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Easy Air Fryer Ribs with Barbecue Sauce

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Air fryer ribs are the best tender ribs with a crispy exterior! Done in about 30 minutes, you will never cook pork ribs another way! Serve them with coleslaw, macaroni salad, and corn on the cob!

Tips to success: Increase the temperature to 400°F for the final few minutes for the extra sticky flavor!

Ingredients

Ribs and Dry Rub

▢ 3 pounds baby back pork ribs (1 rack)
▢ 3 teaspoons garlic powder
▢ 2 teaspoons paprika
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1/2 teaspoon cumin

Sweet and Sticky BBQ Sauce

▢ 1/2 cup ketchup
▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    • Remove the membrane*: Peel off the silverskin from the back of the ribs.
    • Cut the rack of pork ribs into 2-3 sections so that it can fit into your air fryer basket.
    • Make the spice rub: In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper and cumin.
    • Season the baby back ribs: Pat the ribs dry and rub the ribs on all sides with the spice rub.
  • Cook the ribs in the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F/190°C for a few minutes. Once hot, place the ribs into the basket with the meat side down and cook for 15 minutes. (It’s important to let the air fryer to heat up first to avoid the ribs from sticking to the basket.)
  • Flip the ribs using kitchen tongs, and cook for 10 more minutes at 375°F/190°C.
  • Make the BBQ sauce: While the ribs are cooking, you can add bbq sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
  • Brush with BBQ sauce: Remove the basket from the air fryer and brush generously with barbecue sauce on all sides.
  • Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook for 3-5 more minutes** at 400°F/200°C, or until the sauce has set and darkened slightly. (It may take more or less time based on the thickness or your ribs)
  • Remove the ribs from the basket and let them rest for 3-5 minutes so that the juices can redistribute through the meat. Feel free to brush with more barbeque sauce if you like.

Notes

For the most tender ribs, I recommend removing the thin membrane covering the rack. It takes a few minutes and is easy. First, flip the ribs with rack-side facing up. Then carefully slide a knife under the silverskin. Lift and loosen the membrane off the bone, and then you can peel it off the back of the ribs easily.

**Check frequently during the last few minutes so that your ribs won’t get burned.
How to bake it in the oven? It takes much longer to cook ribs in a traditional oven. Preheat oven to 300°F and bake for 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 185 deg F. Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce, and return to the oven. Bake for 30 more minutes. See my baked pork ribs recipe for detailed instructions.
How to store the leftovers? Allow them to cool down completely and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until they are heated through. You can also reheat them in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet and cooking at 350°F for 10-15 minute

Nutrition

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