Air Fryer Ribs
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These air-fryer ribs are quick, tender, and doused in a delicious barbecue sauce. I love how FAST these cook.
Although ribs are generally hands-off, I still sometimes find them a little cumbersome to make regularly. My air fryer pork ribs are the perfect solution- they’re fuss-free, mess-free, and ready in a fraction of time.
It took some testing to get the texture tight, as air fryers are the total opposite of “low and slow” cooking. I discovered that starting them in foil traps the moisture and heat perfectly. Then, you remove the foil, brush on the BBQ sauce, and let the air fryer caramelize the exterior for that perfect, finger-licking finish. Yum!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- It’s quick. There’s no need to heat the grill or oven; these ribs cook in just 40 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!
- Easy clean-up. Air fryers cook without excessive oil splattering, making clean-up easy afterward. The foil packets make it even easier.
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 essential for all the flavor!).
- Spices. I’m using garlic powder, mustard powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Barbeque sauce. Use your favorite BBQ sauce. I like to look for one that has brown sugar in it so the ribs caramelize beautifully.
Internal temp for ribs
When cooking other cuts of pork, I typically recommend cooking them to at least 145°F, the safe-to-eat temperature. Pork ribs are a little different. If you cook these ribs to 145°F, they’ll actually be rubbery and tough. To make them tender, I highly recommend cooking them to at least 190°F, or up to 200°F. When the ribs are in this range, the collagen and connective tissue break down and melt.
Use a meat thermometer to double-check.
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, then season both sides of the ribs with them.
Step 3- Air fry. Wrap the ribs in aluminum foil, place them in the preheated air fryer basket, and air-fry at 380°F for 25 minutes.
Safety tip: To ensure your ribs cook safely, wrap the foil tightly around the meat with no loose ends sticking up. This prevents the foil from blowing or touching the heat element. Also, ensure there is sufficient space between foil packets to allow hot air to circulate properly.
Step 4- Brush the sauce and cook again. Remove the ribs from the air fryer, brush them with the barbecue sauce, and air fry uncovered for 10 minutes.
Step 5- 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. Again, this is why I recommend a butcher versus a generic grocery store.
- Always pat the ribs dry with a paper towel before seasoning them, as this will help the seasoning adhere and make them crispy in the air fryer.
- Cook the ribs in batches, in a single layer, to ensure they cook evenly and never overcrowd the air fryer basket.
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 until hot (at 350°F) or in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, they do. With that said, though, they have a slightly different texture from traditional ribs that use the low and slow cooking method. Air fried ribs get super juicy with a crisp exterior, instead of fall-off-the-bone softness. If that is what you prefer, I recommend my 321 ribs or country style ribs.
Yes, you can foil in the air fryer, provided they are wrapped tightly with no loose bits. This prevents the foil from blowing into the heating element. It’s also my secret for keeping them juicy and tender.
I don’t recommend it for this particular recipe. Foil creates a tight seal that somewhat “braises” the ribs as they cook in their own juices. Parchment paper also doesn’t trap steam effectively.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
“Using the air fryer instead of traditional deep frying reduces excess fat while still providing about 15 grams of protein per serving. For a heart healthy choice, you can also use a low-sugar barbecue sauce to cut back on the added sugar and carbs, without sacrificing smoky flavor.” – Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Air Fryer Ribs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork ribs baby back ribs
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 195C/380F.
- Remove the membrane from the rack of ribs and divide them into three portions.
- Pat dry the ribs and sprinkle the pepper, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and mustard on both sides.
- Wrap each portion of ribs in tin foil, ensuring they foil is tightly packed with no loose bits, and place them in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 25 minutes.
- Remove the ribs from the air fryer and discard the tin foil. Brush barbecue sauce all over the meat.
- Place the ribs back in the air fryer basket and air fry for a further 10 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 190°F (or up to 200°F).
- Allow the ribs to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Tips: See my recipe tips above for perfectly cooked air fryer ribs.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge, covered, for 4 days or the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
More quick air fryer dinners
Because cooking ribs in the air fryer cuts significant time, here are some of my other favorite speedy air fryer meals:
- Air fryer pork chops– Juicy, tender, and cook in under 10 minutes. You can use bone-in or boneless chops.
- Air fryer pork tenderloin– An impressive cut, it’s lean, high-protein, and always juicy.
- Air fryer meatloaf– Say goodbye to dry and overcooked meatloaf- this isn’t just quick but juicy.
- Air fryer steak bites– Quick and perfectly seasoned steak bites that are drenched in the best garlic butter.
Originally published January 2023
Excellent as all uour recipes are!
Thank you, Linda, for your kind words. I hope you enjoyed the air fryer ribs. I think I’ll be making them next week actually (it’s on the meal plan!).
I usually don’t write reviews but this deserves one. The wrapping in tin foil had me curious how they would turn out. I used basically the same spices and cooking time. These came out pretty fantastic. They were pull off the bone without being mushy.
Great recipe, thanks
Thanks for the feedback, Aaron- I get it- Foil in an air fryer sounds counter-productive, but when cooking ribs, it really does help them stay tender 🙂
Such and easy recipe and they come out so juicy and delicious!!!
They’re so good! And the air fryer is a game changer.