Let’s be real, I live in Kansas City, where BBQ is serious business. Good ribs aren’t optional here. If a recipe can impress in the BBQ capital, you know it’s legit. I’ve been air frying since 2016, back when folks would side eye a plate of air fryer ribs. Making ribs in the air fryer might sound like a shortcut, but when they’re done right, they’re tender, saucy, and full of flavor, not dry, and certainly not tough. I’ve done the hard work and testing so you don’t have to!
Do you live in a part of the country that has harsh winters? I do! I’m a Midwest girlie, not only do we have harsh winters, but we are KNOWN for our BBQ here. No other city or state can compare to ours! The air fryer makes it easy to enjoy ribs year round.
Air Fryer Ribs Ingredients
- Rack of Ribs
- Liquid Smoke
- Pork or BBQ Rub, Salt, and Pepper
- BBQ Sauce
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Ribs
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep the ribs: Pat the rack of ribs dry with paper towels. If the membrane on the back is still on, slide a knife under it and pull it off for more tender ribs.
- Season them up: Rub the ribs lightly with liquid smoke on both sides. Sprinkle on your pork or BBQ rub, plus salt and pepper. Make sure they’re fully coated, no bare spots.
- Cut to fit: Slice the rack into sections that fit your air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd.
- Air fry: Cook ribs meat-side down at 360 degrees for 15 minutes, then flip and cook another 10 to 15 minutes until tender. (Timing can vary by thickness.)
- Optional Sauce and finish: Brush BBQ sauce all over the ribs. Return to the air fryer at 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes to caramelize the sauce. Keep an eye on them so the sauce doesn’t burn.
- Rest and serve: Let them rest a few minutes so the juices settle, then dig in.
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Air Fryer Ribs Recipe
Want to save this recipe for later?
I’ll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 1 rack ribs baby back or spare ribs
- 1tablespoon liquid smoke Optional; smoked salt works great, too.
- 2-3 tablespoons pork or BBQ rub I used my Homemade Rub linked in the notes below
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
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Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs.This is a thin layer that can be tough to remove. Sometimes it will peel right off. You can also cut it, and pull it off. Cut the ribs in half or so the ribs are able to fit in the air fryer.
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Drizzle the liquid smoke over both sides of the ribs.
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Season both sides with the pork rub, salt and pepper.
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Cover the ribs and allow the ribs to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
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Add the ribs to the air fryer. It is ok to stack the ribs.
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Cook for 15 minutes on 360 degrees.
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Open the air fryer. Flip the ribs. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.
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Remove the ribs from the air fryer. Drizzle the ribs with BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
