By Becky Hardin
Updated Jan 7, 2025
If you are looking for BBQ Ribs to make for game day, then I have got you covered with my Air Fryer BBQ Ribs recipe. These baby back ribs are seasoned with a homemade dry rub and brushed with BBQ sauce for the ultimate sweet, smoky flavors. Making ribs in air fryer is fuss-free, results in juicy and tender ribs every single time and gets ready in 45 minutes for the dinner table.
BBQ baby back ribs are always a crowd favorite, but sometimes it become cumbersome to start the grill or oven for small portions. Air fryer is the perfect solution to make ribs regularly.
You will want to make my air fryer ribs again n again without stressing over a grill or oven.
Tender BBQ Ribs in the Air Fryer
These pork ribs are seasoned with a brown sugar spice rub, air-fried until perfectly tender, and then brushed with BBQ sauce. You may not find these “fall-off-the-bone” tender like oven baked or smoked ribs but you will still be able to clean the bone. Personally, I love this air fried ribs recipe that is healthier, quicker, and delicious.
I would not recommend to continue cooking further thinking they will get more tender. Once temperature inside the ribs hit 190F they’ll start to dry out. So if you are looking for “fall off the bone” tenderness, I would recommend using other cooking methods.
Ingredients for Air Fryer BBQ Ribs
You need only three ingredients to make ribs in air fryer if using store-bought sauce and seasoning.
- Baby back pork ribs: I use baby back pork ribs for this air fryer recipe. They’re less fatty than spare ribs so they get really tender as they cook. Cook time changes when using spare ribs or any other rib cuts.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce or make homemade BBQ sauce .
- BBQ Seasoning: I love making my own spice mix to customize the blend of flavors, but a store-bought spice rub will be just as delicious. Use about 2-3 tablespoons of a pre-made spice mix!
Tips For Success
- Do not overcook. Ribs are done cooking when the bones start to peek out and the internal temperature is between 180°-195°F. Use thermometer to make ensure that.
- I suggest not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. This will help ribs to cook evenly.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: It is hard to believe that there will any leftovers. But if any leftover ribs are there, I will transfer them in a air tight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. I like to reheat in microwave or in oven. Air fryer might end up burning bbq sauce that is already over the ribs.
Freeze: I would use freezer friendly bags to store them and freeze for up to 3 months. Personally, air fryer BBQ ribs is a easy recipe, instead of freezing you can just store seasoned ribs in the fridge 3-4 days in advance. While preparing all you need is to preheat the airfryer and cook them. This will save the thawing time.
Serving Suggestions
It’s the perfect football Sunday food and I love to make these as a appetizer on a game day or just serve as a whole meal during dinner time. Creamy Coleslaw , Corn on the cob , Pasta Salad , Mac and Cheese , and Potato Salad are few sides that I would love to pair up to make it a whole meal.
5-Star Review
“I made this last night and it was the moistest chicken we’ve ever had. A bit of crispy and the flavor was wonderful. I didn’t have buttermilk and did add lemon juice to 1% milk. I am making it again today. Thank you for this recipe.” – Dawn
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3-3 ½ pounds baby back pork ribs
- ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ⅓ cup BBQ sauce plus more for serving
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes. Spray the inner basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray.
- Remove the silverskin membrane from the back of the ribs. Pat dry the ribs and cut them into 4 equal portions. 3-3 ½ pounds baby back pork ribs
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin. Set aside. 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Rub the spice mixture all over the ribs.
- Place the ribs meat side down in the air fryer basket.
- Cook the ribs for 30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes.
- Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve with more BBQ sauce, as desired. ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
Becky’s Tips
- Ribs: To remove the silverskin membrane from the back of the ribs, use a sharp knife to lift it away from the ribs and pull to remove it. Your butcher can also complete this step for you!
- Air fryer Version- You may not find these “fall-off-the-bone” tender like oven baked or smoked ribs but you will still be able to clean the bone. I would not recommend to continue cooking further thinking they will get more tender. Once temperature inside the ribs hit 190F they’ll start to dry out. So if you are looking for “fall off the bone” tenderness, I would recommend using other cooking methods.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Ribs Step by Step
Preheat Air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with non stick cooking oil. You can also place aluminium foil at this step.
Prepare ribs: Often, baby back ribs come with a thin membrane on the back of the ribs. You can certainly keep the membrane on, but the ribs will be chewier. To remove the membrane, use a sharp knife to life it away from the ribs and pull to remove it.
Now that you have removed the skin, pat the ribs dry and cut the rack in four equal pieces.
Prepare spice rub: First, take a small glass bowl, combine 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika,1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin. Mix well and keep it ready.
Season the ribs: Take the spice mix and rub all over the ribs. Make sure to cover all sides.
Carefully place the seasoned ribs in the air fryer basket and cook for 30 minutes.
Remember to flip them after 15 mins.
Apply BBQ sauce: Almost there! once the 30 mins cooking time over, brush the ribs with 1/3 cup of BBQ sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes. I will not cook more than 5 minutes as
Serve: With the beep sound, your air fryer BBQ ribs are ready to indulge. I love to serve them with extra BBQ sauce. No matter how you serve them, these BBQ ribs are always a hit!
More Easy Ribs Recipes we Love
Instant Pot Ribs
Crockpot Hawaiian Ribs
8+ Rib Recipes (How to Cook Ribs in Every Style)
Smoked Ribs
St. Louis Ribs (Grilled Ribs)
Oven Baked Ribs
Honey Bourbon Dutch Oven Short Ribs
Crockpot Ribs
Air Fryer BBQ Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-3 ½ pounds baby back pork ribs
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce plus more for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes. Spray the inner basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray.
- Remove the silverskin membrane from the back of the ribs. Pat dry the ribs and cut them into 4 equal portions. 3-3 ½ pounds baby back pork ribs
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin. Set aside. 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Rub the spice mixture all over the ribs.
- Place the ribs meat side down in the air fryer basket.
- Cook the ribs for 30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes.
- Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve with more BBQ sauce, as desired. ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
Video
Notes
- Ribs: To remove the silverskin membrane from the back of the ribs, use a sharp knife to lift it away from the ribs and pull to remove it. Your butcher can also complete this step for you!
- Air fryer Version- You may not find these “fall-off-the-bone” tender like oven baked or smoked ribs but you will still be able to clean the bone. I would not recommend to continue cooking further thinking they will get more tender. Once temperature inside the ribs hit 190F they’ll start to dry out. So if you are looking for “fall off the bone” tenderness, I would recommend using other cooking methods.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
