• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pure and Simple Nourishment
  • About
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • My Food Philosophy
    • Press and Publications
    • Contact
  • Free Resources
  • Recipes
    • Holidays
      • Fall
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Dessert
    • Sauces and Dips
    • Side Dish
    • Drinks
    • Vegetables
    • Snack
    • Meat and Fish
    • Recipe Wrap-Ups
    • SCD
    • GAPS
    • Whole30
    • AIP
    • Vegan
    • Paleo
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Low FODMAP
    • Refined-Sugar-Free
  • Health
    • Health Information
    • Book Club
  • Nutrition
  • Favorites
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Skincare
  • Work With Me
    • Services
    • Skin Care Quiz
    • Contact
  • Skin Care
  • Weekly Workouts
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Mother's Day
  • Recipes
  • Health Information
  • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
  • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Mother's Day
    • Recipes
    • Health Information
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    The Best BBQ Air Fryer Ribs (so easy!)

    Modified: May 8, 2025 • Published: Aug 31, 2020 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • 1 Comment

    130 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.

    One of the best things about air fryers is how good they are at cooking meat like air fryer pork belly and air fryer lamb chops, and today I am sharing how to make the best air fried ribs!

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love these ribs:
    • Ingredients and substitutions:
    • Recipe variations and add ins:
    • How to make air fryer ribs:
    • Top Tips:
    • Serving ideas:
    • Air fryer ribs FAQs:
    • Other air fryer recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love these ribs:

    • These air fryer pork baby back ribs are so so good! Slightly crisp on the outside yet moist and tender on the inside with the best smoky, barbecue flavour.
    • They're incredibly easy to make, are ready in just 30 minutes. Plus you only need 4 ingredients to make them and there is no dry rub required.
    • This is a healthy rib recipe that can easily be modified to your dietary needs including being made gluten-free, paleo, keto, low carb, or Whole30 compliant.

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    Jump to Recipe
    • Baby back pork ribs - I prefer to use pasture raised pork ribs but you can use any type of pork you prefer. I have only tested this recipe with baby back ribs and do not recommend trying another type of pork ribs.
    • Bbq sauce - you can use any type of barbecue sauce that you like for this recipe including both homemade bbq sauce and store bought barbecue sauces. 
    • Seasonings - sea salt and ground black pepper are the only seasonings you need.

    Recipe variations and add ins:

    • Feel free to add other spices to these air fryer ribs such as onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, seasoning salt, or cumin powder to give them a different taste.
    • For gluten-free: use a gluten-free barbecue sauce.
    • For paleo: use a paleo compliant bbq sauce such as my paleo bbq sauce.
    • To make these air fryer ribs Whole30 compliant: use a bbq sauce that is Whole30 compliant. My Whole30 BBQ sauce is a great option or you can use a pre-made barbecue sauce such as Good Food for Good sauce or Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauce.

    How to make air fryer ribs:

    Ribs in a glass baking dish with the membrane being peeled off of them.
    1. Step 1: First, remove the membrane from the ribs (if you prefer to leave the membrane on you can and simply skip this step).
    Uncooked ribs with salt and pepper on them.
    1. Step 2: Then coat both sides of the ribs with sea salt and ground black pepper, to your liking.
    Uncooked ribs in an air fryer.
    1. Step 3: Place the ribs in your air fryer, meat side down, and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Ribs with barbecue sauce being brushed on them.
    1. Step 4: Coat both sides of the ribs in the barbecue sauce, flip them over, and cook for another 15 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Top 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 you will need will depend on the size of the ribs you use, which is why I haven't included the amounts in the recipe card.
    • You do not need to preheat your air fryer for this rib recipe. If you do preheat it decrease the cook time by a few minutes.
    • Storage: store any leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
    • To reheat: to reheat ribs in the air fryer, cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-4 minutes, until the meat is warm.

