasoned with my all purpose seasoning are really delicious. No fuss, no muss. Same goes for air fryer chicken thighs or chicken drummies, too, if you prefer dark meat. Air fryer salmon is pretty perfect, too.

About This Recipe

Breaded pork chops are a bit more fussy but are totally worth it. They are marinated first which guarantees juicy tender chops. The breading is a one step process so it’s pretty easy.

They turn out so perfectly juicy on the inside, and perfectly crispy on the outside. I was pleasantly surprised by these the first time I made them. 

They start with a buttermilk marinade. Two hours will suffice but you can soak them in buttermilk up to overnight in the fridge. 

Why use buttermilk for a marinade? Buttermilk is slightly acidic and has enzymes which help tenderize the pork. It’s a gentle marinade and it won’t make the pork mushy if you do decide to marinate the pork overnight.

What You’ll Need

• Pork Chops: Choose center cut boneless pork chops, about one inch thick, six ounces each. Trim off the excess fat.
• Buttermilk: You’ll need about 2 cups of buttermilk. If you’re wondering what to do with the rest of the container, try making your own ranch dressing. It’s so much tastier (and better for you) than bottled dressing and a salad made with ranch dressing goes great with these pork chops.
• Dijon Mustard: A couple tablespoons of mustard are blended into the buttermilk to season the marinade. So easy!
• Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko is coarser and crispier than regular bread crumbs, making your pork chops extra crispy.
• Parmesan Cheese: Grated cheese adds lots of flavor to the breading. The green can cheese is just fine for this recipe.
• Dried Parsley Flakes: Dried bits of parsley fleck the breading, adding visual interest.
• Paprika: This reddish orange spice adds a golden color to the breading.
• Salt & Pepper: Simple seasoning that really enhances the flavor of the pork.
• Olive Oil Spray: A light coating of oil helps the breading brown and crisp up.

How To Make This Recipe

Allow at least a couple of hours to marinate the pork. Overnight is fine, too. In a baking dish that will accommodate the chops in a single layer, blend the mustard into the buttermilk. Add the chops, turn once so they are covered in the marinade. Cover the dish and put it in the fridge.

After the pork has marinated, mix together the breading ingredients in shallow bowl. Remove each pork chop from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. You don’t have to wipe it off; the buttermilk that remains on the pork chops will help the breading stick. 

Coat both sides of the marinated pork chops with the breading mixture, pressing it on to adhere.

A little spritz with olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray helps the pork chops get golden brown in the air fryer. 

Arrange the pork chops in your air fryer in a single layer. Air fry for 12-14 minutes, with one careful flip in the middle of the cooking time.

What To Serve With Breaded Pork Chops

• Tossed salad with homemade ranch dressing
• Wedge salad with homemade Thousand island dressing
• Grilled ratatouille pasta salad
• Coleslaw (with a yogurt-based dressing)
• Potato salad (easy and creamy)
• Instant Pot rice or Instant Pot baked potatoes
• Any roasted vegetable: try roasted broccoli, roasted carrots, or roasted Brussels sprouts. 
• How about dessert? Try fresh blueberry pie with homemade no churn ice cream, or Kahlúa brownies.

FAQs

Make It Your Own

While we (of course) think these pork chops are perfect the way they are, here are some ways you can make them your own:

• Don’t have panko? Use traditional bread crumbs instead. Did you know that you can use day old bread to make your homemade bread crumbs?
• Want to leave the breading off completely? Try air fryer pork chops. They are made with an easy rub which gives them plenty of flavor. You’ll still have really great juicy pork chops.  
• No air fryer yet? Make breaded pork chops in your oven.
• Not a fan of pork? Try air fryer chicken nuggets or air fryer chicken tenders. Air fryer breaded shrimp or air fryer coconut shrimp is super delicious, too!

Storage & Reheating Tips

These pork chops are best eaten immediately, but if you have leftovers, you can pop them back in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes to warm them up, or eat them cold. I like them sliced on a sandwich. 

Leftovers will keep in the fridge for two to three days.