Name: 30 min Air Fryer Ribs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2.5 pounds pork ribs (2 small baby back rib racks); 1/2 cup ketchup; 2 tbsp Worchestershire sauce; 1 tbsp granulated garlic; 1 1/2 tsp ground pepper; 1 cup ketchup; 1 tbsp salt; 2-3 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp mustard (optional)

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Air fryer ribs are crispy delicious, coated in a delicious sauce, and cooked in only half an hour.

If you have never tried to cook pork ribs in an air fryer, then this is the perfect recipe for you to start with! I give you my word that the ribs are very simple to make, yet, they taste like heaven. The pork ribs are coated in spices and aromas which make them a great match to dishes such as pan-fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, or polenta. It is a great recipe for any occasion you might have because this delicious cut of meat will be the protagonist at your table.

Generally speaking, pork meat becomes very soft and tasty when properly cooked. In this recipe, I will share everything I did step by step for you to get the most appetizing pork ribs ever. Air fryer pork ribs is a dish that heats up, prepared when you want to bring flavor, taste, and lots of goodness to the table.

Marinated ribs versus rub

Pork ribs may dry out easily, and the marinade works well with this type of meat and it will help the meat be more tender. In addition to tenderizing the meat, the marinade also adds flavor. Therefore, the real secret to this recipe, as you may have guessed, lies in the marinade. There are many ways to flavor meat and make it juicy and fragrant at the right point, and here is how I like to do it.

Usually, for a perfect balance of flavors, it is best to marinate the meat in a combination of an acid, a fatty, and a spicy element. In this recipe, for example, I used ketchup, extra virgin olive oil, in addition to various spices. Always remember that the secret lies in the balance between sweetness, acidity, and the fat component.

What is the best cut of pork for ribs?

When choosing the ribs to cook in the air fryer, my suggestion is to pick up the ones with less meat and fat on it. My option would be the baby back ribs. These are the most tender and lean types of pork ribs located at the top part of the rib bone. There are 2 main reasons why the baby back ribs are best when cooked in the air fryer. First, these are not very chunky and will fit the air fryer basked better than other types of pork ribs. Second, as a result, they will perfectly cook in only 30 minutes.

Should I preheat the air fryer?

Yes, the air fryer should be preheated to get the best results in optimal time. The principle of work of an air fryer is similar to the oven’s. The heating mechanism and the fan of the air fryer run the hot air around the food. This hot air circulation mechanism is the one that makes the food, in our case the ribs, so crispy even without frying it in oil. As you can understand, it is best to have the fan well heated before adding the ribs to the basket.

How to air fry pork ribs

While the air fryer is preheating for about 10 minutes at 380F, cut the rib rack into smaller portions to fit the basket of the air fryer. It is somewhere around the size of a hand span. Then add the ribs to the basket with the bone side up. The meatier part should lay on the surface.

Insert the basket into the air fryer and set the cooking for 15 minutes to the same 380F degrees. In the meantime, prepare the sauce that you will be greasing the ribs halfway through. In a small bowl mix ketchup with Worcestershire sauce. When the 15 minutes time lapse expires, remove the basket, and grease them with the sauce using a kitchen brush. Then use kitchen tongs to flip sides. Now that you have turned the ribs over, grease the other part with the remaining sauce.

Cook the ribs in the air fryer for another 10 minutes at the same temperature. In less than 30 minutes you have the most delicious, sticky, and crispy air fryer rubs there can ever be.

How to serve the air fryer ribs?

Serve the ribs as soon as they’re cooked. The soft and aromatic meat is perfectly tender yet with a crispy surface. The air fryer ribs is a recipe to save and redo anytime you are in the mood for something delicious and homelike. Pair the ribs with a glass of chilled beer or some red wine and enjoy every single bite of it!