Make the best tender, juicy ribs in your air fryer with these Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs. This is a game-changer, especially if you dont’ have access to a grill. These ribs are perfectly seasoned, tender, and finished with a sticky barbecue sauce.
Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs come together in less than an hour and taste just as good as being grilled. This are simple to make and inexpensive too! If you are using country-style ribs, check out this recipe for Air Fryer Country Style Ribs.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
- Naturally gluten-free.
- Tender ribs ready to eat in less than an hour!
- No grilled needed!
- Easy to customize with your favorite seasonings, rub, or sauces.
- Perfect for small batches using just 1 rack of ribs.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs Recipe:
- Baby Back Ribs
- Barbecue Seasoning of Choice
- Barbecue Sauce of Choice
- Grapeseed Oil Spray
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Coat the basket of the air fryer with grapeseed oil spray.
- Carefully cut the ribs, this can either be done in sections or each individual rib. Remove the membrane on the back or the ribs if not already removed.
- Season the ribs with your choice of seasoning.
- Carefully place the ribs into the air fryer basket evenly. Remember this may need to be done in batches.
- Once in the air fryer, use a brush and brush on a small amount of barbecue sauce evenly onto the ribs.
- Coat evenly with grapeseed oil spray.
- Using the air fryer or air crisp in the Ninja Foodi, cook at 390 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.
- Check the ribs after about 15 minutes and use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature. The ribs will be the best at 190 degrees F, but are considered done after 145 degrees F.
- Carefully remove and let rest for 5 minutes, then add additional sauce if preferred and serve.
Do Air Fryer Ribs fall off the bone?
These ribs will be very similar to traditional ribs, they will not fall right off the bone as slow cooker ribs would, but they are tender and easy to chew.
If you want to have some excellent baby back ribs that fall off the bone, follow this recipe for Ninja Foodi Baby Back Ribs using a Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs:
If you want the ribs to be crispy on all sides, then cut the ribs before placing them in the air fryer.
I cut them in sections as you can see in the pictures, but it’s really best to cut each one if you want them nice and crisp on all sides.
By saying crisp, I mean similar to if they were smoked.
These will need to be cooked in batches if your air fryer basket is not large enough for all of them to be placed in the basket evenly. I used a Ninja Air Fryer to make these, so I did two batches.
We’ve found it’s best to keep them in an even layer so they cook evenly on all sides.
To be considered fully cooked, 145 degrees F would be considered well done but the higher temperature the more tender, we usually get ours close to 190 degrees F.
Always use a meat thermometer it will guarantee that you get to the correct temperature before serving.
They can be seasoned with your preferred seasoning and sauce; however, here is a great recipe for Homemade Barbecue Sauce.
These are paired perfectly with Air Fryer Okra!
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Cook in batches if needed.
- Flip halfway through for even cooking.
- Add sauce or seasonings as preferred.
- Cut each rib individually if you want it crispy on all sides.
Serving Suggestions:
How to store leftovers:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, heat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs are perfectly tender and flavorful without ever using the grill. These ribs come together quickly for a weeknight meal or a weekend meal!
Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 Rack Baby Back Ribs (Pork)
- Barbecue Seasoning of Choice
- Barbecue Sauce of Choice
- Grapeseed Oil Spray
Instructions
- Coat the basket of the air fryer with grapeseed oil spray.
- Carefully cut the ribs, this can either be done in sections or each individual rib. Remove the membrane on the back or the ribs if not already removed.
- Season the ribs with your choice of seasoning.
- Carefully place the ribs into the air fryer basket evenly. Remember this may need to be done in batches.
- Once in the air fryer, use a brush and brush on a small amount of barbecue sauce evenly onto the ribs.
- Coat evenly with grapeseed oil spray.
- Using the air fryer or air crisp in the Ninja Foodi, cook at 390°F for 25-30 minutes.
- Check the ribs after about 15 minutes and use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature. The ribs will be the best at 190°F, but are considered done after 145°F.
- Carefully remove and let rest for 5 minutes, then add additional sauce if preferred and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Ken says
The link for fall off the bone baby back ribs does not go to baby back, but to country style ribs
Kristy says
Sorry about that, here is the link https://www.mommyhatescooking.com/ninja-foodi-baby-back-ribs
David P says
if it wasn’t obvious, I didn’t see a Grapeseed oil alterhative, so I moved on to the next Pinterest air fryer rib recipe that DIDN’T require GS Oil. Sorry.
Kristy says
Grapeseed oil spray can be swapped with olive oil spray. I prefer grapeseed because it has a higher smoke point.