Pork Shoulder Air Fryer Recipe (Air Fryer Pork Shoulder Roast) (2024)

Can you air fry pork roast? Yes! You can make air fryer pork shoulder that is tender and delicious, with a crispy sear on the outside. This pork shoulder air fryer recipe cooks relatively quickly, and is a much faster method than slow cooking. Learn what is the best temperature to cook pork roast, side dishes for roast pork shoulder, and more!

Have you tried cooking pork shoulder in an air fryer? Air frying is a great cooking technique when you want a roast dinner without a lot of fuss.

One of my favorite ways to cook pork shoulder is in the crockpot or Instant Pot. However, as demonstrated in my pulled pork salad bowl recipe, it takes around 8 hours to get tender, shredded pork. So what if you forget to put the pork roast in the slow cooker before going to work?

Whoops! No pork shoulder for you that evening. I guess you’ll have to save it for Sunday dinner.

This air fryer roasted pork is awesome because it only takes one hour. You could make it for a weeknight dinner (if you don’t mind eating on the later side).

The results aren’t as shreddable as with pulled pork. What you get instead are moist slices of pork roast with a delicious crispy crust. YUM!

You can get a pork shoulder roast fairly inexpensively. (Aldi even carries them now!) With this easy air fryer recipe, you can enjoy roasted pork any time of the year with short notice.

⭐ Air Fryer Pork Shoulder Benefits

Why make air fryer roast pork? Pork shoulder tends to get a reputation as an “unhealthy food,” but it actually offers a lot of nutrient benefits. Here are some of the reasons (nutrition-related and otherwise) I love this recipe:

• Rich in B-complex vitamins: One serving of this pork roast is an excellent source of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. You’re getting all the niacin (vitamin B3) you need for the day with this recipe!
• Essential minerals: This roast pork is also an excellent source of phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. You’re getting some iron and magnesium as well.
• Packed with protein: If you’re looking for a high-protein main dish, this pork roast has you covered. Add some veggies and you’re got yourself a hearty, filling meal.
• Keto and low carb: This simple entrée is a good fit for a variety of the most popular special diets. This includes the keto diet, low carb diets, ancestral diets (such as Paleo), and gluten-free.
• Frees up the oven for side dishes: With the main dish in the air fryer, your oven is free to bake some rolls or make other sides.
• Fast: Air frying is one of the fastest ways to cook a pork roast that I have found. If you’re looking for quick and convenient, air fried pork roast is the way to go.
• Yummy: Pork roast is tasty. That’s a good enough reason to eat something for many of us, so there you go. Haha

🥘 Pork Shoulder Air Fryer Recipe Ingredients

What do you need to make air fryer pork roast? Here is your shopping list:

• Skinless and boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt can also be used)
• Olive oil
• Chili powder
• Ground coriander powder
• Salt and black pepper

It’s important to use a fatty cut of pork for this recipe! DO NOT use a leaner cut like pork loin, pork tenderloin (pork fillet), or pork sirloin.

A fatty meat is necessary if you want the end result to be moist. Leaner cuts will dry out with the extended cooking time.

Another factor that is important is the size of your roast. Use a 1 lb. 8-ounce to 1 lb. 10-ounce piece of pork for this air fryer pork roast. (That’s 680-737 grams for our visitors in Australia, the UK, and elsewhere.)

If your pork roast is too large, just cut it to the size you need. My pork shoulder came netted, which made it nice and compact, perfect for air frying. If your pork is not in a compact, roundish shape, you’ll need to tie it with kitchen twine.

The netting is nice not only for helping the pork roast to cook more evenly. It also creates a nice scored look on the finished roast without any knife work on your part.

🐖 Pork Butt vs Pork Shoulder

According to Cook’s Illustrated, pork butt (AKA “Boston butt”) and pork shoulder are both from the shoulder of the pig. However, pork shoulder comes from farther down the foreleg than pork butt. Either of these cuts can be used in this recipe, as long as they are boneless.

🍽 Equipment

To make pork roast in the air fryer, you’ll need an air fryer, tongs or a spatula, foil, and a meat thermometer. The meat thermometer is important to ensure your roast has reached a minimum safe internal temperature.

I used a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven to develop this recipe. A Ninja Foodi, Actifry, Cosori, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Pampered Chef, Power Air Fryer, etc. can also make roasts, as long as they fit. You may need to adjust the cooking times if you’re using a different air fryer than I am.

One thing you don’t need for this recipe is an air fryer with a spit. This isn’t an air fryer rotisserie pork roast. You can just put the roast right in a large air fryer basket or on an air fryer tray. I didn’t want to have to remove the netting from the pork roast to put it on the spit.

🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Pork Shoulder

Let’s learn how to air fry roast pork! This is so easy you won’t believe it. If your pork is netted, there’s no need to score it.

Let your pork roast rest at room temperature for one hour before you begin. It will cook a little faster than if you start it chilled. (That said, it’s ok to skip this step if you forget.)

Rub the netted pork on all sides with olive oil. Mix the chili powder, coriander powder, salt, and pepper together. Rub this seasoning blend all over the pork.

Put the pork roast on your air fryer tray. You’re ready to air fry!

️⏲ Pork Shoulder Air Fryer Time and Temperature

How long does it take to cook pork roast in the air fryer? What temperature to air fry pork roast? This pork shoulder roast takes a total of 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175C) in the air fryer.

I cooked the roast on the lower rack of my air fryer oven (the one in the middle of the oven). The roast didn’t fit on the top rack.

You’ll be flipping the roast three or four times during the cooking process to ensure even browning. I flipped my roast after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, and 50 minutes of air frying. If your roast appears to be drying out too much, brush with more oil as needed to keep it juicy.

Check your roast with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached the minimum safe internal temperature. For pork roasts, this is 145F (63C).

If you can’t get the interior to 145F/63C within an hour, I’d slice the middle (undercooked) portion and air fry the slices separately. If you continue to air fry the whole pork roast, the outer edges may become overcooked and dry.

After air frying, tent the pork roast in foil and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then remove the netting and cut the roast into slices.

️🌡️ Leftovers

How long will pork roast last in the fridge? Roast pork will keep for 3-4 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. Use your leftovers in salads, sandwiches, casseroles, hash, or wraps.

🍖 Reheating Pork Shoulder

To keep pork roast moist, reheat it slowly with a source of added moisture. You can use broth, water, or sauces to keep pork roast from drying out. Cook’s Illustrated recommends reheating pork roast in a 250F (121C) oven, and finishing it with a quick sear in an oiled skillet.

🧂 Pork Shoulder Seasoning

If you don’t like the chili powder and coriander blend I used, here are some other pork roast seasonings:

• Garlic
• BBQ seasoning
• Steak seasoning
• Poultry seasoning
• Italian seasoning
• Everything but the bagel seasoning
• Cajun spice
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Basil
• Oregano
• Classic salt and black pepper

If cooked correctly, this pork roast is moist and delicious without gravy. I think you’ll find you don’t need it.

🥗 Side Dishes for Pork Shoulder

What to serve with pork roast? So many things go well in a roast dinner! Here are a few of my favorite side dishes that go with pork roast:

• Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe
• Applesauce Substitute (pear sauce)
• Air Fryer Corn Bread
• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Air Fryer Butternut Squash
• Corn on the Cob

📋 Calories, Net Carbs, Protein

One serving of Air Fryer Pork Roast has 310 calories, 0.3 grams net carbs, and 48.6 grams protein (per Cronometer). This nutrition information is an estimate and depends on factors such as how much fat drips from the roast as it cooks.

FAQs

Can you cook frozen pork shoulder in an air fryer?

Frozen pork roast in an air fryer may leave you with an undercooked center and dry outer edges. If you must air fry a frozen pork roast, I recommend using a very small roast. Be generous with added fat or oil to help keep the roast from drying out too much.

Can you make air fryer rotisserie pork roast?

Yes, you can make air fryer pork roast on the rotisserie. The downside is you’d have to remove the pork from its netting and tie it to the rotisserie spit. A benefit is you don’t have to turn the roast if you’re cooking it on the air fryer spit.

Will pork loin work in this recipe?

No, pork loin is a lean cut that can’t usually be used in place of fatty pork butt in recipes. Use my air fryer pork tenderloin recipe if you want to air fry a lean cut of pork.

Can you cook a pork joint in the air fryer?

You can air fry pork joints, though the air frying temperature and time will be different than what is provided here. You’ll get yummy crispy crackling if the pork joint has skin on it!

How do you know when pork roast is done?

The best way to check that your pork roast is done is to use a meat thermometer. The safe minimum internal temperature for pork roasts is 145F (63C). Color is not a good indicator of doneness; there may be some pink in a fully cooked pork roast.

👩🏻‍🍳 Other Air Fryer Pork Recipes

Are you looking for more air fryer recipes using pork? I'm on it! Try these next:

• Sausage Patties in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Brats
• Pork Belly Air Fryer Recipe

Also, if you’re looking for more air fryer roast recipes, this air fryer roast beef is absolutely divine.

📖 Recipe Card

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