Description
No grill? No problem! These air fryer ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender with a smoky, caramelized finish—all in under an hour. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a game day feast, this method gives you classic BBQ flavor with a fraction of the effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 lbs baby back ribs (or St. Louis style)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 3 tbsp brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 2 tsp paprika (or smoked paprika)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
Instructions
- Remove membrane from ribs and cut into 3–4 rib sections.
- Mix dry rub: brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cayenne.
- Pat ribs dry, brush with oil, apply rub on all sides. Let rest for 30 minutes (optional).
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3–5 minutes.
- Place ribs meat-side down in air fryer basket. Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes.
- Flip ribs, reduce temp to 350°F (175°C), and cook for 10–12 minutes.
- Mix barbecue sauce with vinegar and liquid smoke. Brush on ribs. Cook at 400°F for 3–5 minutes.
- Let ribs rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
For maximum flavor, let the seasoned ribs rest for 30 minutes before cooking. Optional liquid smoke adds a deeper BBQ flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ribs
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg