Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs with Dry Rub
These air fryer BBQ ribs with dry rub come out juicy, tender, and packed with smoky-sweet flavor all in under an hour. No smoker or grill needed—just your air fryer and a few pantry spices. Perfect for weeknight dinners or lazy-day BBQ cravings.
Equipment
- Small mixing bowl
- Basting brush
Ingredients
- 1 rack baby back ribs, about 2-3 pounds
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce of your choice
For the Dry Rub
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika or smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
Instructions
- Flip the rack bone-side up, slide a sharp knife under the thin membrane at one end. Grab it with a paper towel and pull it off in one piece.
- Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small bowl, breaking up any brown sugar clumps with your fingers.
- Apply the rub generously to both sides, pressing it onto the meat lightly to help it adhere.
- Allow the ribs to rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
- Cut the rack of ribs into sections that will fit in your air fryer basket (usually sections of 3-4 ribs each).
- Place the ribs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, meat-side up, and cook at 350°F for 15 minutes.
- Flip the ribs and continue cooking for another 15 minutes at 350°F.
- Brush BBQ sauce on both sides, ending with the meaty side facing up.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 5-10 minutes until the sauce is caramelized and the ribs reach an internal temperature of 185-190°F.
- Remove from the air fryer and allow the ribs to rest for 5 minutes, loosely covered with aluminum foil before serving.
Notes
- Don't skip removing the membrane from the back of the ribs – it makes a huge difference in texture.
- Ribs are perfectly tender between 185-190°F when the collagen breaks down.
- Add sauce only during the final cooking phase to prevent burning.
- Leftover ribs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
- Cooking time may vary: Depending on your air fryer model and the thickness of your ribs, cooking time may need to be adjusted. Always check for doneness using an instant-read thermometer.
- Optimal doneness: While pork is safe to eat at 145°F, ribs become tender and juicy between 185-190°F when the collagen breaks down.
