These Tender and Saucy BBQ Air Fryer Ribs are the perfect quick and easy recipe for pork ribs. These ribs can be ready for your dinner table in less than 40 minutes and are full of amazing flavor.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Every once in a while, someone in my family gets a hankering for ribs. Before, we would drive to a BBQ restaurant. However, now I believe it would be better to prepare ribs at home.
My initial rib recipe would have me cook ribs low and slow in the oven. But one day, I said…let’s try these ribs in the air fryer. We all agreed that air fryer ribs are pretty darn good.
The benefit of ribs in the air fryer is that they cook quickly and easily. They are tender and juicy ribs, with a bit of tug but do not fall off the bone. If fall-off-the-bone ribs are more your speed, I suggest another cooking method.
Ingredients for BBQ Ribs
- Pork Baby Back Ribs - Baby back ribs are tender and lean, coming from the upper ribcage of the pig.
- BBQ Seasoning - I love my homemade BBQ seasoning for these ribs but feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand.
- BBQ Sauce - Another shout-out to my homemade sticky BBQ sauce. You can use your favorite BBQ Sauce. I'll occasionally use Sweet Baby Ray's.
How to make Ribs in an Air Fryer
First, cut a full rack of pork baby back ribs in half to fit into the air fryer basket. Then, remove the membrane from the back of the ribs.
Then season the ribs with your favorite BBQ spice rub, covering both sides of the ribs.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes, then place the ribs in the basket, meat side down, and cook for 20 minutes.
Once the 20 minutes is up, grab a pair of tongs, flip the ribs over, and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the timer is up, open the basket and cover the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Close the Air Fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove and allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes. Feel free to cover it with additional BBQ sauce if you like saucy ribs.
Tanya's Tips
- For a deeper flavor infusion, marinate the ribs with the BBQ rub for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator before air frying. This extra time allows the spices to penetrate the meat, providing a more flavorful result.
- Using a meat thermometer ensures the ribs reach a safe and juicy internal temperature. I prefer to cook ribs to a higher internal temperature of around 190°F to 203°F (88°C to 95°C).
- Baste the ribs with some BBQ sauce during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking. Avoid basting too soon, as the sugar in the BBQ sauce may burn if exposed to heat for too long.
Flavor Variations
- Honey Garlic Ribs: Swap out the BBQ rub and sauce for a honey garlic glaze. Combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of ginger to create a sweet and savory coating for your ribs. Brush the glaze on the ribs during the last few minutes of cooking to avoid burning.
- Spicy Chipotle Ribs: For a spicy kick, create a chipotle rub using ground chipotle powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. You could also blend a couple of canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with your BBQ sauce for extra heat and smokiness.
- Carolina Gold BBQ Ribs: For a unique twist, consider creating a Carolina Gold BBQ sauce variation for your ribs. After preparing and air frying your ribs as usual, during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, generously brush them with Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce, allowing it to caramelize slightly, imparting a tangy and sweet flavor with a hint of mustard tang. The Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce can also be offered on the side for extra dipping.
How to store
To refrigerate: These ribs are best consumed immediately but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To freeze: After cooking, allow the ribs to cool to room temperature before wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to preserve their moisture and flavor. After wrapping, put them in a sealed bag, mark them with the date, and keep them in the freezer for 3 months.
To reheat: When you're ready to eat the ribs, it's best to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat them in the oven at 350°F until they're warmed through or in the air fryer at 350°F for about 7-8 minutes.
And there you have it, amazing tender BBQ ribs.
Looking for more air fryer recipes? Try these out:
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Also BBQ)
- Air Fryer Steak with Garlic Herb Butter
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fried Jamaican Jerk Pork
These ribs are great served with these recipes:
- Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato with Hot Honey Butter
- French Fries
- Cheddar and Sour Cream Corn on the Cob
- Coleslaw
Ribs in an air fryer typically take about 30 minutes at 380°F, depending on the thickness and your preferred level of doneness.
I don't use foil for this method. The ribs remain tender and juicy without the foil.
This Recipe has a full Length Video Tutorial. You can watch the full video on YouTube by clicking HERE.
Easy BBQ Air Fryer Ribs
Ingredients
Instructions
- Season the ribs with bbq spice rub, covering both sides of the ribs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes, then place the ribs in the air fryer basket, meat side down and cook for 20 minutes.
- Once the 20 minutes is up, grab a pair of tongs and flip the ribs over, and cook for an additional 10 minutes on 380 degrees.
- Once the timer is up, open the basket and cover with the bbq sauce. Return to Air fryer and cook for 5 minutes on 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove and allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes. Feel free to cover with additional bbq sauce if you like saucy ribs.
Suggested Tools
Video
Notes
- The cook times in this recipe are for pork baby back ribs. Beef ribs will likely take longer to cook.
