pork Archives - Family Dinners Delicious Dinners Families Love Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:50:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://familydinners.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png pork Archives - Family Dinners 32 32 Air Fryer Ribs https://familydinners.com/air-fryer-ribs/ https://familydinners.com/air-fryer-ribs/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2022 17:20:14 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=16650 Juicy and perfectly cooked air fryer ribs, seasoned with a flavorful homemade spice rub and covered in scrumptious bbq sauce.

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]]> These perfectly cooked air fryer ribs are tender, juicy and simply fall apart in your mouth. Seasoned with a homemade spice rub and basted with delicious BBQ sauce, these ribs turn out perfect every time and are so full of flavor. They are incredibly easy to make and ready to serve in under 40 minutes. You can therefore make air fryer baby back ribs as a scrumptious weeknight dinner, together with a flavorful salad and a side of crunchy bread. If you love ribs then you have to try this simple and out of this world yummy air fryer ribs recipe.

cut up air fryer ribs with bbq sauce

Are Air Fryer Ribs Actually Good?

The first time we tried making air fryer ribs we made them but had very low expectations. We didn’t think they’d taste good at all. We assumed they’d be dry. Wow were we wrong! The air fryer is a great way to cook ribs, especially if you aren’t cooking a full rack of ribs. We highly recommend this method!

Stef says….

I have to admit I was the biggest skeptic but am now a firm believer in air fryer baby back ribs! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved these. I’ve found new favorite ways to make ribs!

Air fryer ribs cut apart in an air fryer basket.

Why You’ll Love This

  • Notable: succulent and tender air fryer bbq ribs that fall apart in your mouth
  • Main Ingredients: baby back ribs, bbq sauce, brown sugar, sea salt, black pepper, and spices
  • Cooking Method: air fryer
  • Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time and 30 minutes cook time
  • Pairs well with: garlic bread, cornbread, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad
  • Diets: gluten free, dairy free
  • Special Equipment Needed: air fryer, mixing bowl, pastry brush, instant read thermometer
cooked rack of baby back ribs
cut up ribs in an air fryer

Ingredients

You may have all of these air fryer ribs ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

  • Pantry Ingredients: brown sugar, BBQ sauce (use your favorite barbecue sauce or make your own)
  • Meat Ingredients: rack of baby back ribs
  • Spices: sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, ground mustard, cayenne pepper(optional)
ingredients for air fryer ribs

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love serving a delicious salad alongside these juicy ribs then you’ll love Stef’s Artichoke Rice Salad. This is the perfect picnic or potluck salad as it combines Rice a Roni, bacon, artichoke hearts, and green olives for a crunchy, flavorful summer salad.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook baby back ribs in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

PREPARE: First, mix brown sugar and spices together in a bowl. Then coat the ribs with the spice blend and rub it in.

spice rub ingredients combined in a bowl
spice mix rubbed into raw ribs

COOK: Next, place ribs in the air fryer basket/tray in a single layer. Cook at 350°F for 20 minutes.

raw ribs in air fryer basket
basting ribs with bbq sauce

FINISH: Finally, baste all sides of the cooked tender ribs with your favorite bbq sauce and cook at 350° for an additional 10 minutes. Using an instant read thermometer, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure they are at least 145°F to be safe to eat but are most tender between 185°-200°F. Repeat if you have more ribs to cook. Serve with additional bbq sauce and a paper towel.

cooked baby back ribs
two racks of cooked ribs, one cut in pieces

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love how to cook BBQ ribs in a air fryer then you’ll love our Instant Pot Country Style Ribs. These juicy ribs fall apart in your mouth and are a great alternative to traditional baby back ribs or spareribs, as they are much meatier and budget friendly.

Air Fryer – This air fryer pork ribs recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity.

Pair of Tongs – You will find tongs very helpful when removing hot ribs from the air fryer.

Make Ahead

You can rub the ribs and refrigerate up to 24 hours before cooking, if you want. Reserve extra BBQ sauce for basting.

