The Most Delicious Air Fryer Ribs

Living in the South, we’re well-versed in BBQ. There’s no way around it! I’ve embraced it with recipes like smoky baby back ribs and BBQ chicken on the grill. And, when it’s not ideal for grilling, I have my Instant Pot ribs and today’s air fryer ribs. I promise, you’ll be making ribs in the air fryer that taste just like they came straight off the grill. The hot air in the air fryer circulates the ribs, charring them perfectly. They don’t dry out, and the meat falls right off the bone.

A great BBQ meal comes down to the right meat, seasonings, and a tasty sauce. I use a homemade sweet-salty-smoky spice rub for these ribs. For the sauce, I highly recommend using my homemade BBQ sauce. But you can also use your favorite sauce from the store, too.

Why Cook Ribs in the Air Fryer?

When you cook pork ribs in the air fryer, a lot of (good) things can happen:

• The meat stays super moist. Because the cooking space inside an air fryer is so small, the ribs don’t dry out. All of that moisture stays in the meat, keeping it fall-off-the-bone tender and full of flavor.
• A perfect char. Hot air is constantly moving around the ribs so they char and cook evenly. It’s even easier to manage than the grill!
• No gas grill needed. This air fryer baby back ribs recipe isn’t dependent on a sunny day. You can make it anywhere, all year round, without an outdoor grill.
• It’s so quick! Ribs cook much quicker in the air fryer. It’s like a mini convection oven! The total prep and cooking time is less than 60 minutes. This is a great, quick dinner idea or last-minute appetizer for game days and gatherings.

What You’ll Need

Here’s the list of ingredients that you need to make this air fryer ribs recipe. Remember to check out the recipe card for the exact amounts.

• Baby Back Ribs – Baby back ribs have a lot of lean meat, which makes them great for this recipe. They cook quickly without drying out.
• BBQ Sauce – This can be homemade or a bottle of your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce.
• Spice Rub – Choose your favorite BBQ spice rub for pork, or make your own. See the spice mix that I use below.

The Best Spice Rub for Ribs

You’ll find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below the post.

• Garlic Powder – You could also use granulated garlic instead.
• Paprika – Smoked paprika would also be delicious to try and would add a smoky flavor to the ribs.
• Chili Powder – You can use more or less depending on the chili flavor you’d like. For more kick, add cayenne pepper.
• Cinnamon – Cinnamon adds a warm hint of earthy sweetness to the ribs. I highly recommend adding it to the spice rub.

How to Make Air Fryer Ribs

Here’s how to make these finger-licking good ribs in your air fryer in just a few steps.

• First, remove the membrane. Before cooking, you’ll want to remove the tough membrane from the bottom side of the rack of ribs. This ensures that the ribs are tender and cut apart easily. It also allows for the meat to cook evenly. Once you’ve lifted the membrane a little, it should peel right off. Afterward, cut the ribs into quarters so that they’ll fit in the air fryer.

• Make the spice rub. Next, combine all of the spices for the pork rub in a small bowl. While the air fryer preheats to 375ºF, rub the spices evenly over both sides of the ribs.

• Cook the ribs in the air fryer. Start the ribs meat side down. Cook for 35 minutes, flipping them about halfway through to ensure that they are evenly cooked.
• Lastly, add the sauce. After about 35 minutes, you’ll want to slather some sauce over the ribs. Then cook them for another 5 minutes.
• Repeat as needed! Remember that with air fryers, it’s important to work in batches and not overcrowd the basket. So, repeat these steps as needed until all the ribs are cooked.

Tips for Perfect Ribs

• Spray the air fryer basket. For easy cleanup, spray the air fryer basket with a little olive oil spray. Some air fryers come with a non-stick basket, so avoid non-stick aerosol sprays like PAM, which can damage the coating.
• Let the ribs sit at room temperature before cooking. Take the ribs out of the fridge and allow them to sit out on the counter for 10-15 minutes before you begin the recipe. It shortens the cooking time.
• Cook in a single layer. Always make sure that the pork ribs are lying flat and uncrowded in the air fryer so they cook evenly.

Recipe FAQs

What Goes With Air Fryer Ribs?

My favorite part: The side dishes! I love a good, well-rounded BBQ feast. Here are some of my favorite sides to go with these juicy air fryer ribs.

• Corn: Try my indoor cooking-friendly Instant Pot corn on the cob, or shave the kernels to make a delicious chili lime corn salad or street corn salad.
• Potatoes: Some favorites include garlic ranch potatoes and this red, white, and blue potato salad on the 4th of July.
• Slaw: You can find some at your deli counter or try my homemade cabbage slaw.
• Baked Beans: My easy homemade baked beans recipe makes a wonderful BBQ side dish.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate. You can store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Reheat. You can reheat the ribs by using the air fryer again. I again suggest letting the ribs come to room temperature before cooking again. They will cook more quickly this way without burning.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

• 10 Minute Air Fryer Shrimp
• Juicy Air Fryer Burgers
• Chicken Tenders
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Honey BBQ Chicken Wings