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Imagine tender, mouthwatering beef short ribs that just slide off the bone. They’re seasoned to perfection and air-fried for a perfectly crispy finish while keeping all that juicy goodness intact. This air fryer short ribs recipe proves that you don’t have to go to a steakhouse to enjoy top quality, delicious meat dishes – not when you can make these short ribs quickly and easily in your air fryer.
These succulent and flavorful short ribs are so easy to make in an air fryer. They come out tender and juicy with aromatic herb and spice flavors.
Love sinking your teeth into ribs? Also try short rib ragu, BBQ ribs, sweet slow cooker Hawaiian ribs, or succulent smoked baby back ribs.
Why You’ll Love It
So tasty: The beef short ribs are flavored simply with herbs and spices to let their distinctive taste shine through.
Simple to make: Once you’ve seasoned the ribs, you simply put them in your air fryer and cook until they’re falling off the bone and the wonderful aroma in the air is making your mouth water in anticipation!
Gluten-free and dairy-free: No gluten or dairy in here.
Short Ribs in the Air Fryer Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Beef short ribs: The star of the dish.
Herbs: Dried oregano and thyme go well with the rich beef flavor.
Paprika: Adds a little spice.
Olive oil: To combine with the herbs and paprika to make a seasoning mixture you can brush over the ribs.
Sea salt: Just a pinch.
How to Make Air Fryer Beef Short Ribs
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the ribs: Divide the meat into individual ribs if they aren’t already.
Add the seasonings: Mix the olive oil with paprika, oregano, thyme, and salt, and brush this mixture over your ribs.
Air fry them: Put your beef ribs bone side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook until done.
Substitutions and Variations
Spice them up: Swap the paprika for chili powder or cayenne pepper.
Different oil: Olive oil is good or you can use canola oil, vegetable oil or any cooking oil you want.
Korean beef short ribs: Swap the herbs and paprika for soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger for a Korean short ribs recipe. Serve with green onions and hibachi rice.
Serving Suggestions
As an appetizer: Pair the beef short ribs with other appetizers like meaty cowboy sliders or crispy mac and cheese balls.
As the main course: Serve them with chimichurri or Italian salsa verde. Loaded mashed potato casserole and bacon-wrapped green beans would be good on the side.
With a salad: Air fryer ribs would be tasty served with an iceberg wedge salad or chopped Italian salad.
How to Store Leftover Short Ribs
Store: Keep leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze these in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost the short ribs in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Spray the inside of your air fryer basket and put the ribs in there, in one layer. Air fry for about 6 minutes at 400°F or until warm.
Top Tips
Choose good short ribs: Look for well-marbled short ribs that have a nice meaty portion – at least 1½ inches of meat above the bone is best.
Cook in batches: Unless your air fryer is large, you should cook the short ribs in batches so they can crisp up all over. Mine is 4 quarts so I made 2 batches.
Short ribs cooking time: The cooking time will vary, depending on the meat doneness you prefer and the size of the ribs.
Air Fried Beef Short Ribs FAQs
Keep an eye on the cooking time and check for doneness by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature for medium-rare beef should be around 145°F but adjust according to your preference. (I use this meat thermometer!)
No, that’s not necessary. They will crisp up all over in the air fryer without having to be flipped.
Beef Short Rib Air Fryer Recipe
Air Fryer Short Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds beef short ribs
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 Teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 Teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Separate your ribs into individual pieces.
- Mix the olive oil, paprika, oregano, thyme, and salt in a small bowl.
- Brush this mixture on the top and sides of the short ribs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Add the short (ribs bone down) to the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes. There’s no need to flip them over. The cooking time will vary depending on the meat doneness you like and the ribs’ size
- Serve hot.
Notes
Cook in batches: Unless your air fryer is large, you should cook the short ribs in batches so they can crisp up all over. Mine is 4 quarts so I made 2 batches.
Short ribs cooking time: The cooking time will vary, depending on the meat doneness you prefer and the size of the ribs.
Nutrition
Picture this: succulent, fall-off-the-bone beef short ribs, perfectly seasoned and air-fried to a glorious crispy exterior while retaining all that juicy tenderness inside. This air fryer beef short ribs recipe is a game-changer. Elevate your home-cooking game with this easy yet insanely flavorful dish that’s sure to make you the star of your kitchen. It’s one of the best air fryer recipes for juicy ribs!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Loved how rich and flavorful this turned out!
This did not turn out well!
Oh no! What happened?
I’m obsessed with how tender and crispy these were! Can’t wait to make them again.
Air fryer short ribs were a delight; so tender and tasty!