Air Fryer Ribs

Name: BBQ Air Fryer Ribs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 rack of baby back pork ribs; bbq sauce ((the amount you need will depend on the size of your ribs)); sea salt ((to taste)); ground black pepper ((to taste) )

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These bbq air fryer ribs are incredibly good! Ready in just 30 minutes they are crisp on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. Made with pork baby back ribs and barbecue sauce you will love how easy these ribs are to make.

Cooked ribs coated in barbecue sauce on a serving board.

Why you will love this recipe:

These pork baby back ribs in the air fryer are so so good! Slightly crisp on the outside yet moist and tender on the inside with the best bbq flavour.
They're incredibly easy to make, are ready in just 30 minutes, and only require 3 ingredients to make!
You can make them your own by using whatever barbecue sauce you like.
These ribs are a perfect main dish or appetizer.
This is an easy rib recipe that doesn't require any dry rub.
This is a healthy rib recipe that can easily be modified to your dietary needs including being made gluten free, paleo, keto or Whole30 compliant.
These ribs are kid approved and make the perfect weeknight meal.

Taste and texture:

These pork ribs are nice and crisp on the outside, yet fall off the bone tender on the inside. They have the perfect smoky, barbecue flavour that isn't spicy, but is also not too mild.

Key ingredients and substitutions:

Baby back pork ribs - I prefer to use pasture raised pork but you can use any type of pork you prefer.
Bbq sauce - you can use any type of bbq sauce that you like for this recipe including both homemade and store bought barbecue sauces.

How to make this recipe:

Step one:

First, remove the membrane from the ribs (you can skip this step if you like) and then coat both sides with sea salt and pepper, to your liking.

Step two:

Place the ribs in your air fryer, meat side down and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step three:

Coat both sides of the ribs in the barbecue sauce, flip them over, and cook for another 15 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step by step directions for making bbq ribs in an air fryer.

Chef's tips:

This recipe has only been tested for baby back pork ribs. If you try using other cuts of meat you will likely need to adjust both the cooking time and temperature and I cannot guarantee they will work out.
Depending on the size of your rack of ribs you may need to adjust the cooking times slightly.
The amount of bbq sauce, salt, and pepper that you will need for this recipe will depend on the size of the ribs you use, which is why I haven't included the amounts in the recipe card ingredients.

Variations and add ins:

Feel free to add other spices to the ribs such as onion powder, garlic powder etc. to give them a different taste.
How to make these ribs paleo: use a paleo compliant bbq sauce. This homemade paleo bbq sauce is perfect but you can also buy pre-made bbq sauce from the store.
How to make these ribs Whole30 compliant: be sure to use a bbq sauce that is Whole30 safe. My Whole30 BBQ Sauce is perfect for these ribs! Or if you would like to buy pre-made barbecue sauce I recommend both Good Food for Good sauce or Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauce.

What to serve with ribs:

These ribs are delicious served as is as either an appetizer, main dish or snack, but you can also pair them with may different side dishes including:

Caesar salad or a mixed green salad.
French fries, sweet potato fries or onion rings.
My Potato Salad or Broccoli Salad would be perfect!
My paleo cornbread muffins would also be great.

How to store:

Store these ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to reheat:

To reheat ribs in the air fryer, cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-4 minutes, until the meat is warm and fall off the bone tender!

Cooked ribs coated in barbecue sauce on a cutting board.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I have to remove the membrane before cooking ribs in the air fryer?

No you don't! I have made this recipe both with the membrane removed and the membrane on, and both ways turn out equally as good!

What temperature should air fryer baby back ribs be?

Ribs need to be at least 145°F to be safe to consume, but they turn out better when they are between 180°F and 195°F. The collagen and fat will not melt into the meat at the lower temperatures so the connective tissues will still be tough and the ribs not very tender at 145°F.

What side up do you cook ribs on?

I recommend starting with the meat side down, and then flipping to the other side after the first 15 minutes. This ensures both sides get cooked evenly.

How long do you air fry ribs?

You air fry ribs for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then another 15 minutes for 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do ribs get tender in air fryer?

When you cook ribs in the air fryer they don’t get as tender as when you bake them or slow cook them but instead have a bit of a crispier outside with a nice tender inside.

Can you put foil in an air fryer?

Yes! To make your clean up even easier you can put food on foil in the air fryer.

Are these air fryer ribs keto?

Depending on the bbq sauce you use to coat these ribs, these air fryer ribs could be keto or low carb.

Other recipes you will love:

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Recipe

BBQ Air Fryer Ribs

These BBQ air fryer ribs are just the best! Slightly crisp on the outside, yet melt in your mouth tender on the inside they are also really easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes.

4.73 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Meat

Cuisine: American

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 35

Servings:

Calories: 318kcal

Author: Dr. Erin Carter

Equipment

▢
Air Fryer

Ingredients

▢ 1 rack of baby back pork ribs
▢ bbq sauce (the amount you need will depend on the size of your ribs)
▢ sea salt (to taste)
▢ ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs.
Sprinkle both sides of the ribs salt and pepper (you can also add other spices if you like).
Place the ribs in the air fryer, meat side down and cook for 15 minutes at 400F.
Take the ribs out and coat both sides in bbq sauce.
Place the ribs back in the air fryer and cook for another 15 minutes at 390F.
Let the ribs cool for a few minutes and then serve and enjoy! Feel free to add a little extra bbq sauce if you like as well.

Notes

Nutritional values are estimates and will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use.
This recipe has only been tested for baby back pork ribs. If you try using other cuts of meat you will likely need to adjust both the cooking time and temperature.
Feel free to add other spices to the ribs such as onion powder, garlic powder etc.
Depending on the size of your rack of ribs you may need to adjust the cooking times slightly.

Nutrition

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