Air Fryer BBQ Ribs
These air fryer BBQ ribs have a smoky brown sugar seasoning and a sticky barbecue sauce glaze. Make flavorful pork ribs without firing up the grill.
Servings: 4
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds pork spare ribs membrane removed, cut into sections to fit the air fryer
- 1/3 Cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon liquid smoke
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 Cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke and olive oil. Brush or spread it evenly over the entire rack of ribs.
- Make sure the rack is in the bottom of the air fryer pot. Place one rack of ribs flat on the rack and put in the air fryer.
- Heat the air fryer to 360 degrees F and cook one side for 8 minutes. Flip the ribs and cook for another 8 minutes.
- Check for doneness near a bone. If the meat isn’t completely cooked through, cook an extra 2 to 3 minutes. Thicker ribs will take longer, so this is important.
- Brush the cooked ribs with BBQ sauce. You can cook for another minute.
- Remove and cook the second rack of ribs.
Rib thickness and air fryer models vary, so use the cooking time as a starting point. Check both the internal temperature and tenderness before adding the BBQ sauce.
Notes
Remove the membrane: If the thin membrane is still attached to the back of the ribs, loosen one corner and pull it away using a paper towel for a better grip.
Don't crowd the basket: Cooking in batches gives the hot air room to circulate around the ribs. It's worth the extra few minutes rather than squeezing everything into one batch.
Watch the seasoning: The brown sugar in the rub can darken quickly, especially once the BBQ sauce is added. Keep an eye on the ribs during the final minutes.
Check the texture: Cooking time depends on the thickness of the ribs and your air fryer. Check the temperature and tenderness rather than relying only on the timer.
Add the sauce near the end: Brushing on the BBQ sauce during the final stage helps it form a sticky glaze without burning.
Don't crowd the basket: Cooking in batches gives the hot air room to circulate around the ribs. It's worth the extra few minutes rather than squeezing everything into one batch.
Watch the seasoning: The brown sugar in the rub can darken quickly, especially once the BBQ sauce is added. Keep an eye on the ribs during the final minutes.
Check the texture: Cooking time depends on the thickness of the ribs and your air fryer. Check the temperature and tenderness rather than relying only on the timer.
Add the sauce near the end: Brushing on the BBQ sauce during the final stage helps it form a sticky glaze without burning.
Nutrition
Calories: 1341kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 108g | Saturated Fat: 45g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 55g | Trans Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 255mg | Sodium: 1137mg | Potassium: 926mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1013IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 7mg
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