Air Fryer Ribs

These air fryer ribs are quick, tender, and doused with a delicious barbeque sauce. I love how FAST these cook.

Love meaty, delicious ribs? Try my 321 ribs, country-style ribs, and boneless beef short ribs next.

Although ribs are one of the most hands-off recipes you can make, I still sometimes find it a little cumbersome to make regularly. Luckily, my air fryer BBQ ribs are the perfect solution to enjoy them fuss-free, mess-free, and all the time!

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed 
3. How to cook ribs in the air fryer
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions 
6. Frequently asked questions
7. More air fryer recipes to try
8. Air Fryer Ribs (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• It’s quick. There’s no need to heat the grill or oven; these ribs cook in minutes!
• Perfect texture. Crispy exterior while keeping the insides tender and juicy.
• Healthier. Fried or baked ribs require tons of oil or butter to cook, but not these ones!
• Easy clean-up. Air fryers cook without excessive oil splattering, making clean-up easy afterward. 

Ingredients needed 

• Pork baby back ribs. These are specific rib cuts from the upper rib racks of pork and include riblets, loin ribs, and back ribs. I prefer to get my ribs from the butcher over a mainstream grocery store because most of the bone is still intact (which is important for all the flavor!).
• Kosher salt and black pepper. To season. 
• Spices. We used garlic powder, mustard powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. 
• Barbeque sauce. Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Look for one that has brown sugar in it so the ribs caramelize beautifully.

How to cook ribs in the air fryer

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Prepare the ribs. Remove the membrane from the ribs using a kitchen knife and clean it with a paper towel. Using a sharp knife, cut the rack into three equal parts and dry the ribs with a paper towel. 

Step 2- Season. In a small bowl, add all the spices and season both sides of the ribs using it. 

Step 3- Air fry. Wrap the ribs with the aluminum foil and place them in the pre-heated air fryer basket and air fry at 380F for 25 minutes.

Step 4- Brush the sauce and cook again. Remove the ribs from the air fryer, brush them the barbeque sauce and air fry uncovered for 10 minutes.

Step 6- Rest, then Serve. Allow the ribs to rest for several minutes before serving. If desired, brush with more barbecue sauce.

Arman’s recipe tips

• Look for meaty and well-marbled ribs, as these will be the most flavorful and tender.
• Always pat ribs dry with a paper towel before seasoning them, as this will help the seasoning adhere to them and help them become crispy in the air fryer.
• Cook the ribs in batches and in a single layer to ensure that the ribs cook evenly and never overcrowd the air fryer basket. 
• You’ll know the ribs are cooked once they reach an internal temperature of 195-200F. Double check with a meat thermometer.

Storage instructions 

To store. Leftover air fryer pork ribs can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days.

To freeze. Once the ribs have cooled, place them in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.

Reheating. Reheat the ribs in the air fryer for several minutes or in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Frequently asked questions

More air fryer recipes to try

• Air fryer pork chops
• Air fryer pork tenderloin
• Air fryer meatloaf
• Air fryer turkey meatballs
• Air fryer turkey burgers
• Air fryer crab cakes
• Air fryer filet mignon
• Air fryer ribeye
• Air fryer steak bites

Originally published January 2023, updated and republished May 2024