This post may contain affiliate partner links. View our privacy statement HERE.

The air fryer has become extremely popular as people look for quicker dinner recipes that maintain the dish’s quality, texture, and taste. Mastering succulent BBQ ribs in the air fryer is easy and requires little to no experimentation.

Your biggest decision in this recipe will be whether to use pork or beef ribs. But there’s no wrong choice. Either way, each piece will be bursting with flavor!

Can you make BBQ ribs in the air fryer?

Air fryer BBQ ribs have quickly become my go-to method for a delicious rib dinner ready in minutes! The air fryer promises a much quicker and more efficient way to achieve succulent, juicy ribs without the traditional sheet pan hours of sweltering oven heat.

How to make air fryer BBQ ribs — *Here I am with my finished air fryer BBQ ribs recipe!*

Ingredients

Choose between pork ribs or beef ribs. Either is delicious in the air fryer. Then, you can craft the perfect rub for these air fryer BBQ ribs or create your own with pantry staple seasonings. Use your favorite premade BBQ sauce or prepare a delicious homemade concoction. This mix infuses the ribs with flavors and ensures they emerge tender and juicy from the air fryer.

Measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Ribs – You can use your choice of beef or pork ribs.
Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning or similar – This dynamic seasoning is not only for poultry or chicken. It contains soulful flavors, including paprika, mustard seed, garlic powder, onion powder, bell pepper, and lemon zest, that are tasty on all meats.
Weber Seasoning, Roasted Garlic & Herb, or similar – You could use this flavorful seasoning or make your own with a combination of garlic and herbs. See the recipe card notes below for instructions.
BBQ sauce – For the BBQ sauce, you can make a homemade concoction with soulful ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and a dash of garlic.

Seasoning or sauce?

First, season the ribs, then sauce the meat. The seasonings should be used as a dry rub for ribs to infuse flavor into the tougher meat.

How to make air fryer BBQ ribs

Cooking BBQ ribs in the air fryer basket is a breeze. The preparation is as simple as seasoning, saucing, and air frying. In minutes (instead of hours with a traditional baked BBQ ribs recipe), juicy, tender ribs will be ready, confirming the efficiency of air fryer meals for a quick BBQ dinner.

Step-by-step guided instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Remove the white membrane from the back of the ribs.
Mix the seasonings in a small bowl.
Rub the seasoning mixture on the ribs to coat them.
Then, baste the ribs with BBQ sauce, coating them evenly.
Place the ribs in the air fryer basket or tray.
Halfway through air frying, flip the ribs in the air fryer and return to cooking.
Brush more BBQ sauce on the ribs when the cooking is complete.
Serve and enjoy your air fryer BBQ ribs!

What temperature do you air fry ribs?

Air fry this ribs recipe at 360 degrees F.

Can you use foil in the air fryer?

You can safely use foil in most air fryers to make cleaning after cooking a breeze! However, please check your individual air fryer’s instructions for certainty.

The secret to tender ribs

Ribs can be tough, but there are some simple tricks to make them tender. Start by removing the tough white membrane from the back. Next, season and sauce the ribs, then bake them covered in foil to seal in the flavor and moisture, which promotes tenderness.

Quick and easy sides

Sides like Southern coleslaw, doctored-up canned baked beans, and Instant Pot mac and cheese are easy to make and elevate a BBQ ribs meal. Grilled corn on the cob, drizzled with butter, perfectly complements the smoky flavor.

For beverages, Southerners, especially at a soul food cookout, always choose freshly brewed iced tea as a classic pairing to complete this meal.