No need to wait a long time for these ribs, you can make tender, juicy air fryer ribs in less than 45 minutes!
Air Fryer Ribs
These air fryer pork ribs are so amazing! They’re tender, juicy, and so incredibly flavorful. They’re not fall-off-the-bone the way they would be with a slow cooking method, but they truly are tender. Since they only take about 30 minutes to cook, I feel like that’s a pretty awesome trade, and it makes it so easy to make ribs on a busy weeknight.
I’ve got to talk more about the rub. It’s seriously mouthwateringly good. The flavor combination of brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin is my absolute favorite when it comes to ribs, and it does not disappoint here. After it’s done cooking it gets smothered in smoky BBQ sauce, and popped back in the air fryer to caramelize.
These ribs are sticky, sweet, smoky, tender, and hard to stop eating! Everyone in my family wanted seconds because these ribs really packed the BBQ flavor, even though it required minimal effort.
Ingredients
Baby Back Ribs: When you’re shopping for baby back ribs, look for ones that have plenty of meat on the bones, that have some good marbling, and that are a pretty even thickness all the way through (so that they cook evenly). The main thing you want to avoid is ribs with large stretches of exposed bones because you won’t end up with much meat to eat after it’s done cooking.
Dry Rub (Brown Sugar, Chili Powder, Cumin, Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder): This dry rub has it all. It’s sweet, smoky, savory, and has just a tiny bit of spice. If you want to amp up the spice, feel free to add in some cayenne.
BBQ Sauce: This is what creates the sticky sweet glaze that we all love on ribs. Feel free to choose your favorite type. I used smoky BBQ sauce, but sweet or tangy would also work.
Flavor Variation Recommendations
- Chipotle: Add chipotle powder to the dry rub to amp up the spice and smoky flavor.
- Cajun: Swap the dry rub for a Cajun spice blend, and then swap the BBQ sauce for hot honey. It’s spicy, sweet, and so tasty.
- Pineapple: Drain some canned pineapple, and dice it finely. Mix it into the BBQ sauce before brushing it onto the ribs. The pineapple caramelizes so nicely and adds such a nice sweet element.
How To Cook Air Fryer Ribs
Prep the Ribs: Remove the silverskin (membrane) from the back of the ribs by loosening it with a knife, gripping it with a paper towel, and pulling it away. Cut the ribs into sections that fit comfortably in your air fryer basket. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Make the Dry Rub: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix until evenly blended.
Season: Generously coat both sides of the ribs with the dry rub, pressing it into the meat to help it stick.
Air Fry: Place the ribs in the air fryer basket in a single layer without major overlapping (standing them on their edges works well). Cook, flipping halfway through, until the ribs are browned, cooked through, and tender.
Sauce: Remove the ribs and brush with half of the BBQ sauce on both sides. Return to the air fryer and cook until the sauce becomes sticky and caramelized.
Finish: Brush with the remaining BBQ sauce and let the ribs rest before slicing and serving. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Don’t Forget to Remove the Membrane: The silverskin, also called the membrane, won’t break down during cooking. That’s why removing it is such an important step. Not only will the flavor not be able to penetrate through it, it will make the ribs tough and chewy.
- Watch the Sauce: Since BBQ sauce contains sugar, it can caramelize really quickly in the air fryer with the hot circulating air. Keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn’t go from caramelized to burnt.
- Don’t Forget to Rest the Ribs: Letting the ribs rest for 5 minutes after they finish cooking and before you serve them gives the juices a chance to redistribute, making the ribs more tender.
Do Ribs Get Tender In The Air Fryer?
Absolutely! That’s the beauty of the air fryer. Since it circulates hot air around the meat, it does a great job of locking in the juices, which helps keep the meat tender. They aren’t fall-off-the-bone ribs, but they are tender, delicious, and so quick to make.
What Temp To Cook Ribs In The Air Fryer?
You have to balance the temperature of the air fryer. You need to make sure it’s hot enough to lock in the juices, but not so hot that the exterior burns before the inside has a chance to cook fully. I’ve found that the sweet spot is 375F.
How Long Do Ribs Take In The Air Fryer?
It takes about 30 minutes to cook baby back ribs in a preheated air fryer. Then you add the BBQ sauce and it takes a few more minutes for that to caramelize.
What To Serve With Baby Back Ribs
As much as I love ribs, the sides I serve with ribs are just as exciting for me! I love serving these with stovetop Velveeta mac and cheese, some coleslaw for pulled pork, these baked beans with ground beef, and a slice of Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn.
Storing And Freezing Leftovers
Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let frozen ribs thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Can You Reheat Ribs In An Air Fryer?
Definitely, it’s a great way to reheat ribs. They can get a little dry when they spend time in the fridge, so I like to sprinkle a little water on them before reheating. It normally takes about 10 minutes in the air fryer for them to be warmed through.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Dinner Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other dinner recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Slow Cooker Country Style Pork Ribs
- Dry Rub Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Turkey Wings
- Air Fryer Ribeye
- Ribeye Roast
- Instant Pot Pork Loin
- Baked Country Style Ribs
- Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
- Pork Ribeye Roast
BEST Air Fryer Ribs Recipe (Quick, Easy, and Tender)
No need to wait a long time for these ribs, you can make tender, juicy air fryer ribs in less than 45 minutes!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds baby back ribs
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chili powder*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (divided, I used smoky BBQ sauce)
Instructions
- This recipe will work best in an air fryer with a square basket or in one of the XL circle basket air fryers with the deeper basket. It will still work in a regular air fryer with a round basket, but you may have to cook the ribs in rounds.
- Remove the silverskin (membrane) from the ribs before applying the rub. (The silver skin will remain tough after it cooks and will stop the flavor of the rub from penetrating.) To remove it, slide a table knife underneath a loose part of the silverskin and pull it away from the ribs. Once you have lifted enough up that you can grab it, use a paper towel to grab it and pull it away from the ribs. If it rips, use the knife to start another section, and repeat the process.
- Cut the ribs into sections that will fit into your air fryer (either in half or in thirds).
- To a small bowl, add the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt, paprika, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix together until it’s well blended and there are no more sugar clumps.
- Evenly spread the dry rub over both sides of the ribs, and rub into the meat to help the seasoning stick to the ribs.
- Preheat a 5 quart air fryer to 375F for 3 minutes.
- Once preheated, place the ribs into the basket however they will fit without overlapping. Touching is fine, or even a slight overlap, but they can’t majorly overlap. I stand mine up on their edges. Cook for them for 15 minutes. Use tongs to flip the ribs over and cook for another 15 minutes (a total of 30 minutes). The ribs will form to the shape of the basket as they cook, so flipping them over halfway through cooking will help with them flatten out as much as possible. The ribs are done when they reach 195F on an instant read meat thermometer at the thickest point without touching bone.
- Remove the ribs from the basket, then using a basting brush or the back of a spoon, apply 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce over the entire rack of ribs (top and bottom). Place them back into the air fryer, turn the heat up to 400F, and cook until the sauce is sticky and caramelized. This will take about 3-4 minutes, but you should check after 3 minutes to make sure the sauce doesn’t burn.
- Remove the ribs from the air fryer, brush them with the remaining 1/4 cup of sauce, and let them rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
*This is a spice blend sold in the US and Canada that’s much more mild than the pure chili powder sold in the UK and other parts of the world.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/5Amount Per Serving: Calories: 606Total Fat: 39.4gCarbohydrates: 16.5gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 46.9g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Craving BBQ but can’t fire up the grill right now? Try cooking baby back ribs in the air fryer, it’s super easy and so tasty!