How to make ribs in the oven

Follow steps 1 and 2 of your recipe. Then transfer the ribs to a lined or greased baking sheet. Cover with foil and cook in the oven for 2 hours. Take the ribs out of the oven, remove the foil and baste with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven uncovered for another 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best baby back ribs cooked in the air fryer.

  • Tip: Don’t skip the rub!
  • Tip: Don’t overcrowd your air fryer tray/basket. Cook your ribs in batches if they don’t all fit easily in the basket. The ribs should not be stacked on top of one another while cooking.
  • Tip: Do not line your air fryer tray/basket with foil. Allow the air to circulate freely.
  • Tip: Check the temperature. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure they are cooked.

More Great Recipes

Don’t miss our Instant Pot Country-Style Ribs recipes or our homemade BBQ sauce recipe.

Andrea says….

I love serving ribs with a side of freshly made bread. Soft and delicious recipe of Copycat Lion House Rolls and Cheesy Garlic Rolls with Bacon are my go to recipes. They are flavorful, soft in the middle and crispy on the outside.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store cooled BBQ ribs leftovers in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Leftover ribs can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Thaw ribs in the fridge overnight. They can be reheated in the microwave.

kitchen tongs grabbing a rack of ribs in the air fryer

More Air Fryer Recipes

Common Questions

Is it better to use store bought or homemade BBQ sauce?

In this case you can use either your favorite brand of store bought or homemade BBQ sauce. If you feel adventurous and want to make this recipe extra special try our quick and easy recipe for homemade BBQ Sauce.

Can I marinate air fryer ribs overnight?

Yes, of course. You can rub the ribs with the spice blend, then cover them tightly and refrigerate until you are ready to cook them. Air fryer ribs can marinate for up to 24 hours.

Are baby back ribs pork or beef?

Baby back ribs come from pigs. Even though their name might suggest different, baby back ribs do not come from young pigs. They are simply smaller/shorter than spareribs and therefore called baby back. They are the leanest kind of ribs and when cooked properly turn out tender and the meat falls off the bone.

Is it better to remove the membrane from ribs?

We recommend removing the membrane (or silvery skin at the back of the ribs) before seasoning and cooking them. The membrane keeps the seasoning and heat from properly penetrating the meat and also turns into an unappetizing looking and leathery skin during cooking.

Can I use spare ribs in this recipe?

You can use any type of rib in this recipe. Cooking time might need to be adjusted because spare ribs are larger than back ribs.

Air fryer ribs cut apart in an air fryer basket.
Print

Air Fryer Ribs

Juicy and perfectly cooked air fryer ribs, seasoned with a flavorful homemade spice rub and covered in scrumptious bbq sauce.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Keyword air fryer bbq ribs, air fryer ribs, best air fryer ribs recipe, easy air fryer ribs recipe, ribs in the air fryer
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 366kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs rack of baby back ribs divided in half if needed to fit into air fryer
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ⅓ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Combine brown sugar, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, ground mustard and (optional) cayenne pepper in a bowl.
    spice rub ingredients combined in a bowl
  • Rub spices all over the ribs. Coating all sides.
    spice mix rubbed into raw ribs
  • Place ribs in the air fryer basket/tray.
    raw ribs in air fryer basket
  • Cook at 350°F for 20 minutes.
    cooked ribs in the air fryer
  • Baste all sides of the ribs with BBQ sauce.
    basting ribs with bbq sauce
  • Cook at 350° for an additional 10 minutes. Using an instant read thermometer, check the internal temperature to make sure they are at least 165°F.
    cooked bbq ribs in the air fryer
  • Repeat if you have more ribs to cook.
  • Serve.
    two racks of ribs with bbq sauce, one cut up

Notes

  • If a full rack of ribs is too many for you, add the rub to the ribs then freeze half. When you’re ready to cook them, defrost in the refrigerator and cook as directed when they’re defrosted.
  • The cayenne pepper makes the ribs slightly spicy. If you don’t like any spice, omit the cayenne.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 871mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg

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