    Serving ideas:

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

    • Caesar salad or a mixed green salad such as my kale apple salad.
    • Air fried French fries, air fryer sweet potato fries or crispy air fryer onion rings.
    • My Whole30 potato salad or dairy free broccoli salad.
    • With gluten-free cornbread or paleo cornbread muffins.
    Cooked ribs coated in barbecue sauce on a cutting board.

    Air fryer ribs FAQs:

    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.

    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. 

    Other air fryer recipes you will love:

    • A piece of Mahi Mahi cooked in an air fryer on a plate.
      Easy Air Fryer Mahi Mahi - ready in 10 minutes!
    • A bowl of cooked spaghetti squash garnished with fresh parsley and black pepper.
      Easy Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
    • An air fryer baked sweet potato, cut in half with butter on it.
      Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato (so easy!)
    • A salmon cake on a bed of lettuce drizzled with aioli sauce.
      Air Fryer Salmon Patties with Lemon Dill Aioli

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    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 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    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

    1. Nutritional values are estimates and will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use. 
    2. 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.
    3. Feel free to add other spices to the ribs such as onion powder, garlic powder etc. 
    4. Depending on the size of your rack of ribs you may need to adjust the cooking times slightly. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 318kcal | Protein: 27g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 350mg | Vitamin A: 31IU | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie

      September 11, 2020 at 6:23 pm

      My mouth is watering!5 stars

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

    More about me

    Mother's Day Recipes

    • A pan filled with cooked dairy free scalloped potatoes garnished with fresh thyme.
      Dairy-Free Scalloped Potatoes (gluten-free, vegan & paleo)
    • A lemon lavender cookie on a baking sheet with a bite out of it and surrounded by lemon slices.
      The Best Lemon Lavender Cookies (gluten-free option)
    • A stack of five cassava flour chocolate chip cookies.
      Cassava Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (egg-free, gluten-free)
    • A jar of raspberry chia pudding topped with fresh raspberries and white chia seeds.
      5 Ingredient Raspberry Chia Pudding
    • A bowl of coconut whipped cream.
      Easy Coconut Whipped Cream (vegan, dairy-free)
    • A glass dish filled with a bacon and vegetable egg casserole.
      The Best Bacon and Vegetable Egg Casserole

    Health Info

    • A collage of many different sunscreen bottles with the title The Best Safe Sunscreens Over them.
      11 Non-Toxic Sunscreens (tried and tested)
    • Four women in their underwear with the title The Best Non Toxic Period Underwear over them.
      10 Non-Toxic Period Underwear Brands - PFAS Free
    • Pots and pans stacked on top of each other in black and white with the title "is ceramic cookware safe?" above them.
      Is Ceramic Cookware Safe? Which Brands Are & Which Brands Aren't
    • A collage of body washes with the title "Non-Toxic Body Washes" over them.
      The 9 Best Non-Toxic Body Washes of 2025 (Tried & Tested)

    Popular Recipes

    • A paleo apple pie bar with a bite out of it and pieces of cooked apples beside it.
      The Best Healthy Apple Pie Bars (gluten-free, vegan & paleo)
    • A gluten free burger in a bun with lettuce, tomato and ketchup.
      The Best Gluten-Free Burgers Recipe (so juicy!)
    • A loaf of gluten free chocolate chip banana bread cut into pieces.
      The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (dairy free & paleo)
    • A paleo chocolate chip zucchini muffin with a bite out of it.
      Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins (dairy-free & paleo)
    • A bowl of Whole30 asian coleslaw with dressing being poured on it.
      The Best Healthy Asian Coleslaw Salad
    • A jar of berry cheesecake overnight oats topped with fresh berries with a spoon in it.
      The Best Berry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

    Footer

    featured on:

    Sign up for emails and updates!

    Sign me up!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Contact
    • Services
    • ↑ back to top

    Some of the links on this website are affiliate links whereby we make a small percentage if you purchase the product through that link. It does not cost you anything extra and helps us keep this website running. As an Amazon associate we earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Pure & Simple Nourishment - Powered by Feast+

    130 shares
    130 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required