Air-Fried Stuffed Pork Chops: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Cooking stuffed pork chops in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious meal. The first step is to prepare the stuffing, which can be made with a variety of ingredients such as celery, shallots, parsley, poultry seasoning, bread, and broth. Once the stuffing is ready, it's time to fill the pork chops. Each chop should be sliced horizontally to create a pocket, which is then filled with the stuffing mixture. The chops are then seasoned with salt and pepper, and secured with toothpicks if needed. The air fryer is preheated to a temperature between 325-375 degrees Fahrenheit, and the chops are arranged in a single layer, sprayed with olive oil, and cooked for around 10-20 minutes. The chops are then removed from the air fryer and allowed to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Preheat the air fryer to 325-375 degrees Fahrenheit

Preheat your air fryer to 325-375 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a preheat setting, turn your air fryer on to 375 degrees for three minutes. If your basket tends to stick, spray the inside with olive oil spray. You can also spray the tops of the chops with olive oil spray. Arrange the chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Prepare the stuffing

To prepare the stuffing, you'll need to make a horizontal slice in each pork chop, almost to the bone, to create a pocket. You can then fill this pocket with your chosen stuffing mixture. Make sure you push the stuffing towards the bone and pack it in tightly. You can use a handful of stuffing mixture for each pork chop.

There are various options for the stuffing mixture itself. One recipe suggests warming olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and adding chopped celery and shallots. Stir this for 2-3 minutes until softened, then combine in a bowl with parsley, poultry seasoning, bread and broth. If the mixture isn't holding together well, add a little more broth. Another option is to simply prepare the stuffing according to box directions.

Once you've filled the pork chops with the stuffing mixture, secure the openings with toothpicks if necessary. You can then season the chops with salt and pepper to taste.

Make a pocket in the pork chop

To make a pocket in the pork chop, you'll need to make a horizontal slice almost to the bone. This will create a pocket that you can fill with the stuffing mixture. Push the stuffing towards the bone and pack it in tight. You can secure the opening with toothpicks if necessary.

You can also add some extra flavour by brushing the sides of the pork chops with mustard before you stuff them. Horseradish, deli, or dijon mustard all work well.

Season the pork chops

Seasoning the pork chops is an important step in the cooking process. Firstly, you should season both sides of the pork chops with salt and pepper. You can also brush the sides of the chops with mustard (horseradish, deli, dijon – whatever you have) and spritz with a touch of olive oil spray. This will add flavour to the meat and help to create a crispy, golden crust when cooked.

You can also add additional seasonings to the pork chops, such as chopped celery and shallot, which can be warmed in olive oil over medium heat before being added to the pork chops. This will give the meat a more complex and savoury flavour. Other seasonings that can be added include parsley, poultry seasoning, and bread crumbs.

It is important to note that the amount of seasoning you use may vary depending on your personal preference and the size of the pork chops. It is always better to start with a smaller amount of seasoning and add more as needed, rather than over-seasoning the meat.

Once the pork chops have been seasoned, they are ready to be cooked in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature (between 325-375 degrees Fahrenheit) and arrange the chops in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Spray the tops of the chops with olive oil spray to help them cook evenly and create a crispy exterior.

Cook for 10-20 minutes

Once you've prepared your stuffed pork chops, it's time to cook them. Preheat your air fryer to around 350°F (some recipes suggest 325°F, 330°F or 375°F). Arrange the chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray the tops with olive oil spray.

Now it's time to cook your stuffed pork chops. Depending on the temperature you've set your air fryer to, the cooking time will vary. If you've set it to 375°F, cook the chops for 8 minutes. If you've set it to 350°F, cook for 5 minutes. If you've set it to 330°F, cook for 13 minutes, then flip the chops, spray with cooking spray and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes. If you've set it to 325°F, cook for 10 minutes, then turn and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes.

Regardless of the temperature and cooking time you choose, you'll know your stuffed pork chops are done when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chop reads 145°F. Remove the chops from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions