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My juicy Air Fryer Ribs are ready in 35 minutes in the air fryer using simple ingredients! Enjoy incredibly flavorful, tender baby back ribs in no time with minimal effort. You will not believe how delicious the results are for this easy recipe for ribs!
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Air Fryer Pork Ribs
My family and I are obsessed with baby back ribs. After making the most amazing grilled baby back ribs at home, I knew I had to try air-frying ribs. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed!
This recipe for air-fried baby back ribs is so incredible that you will struggle to believe it’s as simple as it is—but it is! Just a few easy steps, simple ingredients, and 35 minutes in the air-fried oven are all you need to make juicy, tender air-fried pork ribs.
This recipe is so easy and so delicious. My family now requests it weekly. Thank you for sharing such an easy recipe, my kind of recipe!
Amy via email
Ribs in Air Fryer Ingredients
- Baby back pork ribs
- barbecue sauce, use your favorite kind or homemade bbq sauce
- brown sugar
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- Creole seasoning
- black pepper
- paprika
- salt, preferably Himalayan sea salt
- cumin
- chili powder
- mustard powder
- Instead of the above seasoning, use one serving of rib rub; use the whole serving of the recipe.
Air Fry Ribs Recipe
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. While it heats, pat ribs dry and cut them into 4 equal portions. Combine your rib rub seasoning in a bowl and mix well. Generously season ribs all over on both sides.
- Spray air fryer tray with cooking spray and place the ribs on the rack. Air fry for 30 minutes, turning at the 15 minute mark. After 30 minutes is up, brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and air fry for another 5 minutes.
- Slice the ribs, serve, and enjoy!
If you love air fryer recipes, you must try my air fryer ham with honey siracha sauce. You will never want to cook ham any other way!
Pork Ribs in Air Fryer Tips
- Try my favorite 10-Quart Air Fryer for this recipe.
- Use your favorite barbecue sauce! You can use any kind you like, from sweet to spicy and everything in between. Whatever your favorite is, it will pair perfectly with these air-fried pork ribs.
- Serve air-fried pork ribs with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
- Preheat your air fryer before cooking the ribs. The air fryer must already be hot when the ribs begin cooking, so don’t skip this step.
- Flip at the 15-minute mark for best results.
- My Rib Dry Rub is the perfect rib seasoning with air fryer baby back ribs! It is a mix of sweet, spicy, and earthy flavors for the ideal balance of flavor.
Air-frying pork ribs are a great choice when you want a quick and easy BBQ meal or want to grill out but the weather isn’t right, or you don’t have the time! I will show you how to make ribs in the air fryer. They are so delicious that you will want to make them this way every time. They are that good!
My air fryer turkey breast is the juiciest turkey you will ever cook!
How to Make Pork Ribs in the Oven
To cook these baby back ribs in the oven, follow these instructions:
- Season the ribs all over with your seasoning mix. Cover well and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Take ribs from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature, then lay them bone-side down on a wire rack. Add the wire rack to a baking tray lined with foil.
- Add to the oven and bake for approximately 1 hour. After 1 hour, brush with BBQ sauce and cook for 15 minutes. When the ribs reach an internal temperature of 195°F to 200°F, they are ready. Use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature.
How to Cut Ribs
- Lay your ribs flat with the back side of the ribs facing up in order to cut from the back.
- Using a sharp knife, cut right next to the rib between each rib so each cut has plenty of meat on the bone.
Air Fryer Ribs FAQs
Not only can you cook pork ribs in the air fryer, but they cook very well in one. It takes very little time and effort to cook tender, juicy baby back ribs in an air fryer oven, making it a great option for a quick and flavorful BBQ dinner.
Air fryer baby back ribs take just 35 minutes to cook total, and you only have to flip them once halfway through.
Cook air fryer pork ribs at 350°F. Preheat your air fryer beforehand so it is nice and hot before cooking the ribs.
You do not need to remove the membrane to air fry pork ribs.
If you love pork recipes, try my favorite pork chop recipe. It is super easy and one of my family’s favorite Sunday Supper ideas!
How to Store Pork Ribs
Store leftover baby back ribs in an airtight container or tightly sealed plastic bag with the air pushed out for up to 3-5 days.
How to Freeze Ribs
To freeze leftover ribs, store them in a tightly sealed freezer-safe bag with the air pushed out. Wrap in foil for extra protection and label with the freezing date. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To reheat ribs from frozen, first, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then follow reheating instructions.
How to Reheat Ribs
- Preheat the oven to 250˚F and place leftover ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Once the oven heats, add ribs to the oven until the meat reaches about 140˚F on a meat thermometer and is heated through.