- I used my large air fryer (5.3qt) to ensure all my ribs would fit into the basket.
Nutrition
This recipe post was originally posted on January 14, 2020. It has been updated with additional helpful information and suggestions.
PattiAnn says
Your recipe & technique for the ribs is right on! I was doing my ribs in an IP but we always thought they tasted more stewed than grilled, even if I ran them under the broiler for finish. AF does it so right, plus quick and easy. Thank you.
Tanya says
Thank you! So glad you liked them 🙂
Paula Damiano says
My family loves ribs (especially me - hehe) But, I would need to adjust the recipe for 5 people. I have a 6.5 quart Ninja Foodi multi cooker. How do you know if you have too much meat in the basket?
Tanya says
Thanks Paula! I'd say if your meat is laying on top of each other, there's too much. Air needs to flow around it. A little overlap in some areas is ok. For the Ninja Foodi, I wouldn't use the basket for this (it won't be able to hold a lot) but I would use the rack that comes with it. That will give you a little more room to fit more ribs.
Maureen W says
So good! Thank you for this recipe. I felt like a Superwoman making ribs on a weeknight. So fast and easy!!
Tanya says
Right! Super fast and easy. So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Shirlynn Hutcherson says
Will now be cooking ribs in my air fryer! Thanks for the recipe they were delicious!
Tanya says
It's seriously the best way. So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Tina says
Just used this recipe to cook beef short ribs. It turned out great! I is now a family favorite.
Tanya says
Thank you Tina 🙂
Kathryn Hornsby says
Would also like the receipe for a Pork Tender Lion for Air Fryer for my new Cuisinart (gift from my daughter) Whole new world for me. 78, it is about time for me to venture out. 🙂 Thanks for the advice on the Thermapen 4K. Ordering today from Amazon. How to I let them know that you recommend it.
Susan says
Have become a fan of my air fryer and looked for a recipe for baby back ribs to try out. Seasoned with garlic powder and paprika and added the BBQ sauce at the end. Loved it that I could have great tasting ribs in a half hour. They were absolutely delish!
Tanya says
Thank you so much Susan! I love how fast these are too. It's my go to way to make ribs now.
Beth says
Full disclosure, I got here because I bought a pre-seasoned half rack of spare ribs on sale at my store and had no idea how to cook them in my air fryer. Your method was totally spot on. The ribs were super juicy, and tender, without being fall off the bone. I didn't add additional sauce, since I didn't have any I wanted to use. I'm so glad I found your page.
Tanya says
Thank you Beth! So glad you liked the recipe. And there's nothing wrong with pre-seasoned ribs, especially if they were delicious 🙂
M E Banks says
Thank you Tanya for an outstanding recipe that got dinner on the table in a flash. My husband and I are in North Carolina BBQ country. He raved about this! There are a couple of tweaks I will use next time, but this is wonderful as is. I omitted celery salt because I didn’t have any. I only used 1 teaspoon of salt but it was still a bit salty for my taste, although I am more sensitive than most. After reading lots of articles about Ribs and their membrane, I simply scored the membrane with three light cuts. Next time I will use a light salty brine, rinse well and dry, and omit the salt all together from the rub and drop the temperature down to 350 for the first few minutes because I was getting a good char a little early. I used good bottled barbecue sauce cut with a little apple cider vinegar and a few drops of liquid smoke during the last minutes. The two of us devoured the entire rack! I am new to air frying, and I have never commented on any recipe ever. My compliments to you Tanya.
Tanya says
Thank you so much! I love your use of the brine and scoring the membrane. Much less work lol. So glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Chet says
Cooked the ribs for dinner on the 4th! They were fantastic! Took about 35 minutes cooking time. Pulling off that membrane is a Booger! I finally got a pair of pliers and got it off that way. ?
We will enjoy this again and again! Thanks.
David says
@Chet, Use a paper towel. Seriously, I smoke ribs often and it's the best method to grab it tight. Works like a charm.
Sandra says
Tried these today they were delicious, cooked them total 25 minutes, they were tender. Thanks for sharing.
Tanya says
Thank you Sandra! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Marilyn Walkowiak says
Hi, I'm making ribs today. I dry marinated them overnight in the refrigerator and now they are in a 250 oven. I wanted to cut down the time in the air fryer. Going to put in air fryer with the barbeque sauce on for the 5 mins. I love my air fryer. Just got it so still experimenting.
Linda Rider says
Awesome ribs..thank you for posting this great quick rib recipe!!
Tanya says
Thank you Linda 🙂 So glad you liked them.
Georgeann says
This recipe is excellent, so easy to put together and ready to eat in no time.
It's my favorite.
Tanya says
Thank you so much Georgeann! I agree, so quick and easy.
kenneth l juhlin at 83 y o says
thank you Tanya
Betty says
AF ribs are my go to now! Thank you!!