Crispy, Juicy Air Fryer Pork Steaks (Easy 15-minute meal!)
Crispy yet succulent, these 15-minute Air Fryer Pork Steaks are one of the easiest and most delicious mains I make in my air fryer. The coating helps the outside stay crispy, and yet helps protect it from drying out.
Plus, the seasoned panko coating adds even more delicious flavor to the steaks done in the air fryer!
Why I think Pork Steak Recipe in the Air Fryer is so Awesome
- I love this recipe because using the air fryer to cook them makes them crispy like you deep-fried the food without all the greasiness and calories from the oil.
- They’re done cooking in about 15 minutes in the air fryer.
- Pork shoulder steaks are really hard to overcook and dry out because they come from the shoulder “butt” roast area containing more fat, so they’re a great choice for the newbie cook using their air fryer.
- Pork shoulder cuts are usually less expensive than your traditional center-cut loin pork chop.
- The coating on the steaks is seasoned, adding even more deliciousness to the steak.
Ingredient Highlights
- Pork steaks: A pork steak is a sliced section of the shoulder or “Pork butt” that looks much like a more common beef steak. Pork steak is a more flavorful and juicy cut compared to the common pork chop.
- Panko breadcrumbs: This is a larger crumb coating than your regular breadcrumbs. But if that’s all you have, that’s not a problem to use them. If you don’t have either, you can use my recipe to Make Your Own Breadcrumbs really easily.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, etc. Check the printable recipe below for the specific amounts.
- Oil: Just for spritzing on top of the steaks.
- Butter and parsley mixture: (Optional) For topping on the steaks when they’re done in the air fryer.
Important Tips For Air-Frying Breaded Pork
- Preheating the Air Fryer is an essential step to using your air fryer to get the crispy texture we all love, and it helps ensure an even cook. Same concept as preheating the oven.
- Adding the smoked paprika goes a long way in giving you that smokey, almost grilled-like flavor. I really think this is must have, but a little goes a long way!
- For the seasonings, if you’re tired of using dragging out a handful of seasonings all the time to season proteins (like I do), I recommend using my secret weapon – Montreal Steak Seasoning. It’s like an all-purpose, one-stop-shop for seasoning. I use it in many recipes like my Air Fryer Country Fried Steaks with Gravy, and as well in my Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Breasts.
- Lastly, and probably most importantly, use a digital thermometer to test that the temperature has reached at least 145 degrees in the center. Even if you don’t use the one I have, any accurate meat thermometer is worth its weight in gold. You don’t overcook or undercook things anymore.
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How Do I Cook The Pork Without Drying It Out?
With just a few pointers to follow, you won’t ever dry out those steaks.
- Use a fattier cut of pork. For instance, center cut chops are usually from the loin part of the pig which is leaner, whereas if you use a shoulder cut pork steak, it will have more marbling which means more fat and a juicer piece of meat.
- Be sure to use a digital thermometer as I mentioned above. This way you know exactly when to stop the cooking process to preserve that juiciness!
- It’s always a good idea to bring the pork (or any meat for that matter) to room temperature before you air fry, roast, bake, grill, etc. If the meat is cooked right out of the fridge, the outside will cook faster than the inside, and you will have a dry piece of meat by the time the inside is cooked.
- Marinating meat is always a great idea to help retain juiciness and add even more flavor.
What Side Dish Goes Well With Pork?
These savory pork shoulder steaks are yummy served with super quick-to-make Tumeric Rice, Instant Pot 3-minute Maple Cinnamon Butter Carrots, or if you want to go with a ‘pub night’ feel, try these Air Fryer Zucchini Sticks!
Sometimes, I’ll whip up simple mashed potatoes with brown gravy. THAT’S some comfort food if you ask me!
Storing Air Fried Leftovers
Like most fryer and air fryer foods, these are best enjoyed fresh and hot. Storing them can change the texture but I find it’s easy enough to freshen these steaks up again.
First, these will last in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 4 to 5 days.
To reheat, toss it back in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes, microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or toss it into the toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes. The air fryer or toaster oven gives the best texture in my opinion.
Recipe FAQ’S
Sure! You can use a bone-in chop, or center loin cut chops are fine as well. I would just keep a close eye on the center cuts if you use them because they tend to dry out quicker in the air fryer than pork steaks or bone-in chops.
No. I used my Cosori 3.7 Qt Air Fryer. I also have a Ninja Foodi with an air fryer function that works fantastic as well. As long as your air fryer can reach 400F, you’re good to go.
Absolutely. The coating on the outside will be finer than if you used panko, and possibly not quite as crispy. However, if you use store bought or homemade seasoned breadcrumbs, you can either half the amount of seasoning you add to the coating mix or leave it out altogether.
Thanks for stopping by The Salty Pot today! I hope that you give this recipe a try and when you do, please let me know what you think by leaving a ***STAR RATING*** and comment below, or emaile at Joanne@thesaltypot.com.
Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Pork Steaks
Crispy, juicy, and super flavorful, these air fryer pork steaks are so easy to make! On the table in around 30 minutes, their coating tastes like a deep-fried schnitzel, but with only a fraction of the calories!
Ingredients
- 2 pork shoulder steaks, 8 ounces each
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs (see notes)
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Regular Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for spitzing or drizzling on the steaks (see notes)
- Optional: 1/4 cup butter, melted, 1/4 tsp parsley dried
Instructions
- Begin to preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- While the air fryer is preheating, begin by blotting the pork steaks with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the panko and seasonings. Mix very well to incorporate.
- Dredge the steaks in the breadcrumbs on both sides and place them in the air fryer basket. Try not to have them overlapping.
- Air fry the pork steaks for 8 minutes. Flip and then continue to air fry for another 5 minutes or until an internal temperature of 145F has been reached. . When the timer goes off, let them rest for 5 minutes inside the basket.
- **Optional step: combine the melted butter and parsley together. Dab this mixture over the steaks for an even more delicious flavor. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don't have panko breadcrumbs on hand, regular bread crumbs will work.
- When spritzing the steaks with oil, this Misto Spritzer works fantastic because it's refillable, and you can use any oil you prefer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 8 ouncesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 1093Total Fat: 72gSaturated Fat: 31gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 276mgSodium: 864mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 66g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
I stumbled across your website just by chance, and it’s better than a lottery win
I’ve never heard my stomach rumble in anticipation as much from your brilliant recipes and photos!
Having just taken the plunge and bought a Ninja foodi I wanted to find inspiration, in fact I may never leave the house again! as there’s a plethora of recipes that I am now going to try 🙂
Thank you Joanna for creating a veritable feast for visitors eyes
Well, thank you so much for the very kind words, Jeff!! I hope you thoroughly enjoy learning all the awesome things a Ninja Foodi can do!