Air Fryer Sauce and Chops

Air fryer sauce and chops recipe that's made entirely in the air fryer, requires little to no effort and delivers big flavors! This recipe has a quick cooking time making it great for any day of the week.

After making these Easy Air Fryer Recipe with Lamb Chops and Sausage in one, I decided to use lamb chops again in this recipe although any chops can be used.

The umami tasting tomato sauce uses no fresh or canned tomatoes, instead we are making an air fryer braai sauce (air fryer barbecue sauce). The flavors come from my homemade braai sauce but I did tweak it a little to suit this recipe.

The sauce recipe ingredients are very customizable so feel free to add ingredients like soy sauce or worcestershire sauce for more depth in flavor. 

The only prep required here is that you take the chops out of the fridge 30 minutes before you start cooking and you will need to mince a few garlic cloves. I add quite a bit of garlic so adjust to your taste.

You will also need  to mince the garlic cloves and there's no reason to buy pre-minced garlic! For freshness and overall best flavor, I would suggest that you mince your own garlic cloves.

Can I Substitute Lamb Chops for Pork Chops

Absolutely! You can make an air fryer pork chop recipe using bone-in pork chops or boneless pork chops. However, do note the differences in terms of taste, texture and cook time. 

Lamb is richer and gamier in taste than pork, pork has a milder taste. Lamb chops are fattier than pork chops and will take a little longer to cook through than pork chops.

 Also, because lamb is gamier, you may want to season generously and add a spice mixture for extra flavor. In conclusion, you can definitely substitute lamb chops for juicy pork chops instead! 

Best Sauce For Lamb Chops

There is no store-bought sauce that will compare to making your own healthier homemade sauce! The best part of using a sauce with chops is that it can take your chops from a bite or light lunch to a full and satisfying meal.

In this recipe, we use a few ingredients like  - ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, which come from the base of my Easy Braai Sauce (Southern African BBQ) Recipe together with a dash of red wine. The red wine was definitey an inspiration pulled from my Duck In Red Wine Sauce. 

What to Do With the Fat From the Lamb Chops

There is no need to toss the fat. There is a misconception that fat is bad for your when infact, just as our bodies need protein, they need fat too. 

You can remove the access fat, after the chops have air-fried because whatever is left, is nothing but flavor which goes straight into the sauce!

Do Plates Go Into the Air Fryer?

Most oven-safe dishware can normally go into the air fryer. I have pyrex dishes that could probably go into the microwave too, but I have this anixiety of the glass aspect to it, so I tend to use ceramic quite safely. 

If it's an oven safe ceramic dish it will work in the air fryer, just remember to check the size.

Simple Ingredients For Air Fryer Chops and Sauce

The full recipe with step-by-step instructions can be found in the recipe card. 

For the lamb Chops:  You can use any, bone-in chops, boneless chops or pork chops. 

For seasoning: I use a simple seasoning of salt, pepper and a very little olive oil to coat but you can also use avocado oil instead or no oil. I do find that a light drizzle of oil or cooking spray when cooking in the air fryer helps with the golden brown color and overall texture. 

For the Sauce: You can find the full recipe in the recipe card below which includes ingredients like Ketchup, Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce and others.

How to Make Air Fryer Sauce and Chops

Sauce:  Add all the sauce ingredients into a small bowl to combine or mix them directly in the ceramic dish and place into the air fryer basket for about 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is thick to your liking. 

Chops:  Remove the chops from the fridge to reach room temperature before cooking.  Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Dry the chops with paper towel and season well with salt and black pepper.

You can also add garlic powder, onion powder or other flavorings. Arrange the chops in the bottom of the basket in a single layer and enough room to turn them around.  Cook on high heat, 205 degrees C/ 401 degrees F for 10 minutes flipping halfway. 

Can you cook your chops on a lower heat? Yes you can cook lamb chops on 200C/400F for 7-9 minutes or 190°C / 374°F for roughly 10-12 minutes.

The internal temperature will also depend on the thickness of the chops and if the chops were refrigerated or at room temperature before cooking. See more below.

Ideal Internal Temperature for Chops

The ideal internal temperature for chops in general is around  62° internal temperature / 145° internal temperature.  However, I prefer pulling them out on 57-58°C / 134-136°F and resting the chops for 5 minutes, in which time the temperature will rise a few degrees, hence pulling them out earlier rather than later.

How to Check the Internal Temperature

To check the internal temperature use a meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the meat for an accurate reading. As explained in this lamb and sausage recipe, I prefer pushing the thermometer all the way through the thickest part of the meat (avoiding the bone) and then pulling it back and as it reaches the center, that's the reading to use. 

Favorite Air Fryer and Sauce Recipes

• Air Fryer Lamb Chops
• Easy Braai Sauce (Southern African BBQ) Recipe 
• Seasoned Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites
• Pressure Cooker Spare Ribs (Instant Pot)

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