These boneless thin pork chops in air fryer (no breading) are quick enough for nights when I don’t want dinner turning into a whole production. The honey, lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder give the pork a sweet, slightly smoky flavor, while the thin chops only need around 5–6 minutes to cook.
There’s no breading or long marinating time involved, which is exactly what I want from simple air fryer pork chops. If you’re looking for something to serve before dinner, try these Air Fryer Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms next. Keep reading to see how cooking time changes with the thickness of your pork chops and how to keep thin chops from drying out.
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Try These Boneless Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer
If you usually associate pork chops with breading or a frying pan, these no breading pork chops are worth trying. The outside gets a little caramelized from the honey, while lemon juice cuts through the sweetness and the smoked paprika adds that extra bit of flavor.
I especially like how quickly thin air fryer pork chops (boneless) cook. Give them a short rest after cooking and you get tender, juicy pork without needing to flip the chops halfway through.
Why You’ll Love It
- No breading: The pork is coated with oil, honey, lemon juice, and spices instead.
- Really quick: Thin boneless pork chops cook in about 5–6 minutes.
- Sweet and smoky: Honey, lemon, and smoked paprika give you a nice balance without hours of marinating.
- No flipping: The chops can cook straight through without being turned halfway.
Ingredients
- Thin boneless pork chops: I like the boneless chops here because they cook so quickly. The ones used are about 1 cm thick, but there are slightly different cooking times for thinner and thicker chops.
- Honey: This gives the outside a little caramelized sweetness. If I don’t have honey, maple syrup or brown sugar are also suggested alternatives.
- Lemon juice: I like how the lemon cuts through the sweetness of the honey. It keeps the seasoning from tasting overly sweet without needing a complicated marinade.
- Smoked paprika: This is where the smoky flavor comes from. Along with the garlic and onion powder, it gives the pork plenty of seasoning without needing breading.
How to Make Boneless Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer
1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Pat the pork chops dry so they brown better.
2. Mix the olive oil, honey, and lemon juice together.
3. Brush the mixture over both sides of each pork chop.
4. Sprinkle both sides with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
5. Arrange the pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them; cook in batches if necessary.
6. Air fry boneless pork chops around 1 cm thick for approximately 6 minutes. Extra-thin chops may only need 5 minutes.
7. Remove the chops and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Check out these Delicious German Chocolate Cookies for tasty meal ideas.
Recipe Tips
- Pat the pork chops dry before adding the oil mixture and seasonings to help them brown.
- Keep the chops in a single layer rather than overcrowding the basket.
- There’s no need to flip the pork chops during cooking.
- Let them rest for a few minutes after air frying to help keep them juicy.
- Fully thaw frozen pork chops and pat them very dry before seasoning.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Roasted vegetables
- Fresh salad
- Crusty bread
Also read: Best Air Fryer Without Teflon: Top Picks for Healthy Cooking
FAQs
Yes! Just cook them a bit longer — 8 minutes should do it.
Nope! Thin chops cook through without flipping and still get a lovely sear.
Totally. Swap in maple syrup or even leave it out — the lemon and spices still carry the dish.
145°F (63°C) is the safe internal temp. A little pink in the middle is perfectly fine and means it’s still juicy!
Recipe
Boneless Thin Pork Chops In Air Fryer
Equipment
- Instant Pot Air Fryer Vortex Plus
- oil spray
Ingredients
- 8 thin boneless pork chops (about 1 cm thick)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or a spritz of oil spray)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ lemon juice only
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
- Pat dry the pork chops; this will ensure better browning.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, honey, and lemon juice. Brush over both sides of the pork chops.
- Sprinkle each chop with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer — don’t overcrowd. You will need to do 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook for about 6 minutes (for boneless chops 1 cm thick) or 8 minutes (with bone-in). For slightly thinner pork chops or steaks, go for 5 minutes and check.
- Rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Preheat at 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes, then cook 1 cm thick boneless pork chops for about 6 minutes or slightly thinner chops for about 5 minutes.Taste & Texture
Tender, juicy pork chops with a slightly sweet, zesty, and smoky seasoning and no breading.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Wrap the pork chops individually and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Air fry at 320°F (160°C) for 2–3 minutes.
Serving Recommendations
- I like these with garlic mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables when I want a simple dinner that doesn’t need much else.
- Slice the leftover pork over a salad or tuck it into a sandwich the next day.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Use bone-in pork chops and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Replace the olive oil with avocado oil or a light spritz of spray oil.
- Swap the honey for maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Add a pinch of cayenne or chili flakes for some heat.
Proper Storage Tips
- Store leftover pork chops in an airtight container.
- Keep them refrigerated.
- Use them within 3 days.
Pro Tips
- Pat the chops dry before seasoning for better browning.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches when necessary.
- There’s no need to flip the pork chops while they cook.
- Let the pork rest for a few minutes before serving to help keep it juicy.
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