Air Fryer Sticky Honey Soy Pork Chops

These air fryer sticky honey soy pork chops are one of my favorite weeknight dinners. They come out juicy on the inside with a sweet and savory glaze that makes them hard to resist.

The glaze is a simple mix of honey, soy sauce, garlic and ginger. It only takes a minute to stir together but it adds so much flavor.

Your air fryer does most of the work here. The high heat cooks the pork chops quickly while caramelizing that sticky glaze on the outside.

The whole thing comes together in about 20 minutes, start to finish. Perfect for those nights when you want something that tastes like you put in a lot of effort but you really didn’t.

If you’ve been looking for a new way to cook pork chops, give this one a try. I think you’ll be surprised how good they turn out.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Quick Dinner – These honey soy pork chops take about 15 minutes in the air fryer from start to finish. That means you can go from hungry to eating in no time, even on a busy weeknight.

That Sticky Glaze Is Incredible – The combo of honey and soy sauce creates this sticky, sweet and savory glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer. It coats every bite of the pork chop and honestly tastes like something from a restaurant.

The Air Fryer Keeps Them Juicy – Pork chops can dry out so easily in the oven, but the air fryer locks in moisture while still giving the outside a nice caramelized finish. You get tender, juicy meat with a slightly crispy glaze on top.

Bone-In Means More Flavor – Using bone-in pork chops makes a real difference here because the bone helps keep the meat juicy and adds extra flavor. Paired with that honey soy glaze, every bite is packed with taste.

Ingredients

For the Chops

• 2 Bone-In Pork Chops
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

For the Glaze

• 2 tbsp Honey
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Minced Garlic
• 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

How to Make

Step 1

Season both sides of the pork chops evenly with salt and black pepper.

Step 2

Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket and cook at 380F for 10 minutes.

Step 3

While cooking, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a small bowl.

Step 4

Open the air fryer, flip the pork chops, and brush them generously on both sides with the honey soy glaze.

Step 5

Continue to air fry for 4 to 6 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145F and the glaze is sticky and caramelized.

Step 6

Let the pork chops rest for 3 minutes before serving to retain their juices.

Tips

Pick the Right Thickness

For this recipe, you want bone-in pork chops that are about 1 inch thick. If they’re too thin, they’ll dry out before the glaze even has a chance to caramelize, and you’ll end up with tough, chewy meat.

If your chops are thicker than an inch, you’ll need to add a few extra minutes to the initial cook time before adding the glaze. Thinner chops around half an inch might only need 6-7 minutes for that first round instead of 10.

Getting the thickness right from the start makes a big difference in how juicy and perfectly cooked these turn out.

Let the Pork Chops Come to Room Temperature

Take the pork chops out of the fridge about 15-20 minutes before you start cooking. Cold meat straight from the fridge cooks unevenly, meaning the outside can overcook while the center is still catching up.

When the meat starts closer to room temperature, it cooks more evenly all the way through. This is one of those small steps that makes a noticeable difference in how juicy and tender the final chop turns out.

Don’t Skip Preheating Your Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer at 380F for about 3-5 minutes before you put the pork chops in. Starting with a hot basket means the chops begin cooking immediately and you get a better sear on the outside right from the start.

If you skip preheating, the cook time won’t line up with the recipe and the outside won’t have that nice slightly crispy texture before you brush the glaze on. That initial sear also helps lock in juices so the meat stays tender inside.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Crispy Sesame Chicken
• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon Bites
• Air Fryer Korean BBQ Beef Bowls
• Air Fryer Maple Glazed Pork Belly Bites
• Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use boneless pork chops instead of bone-in?

Yes, boneless pork chops work just fine in this recipe. Just keep in mind that boneless chops are usually thinner, so they cook a bit faster – you may need to reduce the cook time by 2-3 minutes to avoid drying them out.

Bone-in chops do tend to stay juicier because the bone helps insulate the meat during cooking, but boneless chops are still delicious with that sticky honey soy glaze on top.