This pasta and pork chops recipe is a hearty, delicious meal that satisfies the whole family. Tender, juicy, seasoned pork chops cooked in the air fryer until golden, then they're paired with gluten free fusilli in a rich, creamy sauce loaded with spinach, parmesan cheese, and spices for an easy weeknight meal.
Pork chops are a classic dinner protein, and it's easy to see why. With their tender, meaty texture and a flavor that's mild but won't disappear into the dish, pork chops lend themselves well to a variety of recipes and flavors. This dish, with its creamy sauce, al dente noodles, and seasoned chops highlights that perfectly.
Because I want to ensure my meats are both perfectly cooked and safe, I always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. My favorite is the ThermoPro Lightning 1-Second Instant Read Meat Thermometer because it tells me immediately when my meat is perfectly cooked.
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Why You'll Love This Pork Chops and Pasta Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: This recipe uses pork chops, pasta, and a few other basic ingredients found in any grocery store.
- Easy: The pork chops cook quickly and easily in the air fryer, and the sauce comes together in just a few minutes.
- Flavorful: This recipe uses spices like paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and more to create a complex, deeply-flavored sauce and wonderful seasoning for the chops.
- Family-Friendly: While the flavors may be deep and complex, they still remain kid-friendly, so the entire family can enjoy this recipe.
Past and Pork Chops Video
Ingredients
- Bone-In Pork Chops: Seasoned bone-in, air fried pork chops cook up tender and juicy.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil provides the base for the seasoning mixture, allowing it to adhere to the chops. I prefer Costabile olive oil for its quality and purity. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK for 15% off.
- Gluten-Free Fusilli: The corkscrew texture of fusilli allows it to hold on to the sauce.
- Seasonings: A mixture of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and other spices creates a deep, complex flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Chicken broth adds the liquid needed to cook the pasta and create the sauce, along with extra flavor.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream adds body and luxurious texture to the sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a nutty flavor to the sauce.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Change up the proteins: This recipe works with boneless pork chops, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, and even seafood.
- Make it spicy: Try adding red pepper flakes for a spicy version of this recipe.
- Grill it: Grill your pork chops to add a tasty twist to the dish.
How to Make Pasta and Pork Chops
Air Fryer Pork Chops
1: Wash and pat the pork chops dry with paper towels, then combine the oil and all the seasonings in a small bowl.
2: Thoroughly coat both sides of the pork chops with the seasoning mixture.
3: Air fry the chops until the internal temperature registers 145 degrees, flipping halfway through cooking.
Pasta and Sauce (Cook While the Chops Air Fry)
1: Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente and drain it.
2: Cook the shallots in a large pan with butter over medium-low heat until softened.
3: Add the flour and stir well. Then, add broth, cream, and seasonings.
4: Add the chopped spinach and parmesan cheese, stirring while cooking until the sauce thickens.
5: Add the pasta and stir to coat. Serve with the pork chops, and enjoy!
Hint
Using your hands with gloves on is the easiest and most efficient way to coat your pork chops with the seasoned mixture.
Storage
Refrigerate these pork chops and pasta for up to 4 days in an air-tight container. Freezing is not recommended, as the sauce can break while reheating.
To reheat your past and pork chops, place everything in a baking dish with a touch of water if necessary, and bake covered at 350 until the entire dish is heated through.
What to Serve with Pasta and Pork Chops
Serve these pork chops and pasta with a side of vegetables like air fryer zucchini and squash or pan-fried zucchini and squash.
A hearty dish like this one deserves a substantial dessert to finish the meal, so try delicious flavors like Golden Oreo cheesecake, pistachio cannoli cake, or light, tender grape cake.
Tips for the Best Pork Chops and Pasta
- Be sure to fully coat both sides of your pork chops for the best flavor.
- Keep your heat on medium-low when cooking the shallots so you don't burn them.
- Cook your sauce for about a minute after adding the seasonings before adding the spinach. This helps meld the flavors while avoiding overcooking the spinach.
- Use a quality meat thermometer like ThermoPro to ensure your meat is fully cooked.
More Pasta Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken (My Viral Pasta with over 150 Million views)
- Chicken Parm Casserole
- Bacon Smoked Mac and Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
They're not better, they're just different. Bone-in pork chops usually have more flavor and juiciness because the bone insulates the meat and keeps it moist. However, boneless pork chops cook more quickly and are usually more convenient.
The best way to tell if your pork chops are done is by using a meat thermometer. Pork chops are done when their internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
Al dente pasta should be tender but still have firmness to it. Al dente literally means with bite, so the pasta should have just the slightest snap when bitten into.
Related
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📖 Recipe
Pasta and Pork Chops
Ingredients
Pork Chops
- 4 bone-in pork chops ¼ to ½-inch thick
- 2 tablespoon Costabile olive oil
- 2 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon thyme
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz gluten free fusilli
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon dried shallots
- 1 handful Chopped spinach
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 tablespoon gluten free flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ tsp smoked sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dry parsley
Instructions
Pork Chops
- Wash and dry the pork chops with paper towels.
- Combine the olive oil, ground sweet paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, ground mustard, onion powder, thyme, and brown sugar in a small bowl to create a paste.
- Gently coat both sides of the pork chops with the seasoned paste.
- Air fry the pork chops for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping halfway through cooking until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
Pasta (Cook While the Chops Air Fry)
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions. Then, drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Then, add the shallots and cook them for 1 to 2 minutes to soften. Be sure the heat isn't too high. The shallots can burn quickly.
- Add the flour to the shallots and stir well.
- Pour the heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet. Then, add the thyme, garlic powder, sweet paprika, parsley, and salt and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chopped spinach and parmesan cheese to the mixture. Then cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
- When the sauce has thickened, gently stir in the pasta. Serve with the pork chops, and enjoy!
Sherry says
This dish was perfect for a busy night. The whole family loved it!
Liz says
This was such a fabulous combination! We loved the creamy sauce and will definitely make it again!!!
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Nora says
My family loved this! So full of flavor and easy to make! Thanks!
Criss says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Shelly says
My family loved this pasta, thanks for the recipe.
Tisha says
This recipe was so easy to follow and was an absolute divine dinner. Thanks for sharing