Description
This Air Fryer BBQ Ribs recipe offers a quick and flavorful way to enjoy tender, smoky ribs with a perfect caramelized BBQ sauce finish. Using the air fryer, you can achieve fall-off-the-bone goodness in just 35 minutes of cooking time, making it an ideal recipe for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ribs and Rub
- 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
Sauce
- â…“ cup BBQ sauce (plus more for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (188°C) for 5 minutes and spray the inner basket lightly with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Ribs: Remove the silverskin membrane from the back of the ribs to ensure tenderness. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels and cut them into 4 equal portions for easier cooking and handling.
- Make the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cumin. This mixture creates a flavorful dry rub for the ribs.
- Apply Rub: Massage the spice mixture evenly all over each portion of ribs, ensuring every piece is well coated for maximum flavor penetration.
- Arrange Ribs in Basket: Place the rib portions meat side down into the air fryer basket in a single layer to allow even cooking.
- Cook Ribs: Air fry the ribs for 30 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time (after 15 minutes) to ensure both sides are cooked evenly and achieve a nicely browned exterior.
- Finish with BBQ Sauce: Brush the ribs generously with BBQ sauce and air fry for an additional 5 minutes to caramelize the sauce and add that iconic BBQ glaze. Serve immediately with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Removing the silverskin membrane is crucial for tender ribs; use a knife to loosen and peel it off.
- You can adjust the spice rub ingredients according to your taste preferences for more heat or sweetness.
- Make sure to flip the ribs halfway to ensure even cooking and browning.
- If your air fryer basket is small, cook ribs in batches for best results.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; ribs are safe to eat at 145°F but cooking longer improves tenderness.
- Leftover ribs can be refrigerated and reheated in the air fryer to maintain crispiness.
