Cooking baby back ribs in the air fryer is the quickest and easiest way to get juicy ribs on your table. The ribs are rubbed with a delicious, sweet and smoky homemade BBQ rub then air-fried until fall-off-the-bone tender and topped with sticky BBQ sauce.
Living in an apartment sparked my creativity and constantly pushed me to innovate and reimagine recipes into easy air fryer versiopns. These baby back ribs don't require a grill or oven, making it the perfect recipe for those with small kitchens. Next time you are craving BBQ, try this quick and easy air fryer recipe.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Rack of Baby Back Ribs. You can also use spare ribs but they will need to be cooked longer. I have not tested this recipe using other types of ribs.
- Homemade Spice Rub. A mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper.
- Favorite BBQ Sauce. Use your choice of a homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce to smother on the rack of ribs.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
- Remove the membrane (tissue on the underside of the ribs). Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Combine the dry spices and brown sugar in a small bowl, then coat the dry rub on both sides of the ribs.
- Cut the ribs into 4 equal parts. Depending on the size of your air fryer you will need to cook in batches. Place the ribs meat side down in the basket or rack in a single layer and cook for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
- Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and cook for 2-5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F. Remove the racks of ribs and let them rest. Repeat the steps for the remaining ribs. Serve with additional BBQ sauce and enjoy!
How to Remove the Membrane From Ribs
- Turn the rack of ribs facedown and locate the thin, translucent membrane.
- Slide your fingers or a blunt knife underneath the membrane on one side to help loosen it. I recommend using a paper towel to grip the membrane.
- Slowly peel it off the ribs until it comes off completely. For more detailed instructions, check out this guide on how to remove pork rib membranes.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Make sure to add BBQ sauce before the ribs are done so the sauce can caramelize.
- For best results, lay the ribs flat in the air fryer to allow the hot air to provide an even cook. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the ribs in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Look for a rack of ribs with a good amount of meat on it.
- Don't forget to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. This will help make the meat more tender.
- Letting the ribs rest for a few minutes after cooking keeps them moist and tender.
Serving Air Fryer Ribs
Air fryer baby back ribs are the perfect summer staple to add to your dinner table. Pair them with classic BBQ sides like Rotini Pasta Salad or No-May Potato Salad.
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below-I'd love to hear how it turned out! THANK YOU!
Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
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See the full post for extra tips and photos
Ingredients
- 1 rack Baby Back Ribs
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel and remove the membrane.1 rack Baby Back Ribs
- Mix all of the spices and brown sugar together in a bowl and season the ribs on all sides with the dry rub seasoning.2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Cut the rack into 4 equal portions. I recommend cooking the ribs in two batches for optimal results.
- Place the rack meat side down in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
- Brush the ribs with some of the bbq sauce and cook for another 2-5 minutes or until the ribs reach 190 degrees F.½ cup barbecue sauce
- Remove the ribs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Repeat with the remainder of the rib rack. Serve with additional barbecue sauce as desired.
Sarah's Tips
- Store your leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat the ribs in the air fryer for a few minutes or wrap them in aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Add extra BBQ sauce for serving.
Tools I Use for This Recipe
- Small Bowl
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