Make these juicy Air Fryer Spare Ribs With Barbecue Sauce for your next weeknight dinner! These fall-off-the-bone tender ribs are quick and easy to make using your favorite BBQ sauce in just 30 minutes!
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Ribs are one of my favorite things to cook - and eat! If I have lots of time to make them low and slow, I usually make Smoked 3-2-1 Ribs, 2-2-1 Smoked Ribs, or Smoked Beef Back Ribs. And if I'm in a hurry, I'll make Instant Pot Pork Ribs From Frozen or Smoked BBQ Party Ribs.
But because I LOVE using my air fryer, I thought I would try making ribs in it - and they turned out amazing! They were so good I made them two days in a row! 🙂
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe that uses simple ingredients.
- They're ready in only 30 minutes.
- They make a great dinner for busy weeknights.
- They are juicy with tender, fall-off-the-bone meat.
- The rub gives them amazing flavor.
Air Fryer Ribs Ingredients
You can find the basic ingredients to make these juicy air-fried spare ribs at your local grocery store.
- Ribs. I used one rack of pork spare ribs. You can cut the ribs into sections or single ribs.
- Oil. Olive oil keeps the meat tender and gives the rub something to stick to.
- Rub. I used my Basic Pork Rub, which contains brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Sauce. BBQ sauce is used to glaze the ribs at the end of the cooking time. Use your favorite brand or make Homemade BBQ Sauce.
How To Make Air Fryer Spare Ribs
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 385°F. Cut the ribs into sections to fit inside your air fryer basket. Brush the ribs all over with olive oil.
Step 2: Mix the ingredients for the spice rub in a small bowl. Apply the dry rub generously. Focus on getting most of the rub on the meatier side.
Step 3: Place the prepared ribs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, meat side down.
Step 4: Air fry the ribs for 15 minutes at 385°F. Flip the ribs over, and cook for another 15 minutes at 385°F until the pork is done and the internal temperature reaches 202°F.
Step 5: Brush the ribs generously with BBQ sauce and air fry for 3 minutes at 385°F.
Step 6: Serve immediately with extra BBQ sauce, your favorite sides, and lots of napkins. Enjoy!
FYI
The first time I made this air fryer pork ribs recipe, I cooked them for 25 minutes to an internal temperature of 190°F. While the meat was cooked, the meat was quite tough. The second time, I cooked them for 30 minutes to an internal temperature of 202°F, and the meat was very tender. It was surprising how much difference an extra 5 minutes made.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ribs. Use any rack of ribs, including baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs.
- Oil. Use vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
- Rub. Use your favorite pork rub.
- Spicy. Add chili powder, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes to the spice rub.
- Glaze. Use honey-garlic sauce, maple syrup, or teriyaki sauce instead of BBQ sauce.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve these ribs with Miracle Whip Coleslaw, Pellet Smoker Corn on the Cob, and Smoked BBQ Beans.
They also go great with Easy Greek Salad, Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, Red Skin Potato Salad, or Pellet Grill Smoked Mac and Cheese.
Expert Tips
- Use a butter knife to gently lift the membrane (or silverskin) from the bone side of the ribs and pull it away using a paper towel to help grip.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the ribs in batches.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to test for doneness. The meat will be most tender at around 202°F to 203°F.
Recipe FAQs
Pork ribs are most tender when cooked to an internal temperature of 195°F to 203°F.
Baby back ribs, from the top of the rib cage near the backbone, are smaller, leaner, and more tender. Spare ribs, from the belly side of the rib cage, are larger, fattier, and more flavorful, needing longer cooking to tenderize the meat.
Yes, ribs cooked in an air fryer are tender and flavorful and are much quicker than those cooked using a traditional method. The air fryer's high heat and circulating air create a nice crust while keeping the meat inside tender and juicy.
Ribs are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 145°F, but for tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, you will want an internal temperature of around 195°F to 203°F.
Ribs take a long time to cook due to the high amount of connective tissue, which breaks down as the ribs are cooked.
Storage
Refrigerator
Store leftover ribs in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil for 3-4 days.
Freezer
Wrap ribs in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months
Reheating
Reheat ribs in the air fry on the 'Reheat' setting or at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until hot.
Want even more air fryer recipes?
I have lots more; check out some of my favorites:
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- Jeri
Recipe
Air Fryer Spare Ribs With BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 rack spare ribs cut into 4 sections
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce for glazing
Instructions
- Remove the membrane from the back of the spare ribs.
- Combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dry mustard powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the ribs with olive oil and then generously cover the ribs in the spice mix, covering all sides.
- Preheat your air fryer to 385°F. Place the rib sections meat side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes at 385°F. Flip the ribs over, and cook for 10-15 minutes at 385°F, until the pork is done and the internal temperature is 190°F.
- Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and air fry for 3 minutes more at 385°F.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- Use a butter knife to gently lift the membrane (or silverskin) from the bone side of the ribs and pull it away using a paper towel to help grip.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the ribs in batches.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to test for doneness. The meat will be most tender at around 202°F to 203°F.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
About Jeri Walker
Jeri Walker is the founder and CEO of Winding Creek Ranch. She is a self-taught home cook who specializes in easy family-friendly recipes. Jeri is also a food writer who regularly writes articles for MSN. Read about Jeri's journey and connect with her on your favorite social media channels!
Swathi
Airfryer spare ribs with homemade bbq sauce is delicious my family loved it. This is perfect
Nicole
I love that these are so fast in the air fryer! They are so delish everyone loves them!
Jeri Walker
That's awesome! I'm glad you liked them!
Genevieve
I've never tried making spare ribs in an air-fryer, but these look delicious! This is the perfect dinner idea for hot summer nights and I don't feel like cooking anything too complicated. Thanks, Jeri!
Jeri Walker
Your welcome Genevieve, they are perfect when you don't want to turn your oven on! 🙂
Bernice
Love my air fryer and how versatile it is. I always like to try new things in it and this spare rib recipe was a real winner!
Jeri Walker
I feel the same way about my air fryer - and I'm so glad you liked them! 🙂
Krystle
The combination of the dry rub and the BBQ flavor is amazing! The meat cooks up so tender. Love finding new recipe to make in my air fryer!
Jeri Walker
Thanks so much Krystle! I'm thrilled that you liked them! 🙂