Grab Pork Chops, Grated Parmesan And An Air Fryer For An Easy Protein-Packed Meal In 20 Minutes

Although there is such a thing as eating too much protein, some people still struggle to consume adequate amounts of protein per day, especially if they are living an active lifestyle or trying to gain more muscle mass. Combined with a busy schedule, it can be difficult to meet your nutrition goals while still enjoying a home-cooked meal on weeknights when there just never seems to be enough hours in the day. Luckily, a protein-dense meat like a pork chop cooked in the air fryer is an excellent way to quickly whip up a delicious dinner that has a substantial amount of protein. 

With an estimated 45 grams of protein in the recipe per serving, our air fryer parmesan-crusted boneless pork chop recipe is the perfect way to sneak more protein into your lunch and dinner routine. The beauty of cooking the crusted pork chop in an air fryer is that you can still achieve a gorgeous golden-brown and crispy crust without the need for traditional frying, saving you both a mess to clean up from pan-frying in larger amounts of oil. The high temperatures and rapidly circulating air of the air fryer give the pork chops an amazing exterior crust while still leaving a tender and juicy interior that's not overcooked, as some pork chops have the tendency to be. For leftovers or meal prepping, the pork chop can be reheated in the air fryer or on a low heat in a toaster oven until warmed through.

Despite its flavorful and crispy crust, there are only a handful of simple ingredients that come together in just a few basic steps. Boneless pork chops are dipped in an egg wash and then dredged in a combination of grated parmesan and fine breadcrumbs. The breaded pork chops are then spritzed with your preferred cooking oil, which is all that's needed for a perfectly air-fried crust. The chops are then air-fried for about 9 – 11 minutes total, depending on the thickness of your chops and your air fryer. 

Once the pork chops are in the air fryer, the recipe is fairly hands-off, which allows you time to prep the rest of your meal. Like all meals, especially for those focusing on protein intake, it's important to make sure that your dinner plate is well-balanced with vegetables and carbohydrates. Try one of our favorite roasted vegetable recipes for a comforting and nutritious accompaniment to the pork chops, or serve the air-fried chops alongside a big, crisp arugula salad sprinkled with freshly cracked black pepper and even more parmesan cheese. 

Adding an egg and parmesan cheese boosts the dish's protein content. One egg has about 6 grams of protein, while parmesan cheese has about 10 grams of protein per single ounce. This brings the total protein content of this juicy, crispy, air-fried boneless pork chop to 45g per serving.