These tender, juicy air fryer ribs are so easy to make, and taste amazing! This is easily the best way to cook ribs indoors, and it's all made in only 30 minutes.
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Enjoy charred ribs any time of the year with this simple recipe. Air fryer pork ribs are easy to make, but you can also cook beef ribs in the air fryer. They are both an excellent entree for weeknight dinners, or to serve as snacks for game day.
I love how simple this recipe, and how amazing the result is. You don't have to use the grill to make awesome ribs!
Why you'll love it
- So easy to make
- Works for any type of meat, including lamb, beef and pork
- Choose your favorite seasoning and spices
- A 30-minute entree
- Flavorful, tender meat
Ingredients
Ribs: You can use pork ribs or beef ribs for this recipe. If you buy a rack of ribs, I recommend that you remove the membrane and slice them into smaller pieces. This allows them to cook faster, and fit better in the air fryer.
BBQ sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce! I love my Honey BBQ Sauce recipe, but any store bought sauce will also work well.
BBQ seasoning: Use any BBQ seasoning or BBQ dry rub. You can find plenty of these in any supermarket. See the Variations section below for instructions on how you can make your own.
Instructions
You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page
One: Slice the rack into individual ribs. Coat them in BBQ seasoning, then with BBQ sauce.
Two: Place the ribs in one layer in your air fryer. If you can't fit them all, you will have to cook the meat in several batches.
Three: Air fry at 360 F / 180 C for about 25 minutes. Flip the ribs once halfway through cooking to ensure that they cook evenly.
Top tips
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on the size and thickness of your ribs. Make sure to check on the meat regularly.
- If meat has a tendency to stick to the sides or bottom of your air fryer basket, you should consider spraying to the basket with olive oil spray or cooking spray before you add the meat.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce to achieve the best results.
- I always like to cut the meat into individual ribs. It's easy to eat, and cooks faster. You can also cook larger racks, as long as they can fit in your air fryer.
- To give the meat more flavor, you can leave it to marinate in the BBQ sauce overnight before cooking.
Serving suggestions
I love to serve air fryer ribs as an entrée, paired with a delicious dipping sauce like Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing or Yogurt Dill Sauce, and some side dishes. Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with them:
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- No Mayo Coleslaw
- Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Black Bean Corn Salad
- Avocado Chickpea Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Variations
Other seasoning: Try using any spice mix or seasoning that's meant for beef, pork, BBQ or grilled meat. You can also make your own by combining smoked paprika, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and oregano.
Pork ribs or beef ribs: This recipe works for any type of ribs. Try using it with different meat to find out which one you like best.
Leftovers
Store any leftover air fried ribs in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in an air fryer, and serve them warm.
The leftover ribs can be a little dry, so I like to add some extra BBQ sauce to them, or serve them with a delicious dipping sauce.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! The ribs are tender, and charred on the surface.
It uses circulating air to heat up the food. The result is quite similar to using a convection oven, but the air fryer is of course much smaller and easier to use, especially if you're cooking a small amount of food.
Ribs can be cooked on a grill, in the oven or in the air fryer. This is my favorite method for cooking ribs indoors.
You might also like these recipes
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Air Fryer Bacon
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Air Fryer Sausage
- Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Brats
If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!
Recipe
Air Fryer Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ribs
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon BBQ dry rub
Instructions
- Slice the rack into individual ribs. Coat them in BBQ seasoning, then with BBQ sauce.
- Place the ribs in one layer in your air fryer. If you can't fit them all, you will have to cook the meat in several batches.
- Air fry at 360 F / 180 C for about 25 minutes. Flip the ribs once halfway through cooking to ensure that they cook evenly.
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat the ribs in your air fryer.
- Use beef, lamb or pork ribs.
- Any BBQ sauce and seasoning can be used.
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