These easy BBQ Ribs made in the Air Fryer are going to have you second-guessing every using the oven or the grill again. Make perfectly juicy, tender, Air Fryer ribs in just minutes.
You might also enjoy these Air Fryer Country Style Ribs. Tender and juicy every time!
When I first made these BBQ ribs I made sure to share them with my husband, but not tell him how I made them. He was a bit of a skeptic of cooking ribs in the Air Fryer.
Once he took that first juicy bite, he was hooked! These perfectly seasoned ribs take just a few minutes, are then basted in your favorite barbecue sauce, and served easily with your favorite sides.
I also did not have to prepare my nonstick basket with any oil or parchment paper for this recipe. If you're wondering what oils work best with the Air Fryer, check out this post on the best oils to use in the Air Fryer.
Ingredients Needed
- baby back ribs
- ground black pepper
- onion powder
- light brown sugar
- favorite Barbeque sauce
Now that you have all of your ingredients together, let's start working on making this fabulous BBQ Air Fryer Ribs Recipe.
Make sure to cut the rack of ribs in half as you will have a tough time fitting a whole rack of ribs into the Air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Ribs Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and then cut the rack in half to fit into the or Fryer basket.
- Add all of the sugar and spice mixture into a small bowl and mix well.
- Make sure the ribs dry, and rub the ribs on both sides with the seasoning.
- Place the ribs into the preheated Air Fryer basket and cook for 18 minutes. Flip the ribs and cook for an additional 12 minutes.
- Brush on the BBQ sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Rays but you can use your favorite or even a homemade sauce!)
- Increase the Air Fryer temperature to 400 degrees and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer and make sure the ribs are cooked to the internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the ribs from the basket and allow them to rest under foil for 3-5 more minutes.
- Add additional Bbq sauce and then slice as desired and serve.
FAQs and Substitutions
What is the internal temperature you should ensure the ribs are cooked to?
When cooking ribs, you should use a meat thermometer and ensure that the ribs have reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long should I cook ribs in the Air Fryer?
Cooking times can vary depending on the size of the rack of ribs. I cook my ribs on average of 30-35 minutes from start to finish.
When should I add the bbq sauce to my ribs?
Once the ribs are all but fully cooked, add the barbecue sauce to the ribs and cook for an additional few minutes. After resting the ribs, add extra barbecue sauce if desired.
What Bbq sauce should I use?
I prefer to use Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, but you can also use your favorite Bbq sauce or even a homemade BBQ sauce. You can make a homemade barbecue sauce quickly with a few bbq sauce ingredients such as ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, dry mustard, and red wine vinegar.
But if you're like me and want easy, just use your favorite store brand.
What seasonings can I use for the spice rub?
You can make your own homemade bbq spice rub with items such as onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, dry mustard, ground black pepper, and more. The sky is the limit for flavor and spices and it's all up to you and your preferred taste.
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:
- Air Fried Parmesan Chicken
- Air Fried Honey Mustard Salmon
- Air Fried Hasselback Potatoes
- Air Fried Brussel Sprouts
- Air Fried Hamburgers
Air Fryer BBQ Ribs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 rack baby back ribs
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper optional for spice
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and then cut the rack in half to fit into the or Fryer basket.
- Add all of the sugar and spice mixture into a small bowl and mix well.
- Make sure the ribs dry, (you can use a paper towel for this) and rub the ribs on both sides with the seasoning.
- Place the ribs into the preheated Air Fryer basket and cook for 18 minutes. Flip the ribs and cook for an additional 12 minutes.
- Brush on the BBQ sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Rays but you can use your favorite or even a homemade sauce!)
- Increase the Air Fryer temperature to 400 degrees and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer and make sure the ribs are cooked to the internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the ribs from the basket and allow them to rest under foil for 3-5 more minutes.
- Add additional Bbq sauce and then slice as desired and serve.
Notes
- When cooking ribs, you should use a meat thermometer and ensure that the ribs have reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cooking times can vary depending on the size of the rack of ribs. I cook my ribs on average of 30-35 minutes from start to finish.
- Once the ribs are all but fully cooked, add the barbecue sauce to the ribs and cook for an additional few minutes. After resting the ribs, add extra barbecue sauce if desired.
- I prefer to use Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, but you can also use your favorite Bbq sauce or even a homemade BBQ sauce. You can make a homemade barbecue sauce quickly with a few bbq sauce ingredients such as ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, dry mustard, and red wine vinegar. But if you're like me and want easy, just use your favorite store brand.
- You can make your own homemade bbq spice rub with items such as onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, dry mustard, ground black pepper, and more. The sky is the limit for flavor and spices and it's all up to you and your preferred taste.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
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