- Uncover the ribs and brush them with barbecue sauce. Continue to bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can reheat ribs in the air fryer. To reheat ribs in your air fryer, follow these instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350˚F. Arrange your ribs in the air fryer after preheating.
- Add 1 Tablespoon of oil to the ribs to keep them from drying out and to crisp the outside.
- Fry for 3-4 minutes until heated through (140˚F on a meat thermometer).
- If you find they are not heated through to your liking, add them back for another 1-2 minutes.
What to Serve with Ribs
Try serving ribs with all my BBQ side dishes – and more of my Best Air Fryer Recipes!
Do you have a convection oven? Try our guide on How to Use a Convection Oven!
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Air Fryer Ribs
Equipment
- Cooking spray
- Basting brush
Ingredients
- 3 pounds baby back pork ribs
- ½ cup barbecue sauce use your favorite kind
- 1 serving rib rub seasoning use the full serving of the recipe
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F. While it heats, pat ribs dry and cut them into 4 equal portions. Combine your rib rub seasoning in a bowl and mix well. Generously season ribs all over on both sides.3 pounds baby back pork ribs, 1 serving rib rub seasoning
- Spray air fryer tray with cooking spray and place the ribs on the rack. Air fry for 30 minutes, turning at the 15 minute mark. After 30 minutes is up, brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and air fry for another 5 minutes.½ cup barbecue sauce
- Slice the ribs, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- To cut ribs, lay your ribs flat with the back side of the ribs facing up in order to cut from the back. Using a sharp knife, cut right next to the rib between each rib so each cut has plenty of meat on the bone.
- Use your favorite barbecue sauce! You can use any kind you like, from sweet BBQ sauce to spicy and everything in-between. Whatever your favorite is, it will pair perfectly with these air fryer pork ribs.
- Serve air fried pork ribs with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the ribs. It’s important the air fryer is already hot when the ribs begin cooking, so don’t skip this step.
- Flip at the 15 minute mark for best results.
Kit says
This recipe worked out perfectly for me! I had to improvise a little with the BBQ sauce, but it was all delicious. Thank you!
Em Beitel says
So glad you enjoyed it, Kit! Thank you so much!
Will says
Made this tonight, really good!
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Will! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Aeil says
Ribs were delicious
Easy I will use this recipe weekly
Thanks for sharing
👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Aeil! We’re very glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Heather Engle says
These were delicious & I followed the recipe to the letter; they turned out a little tough. The meat was not falling off the bone, as I prefer. Any tweaks I could try to get the desired results?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Heather! Hmm, I’m sorry to hear this. However, I’m glad you still enjoyed the taste! What I would recommend is cooking for 5 minutes less than the stated time next time – and basting halfway through the process with BBQ sauce as well. We also used a tray-style air fryer model rather than one with a basket, and that could have something to do with it. But, I believe reducing the time by 5 minutes and basting with BBQ sauce halfway through will ensure your ribs are tender next time. Enjoy!
bill says
This recipe works surprisingly well in cooking ribs tender enough to eat. I have the Foodi Ninja which is a tray type not the basket type so I don’t have to turn the ribs and can just cook straight through. As far as “fall off the bone” tenderness, this really isn’t the recipe for that and it shouldn’t be expected. Do you not want to hold the rib in your hand to eat? I plan to cook just a little longer next time to get them just a little more tender.
Isabel Laessig says
I’m very glad to hear you enjoyed it, Bill! Thank you for your comment and review!
Melanie Harvey says
Hello out there, i haven’t made the recipe yet but I do plan to make the ribs country style our favorite cut of ribs. I have all the ingredients for the rib rub here just hope its not to spicey my partner doesn’t like real spicey. Hope they turn out maybe I can comment on it .
Sincerely,
Melanie Lynne
Isabel Laessig says
Thanks so much, Melanie! I’m happy to hear you’ll be making them!
Katherine Mee says
Wow. Just wow. I made these tonight. The.best.ribs.ever. I had to call my neighbors to share they were that good. I only hope the next time I make these they come out as good!
Isabel Laessig says
So glad you enjoyed them, Katherine! Thank you so much for your comment!
Shirl Morgan says
Can you cook without thawing mear?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Shirl! I do think this is possible at the same temperature and time, but I would recommend thawing them first as the meat may come out more tough if you don’t thaw them first. Thawing will adhere the seasoning and sauce to the ribs better, too. If you’re in a rush, you can add them to a plastic bag and place the bag in cold water to thaw. Change the water every 30 minutes and they should be thawed in under 1 hour or so.