Air Fryer Pork Loin is ultra juicy and buttery tender with a delicious crispy crust—all in less time! Steal my science-backed tips for perfection every time.
Jenn’s Tips For the Best Air Fryer Pork Loin
This easy recipe cooks in under 30 minutes. The air fryer creates a crisp, flavorful crust while locking in moisture for the most succulent pork loin. I’m a food scientist and here are my top tips!
- Preheat the Air Fryer – Ensures even cooking of both top and bottom, and makes a crisp, golden crust.
- Leave Space for Airflow – Avoid overcrowding so heat circulates properly without steaming.
- Use a Meat Thermometer – Cook to 140°F, let rest to 145°F for juicy pork.
- Let It Rest – Rest for 10 minutes to lock in moisture before slicing.
- Season Evenly – Coat thoroughly for a delicious crust with every bite.
What You Need to Air Fry Pork Loin
I honestly can’t get enough of pork in the air fryer – you must try my air fryer pork tenderloin and air fryer pork chops, too!
Air Fryer Pork Loin Ingredient Notes
Gather up your pork and lovely seasonings to whip this recipe up:
- Pork loin: A 3 1/2 lb pork loin (not tenderloin) is the star of this recipe. It’s a lean cut with just the right amount of fat, making it perfect for air frying, where it crisps on the outside while staying juicy inside. (For a fall-apart-tender pork loin, use my pork loin in crock pot recipe!)
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder and onion powder
- Dried thyme (or fresh)
- Paprika
- Kosher salt and pepper: Adjust the amount if using a different size roast (generally 3/4 tsp per lb of pork).
- Oil
Ingredient quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the article
Variations of Pork Loin in Air Fryer
Need to make a few ingredient swaps? Here are some I make often:
- Brown sugar: You can swap brown sugar with honey or maple syrup, a no-calorie sweetener, or just leave it out.
- Garlic powder: Fresh garlic can be used instead of garlic powder. Mince about 1–2 cloves and add them to the seasoning mix.
- Thyme: You can easily substitute thyme with other dried herbs like rosemary, oregano, or sage, depending on your flavor preference. Fresh herbs will also give a more vibrant taste.
Tools to Grab
You’ll need an air fryer to cook the pork loin to crispy perfection, plus an instant-read thermometer to double-check the internal temperature.
I also like to use tongs to remove the meat from the air fryer.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork: An Easy Guide
Check out my step-by-step guide to the perfect air fryer pork:
Prepare the spice mixture
Combine brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and oil in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Coat the pork
Pat the pork dry. Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the entire surface of the pork loin.
Air fry the pork
Cook for 10 minutes in the preheated air fryer, flip the pork, and continue air frying for 19-24 minutes.
The pork is ready when the internal temperature reaches 140°F. Let it rest for 10 minutes—this will allow the temperature to rise to a perfect 145°F.
Serve and enjoy
Use a sharp knife to slice and serve the pork drizzled with the flavorful juices from the bottom of the air fryer. So delicious!
NOTE: Want to compare with an oven Roast Pork Loin Recipe? (This one’s easy and delicious!)
Other Ways to Make Pork Loin
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the seasoning mix in advance and store it in an airtight container for up to a week.
If you’d like to prep the pork loin ahead of time, rub the seasoning on the pork and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Pop it into the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This lets the flavors marinate, making the pork even more flavorful when cooked.
How to store leftovers
Once cooked, allow the pork loin to cool completely before storing. Place any leftover pork in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze the cooked pork for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, gently warm in the air fryer or oven to maintain its juicy texture.
How to Serve this Air Fryer Pork Recipe
This air fryer pork loin is yummy with side dishes like
- Carrots, Brussels sprouts with Bacon, or sweet potatoes.
- Air fryer broccoli or crispy air fryer eggplant
- creamy mashed potatoes, gluten free au gratin potatoes or a simple grain like couscous
Final Notes, Pro Tips + Science-Based Secrets
These are my top 3 tips for getting incredible results with this pork recipe:
- Ensure even cooking: For the best results, make sure your pork loin is an even size so it cooks uniformly. If it’s uneven, consider trimming the thicker parts or tucking them under to ensure even heat distribution.
- Let the pork rest: The resting period is key to ensuring a juicy roast. This allows the juices to redistribute inside the meat, making each slice tender and moist.
- Add a glaze or sauce: For extra flavor, try drizzling the pork with a glaze (like balsamic or apple cider vinegar reduction) or a homemade sauce before serving to complement the seasoning.
- Remove the silver skin: If my cut of meat has a thin silver skin, I always like to remove it, or it can become tough.
FAQs About Air Fryer Pork
Just whizzing through? Here are the typical queries:
Yes, you can use other cuts like pork tenderloin or bone-in pork chops, but be mindful that the cooking time may differ. Pork tenderloin will cook faster, so check the internal temperature earlier.
No, marinating is not necessary, but you can rub the seasoning on the pork and let it sit for up to 24 hours in the fridge to enhance the flavor.
The best way to ensure the pork is cooked perfectly is by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 140°F before resting. It will rise to 145°F as it rests, ensuring juicy and tender pork.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Air Fryer Pork Loin (Exceptionally Juicy!)
Video
Ingredients
- 3 ½ lb pork loin not tenderloin
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh
- ¾ tsp paprika regular or smoked paprika
- 3 tsp kosher salt or 3/4 tsp per lb of pork, if you use a different size roast
- ½ tsp black pepper 40 cracks on a pepper mill!
- 2 tbsp oil
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and oil.
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork.
- Air fry 10 minutes, flip, then continue cooking 19-24 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 140ºF. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing. It’ll rise to the perfect internal temperature of 145ºF during resting.
- Serve drizzled with the juices from the bottom of the air fryer. SO YUMMY.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This definitly will be a go to. The pork was super juicy. so easy
Delicious!! Juicy! One of my favorites 🥰
Excellent recipe! Perfect roast. Thank you!
Easy recipe and very tasty results – and it doesn’t take long to roast in the air fryer. I marinated the meat for four hours. Will try the faster version next time, since I am usually in a rush to prepare dinner.
Followed the recipe to a T and it was delicious. Thank you!