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An unctuous umami-rich miso glaze, sticky with dark caramel, coats mouth-wateringly juicy pork chops that are tender, salty, and sweet. It’s one of the simplest dinner recipes on the blog! And these Asian-inspired air fryer boneless pork chops are ready in around 15 minutes. It’s pure air fryer magic.
For Kosher diners who don’t want to miss out on maximising their air fryer opportunities, these Asian air fryer chicken wings are equally sticky with tangy sauce.
Air fryer boneless pork chops
Is there anything an This is an affiliate link.air fryer can’t do? It truly is one of my most favoured kitchen appliances. And I have a lot!
But why cook pork chops in it? Firstly, they cook to consistent perfection. Grilled or oven-cooked pork chops can sometimes be disappointing; dry, grainy, and leather-tough with flesh that has caught and charred in some places but is still a little too pink in the centre.
Does it sound familiar? However, the all-around circulation of heat and air in the air fryer results in meat that is cooked evenly.
Second, the quicker cook time. Grilled or oven-cooked pork chops can take twice the time, not to mention the additionalpre-heating. Air fryer pork chops take between 11 and 13 minutes only. And there’s no need for lengthy pre-heating.
The glaze
This maple miso glaze is a fireworks display of flavour! It brings together most of the taste bud-tantalising trademark tastes of Asian cooking: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami.
The sweet components of maple syrup and brown sugar compliment the natural sweetness of the pork. Plus, they are what creates that amber-coloured caramelisation that develops and clings to the cooked chop.
Some pork chops can be quite fatty, for me this is my favourite part! For some it can be a turn off. The rice vinegar (sour) slices through the fat making it more palatable and less cloying for those who don’t enjoy it.
The soy brings the salt which seasons the pork and encourages its natural savouriness.
This is an affiliate link.Miso paste is the umami. It ties all the other ingredients together and grounds them with its deep and toasty notes.
I love a chilli kick, so there’s ½ a teaspoon of chilli flakes too for pow-factor. Feel free to play with this measure so it suits you.
Bitter is not represented in this boneless pork chops recipe. Garlic, citrus or mustard flavours come under this category, but by omitting them, I’ve prioritised sweet and salty which I think is perfect for pork.
The glaze is made by adding all the ingredients to a This is an affiliate link.saucepan and cooking until it’s reduced by half. It really is that easy!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- You might notice that there is no salt in the ingredients list. Both miso and soy are quite salt-heavy condiments, so there’s no need for extra.
- The glaze will caramelise and become deliciously tacky while cooking, so remember to spray the air fryer with oil so they’re easy to remove and none of the precious glaze gets left behind!
- The thickness of your chop, not the weight, will dictate the cooking time. Use a This is an affiliate link.meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is at least 63C/145F before you take them out.
- Rest your meat! This is an important step that is often skipped. Resting the meat allows it to relax and loosen up which lets the juices circulate, resulting in a tender, mouthwatering forkful of succulent pork. It does make all the difference.
Serving suggestions
I usually keep the accompaniments fairly modest to allow these flavoursome, Asian-inspired chops to stand out. So, I would serve coconut rice, herbed mushroom rice, or plain boiled white rice as a starchy side and steamed or stir-fried vegetables like mange tout or broccoli to bring colour and crunch to the plate.
You could also serve soft noodles, if you prefer them to rice. Add some pak choi to keep to the theme, or go a bit further with an Asian noodle dish like Miso Noodles with Tenderstem Broccoli.
If you didn’t know already, pork and peanuts are a heavenly flavour duo that are combined frequently in Southeast Asian cooking. Try these sticky chops with this Asian noodle salad with peanut dressing. I could eat this all day long!
Storage and leftovers
Any leftover glazed pork chops can be stored in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container for 2-3 days. To reheat, they can go back in the trusty old air fryer! Slice them into strips and use instead of chicken to top this chicken fried rice recipe.
More air fryer recipes to try
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Asian Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Chicken Katsu Curry (Air Fryer Recipe)
- Air Fryer Greek Fries
Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops
Equipment
- This is an affiliate link.Air Fryer
Ingredients
For the Maple Miso Glaze
- 3 tbsp This is an affiliate link.maple syrup
- 2 tbsp This is an affiliate link.miso paste
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp This is an affiliate link.soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
For the pork chops
- 4 boneless 1 inch tick pork chops / 250g (8oz) each (pork loin or pork ribeye)
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, continue cooking until reduced by a half. Divide the glaze in half.
- Brush the glaze on a pork chops and air fry in the preheated to 200C/400F for 11-13 minutes flipping half way through.
- Remove from the air fryer and let them rest, brush with the reserved glaze and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
