My recipe for country style ribs in the air fryer turn out tender and juicy every single time! I love making them for my husband who says they are the best ribs he’s ever had.
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My Favorite Recipe for Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
I love a good country style pork rib, but I’ve always found them to be a bit of a hassle to make. I know the air fryer usually makes everything much easier to make, so I figured why not try making country style ribs in the air fryer.
They always come out tough when cooked on the grill or oven, so I didn’t have high hopes, but of course, I should never be surprised at how great air fryers are at cooking basically everything.
My husband, Ben, rolled his eyes at me as he saw me sticking the country ribs in the air fryer. He even said, “the air fryer… again?” and scoffed, but I chuckle because that was short lived.
And, by short-lived, I mean he was super confused when I told him dinner was done about 20 minutes later. He should know by now the air fryer makes everything quicker to make, especially compared to the oven. I mean, I do use the appliance multiple times a day at this point.
He ate every single bite of his ribs that night, and the next time we saw his mom, I caught him raving about how I made “these amazing air fryer country style ribs so quickly,” so I know he loved them!
And, if you love a good air fryer ribs recipe, try my recipes for air fryer spare ribs, air fryer baby back ribs, and short ribs in the air fryer.
Country Style Pork Ribs in the Air Fryer Ingredients
- Country-style pork ribs – I use boneless pork ribs for this recipe
- Seasoning – I use smoked paprika, garlic powder onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavors of the ribs
- BBQ sauce – Stubb’s BBQ sauce is my go-to, but any other kind of store bought or homemade BBQ sauce will work
What is the difference between country style ribs and baby back ribs?
Baby back ribs, as the name suggests, come from the back of a pig’s rib cage. Meanwhile, the name “country-style ribs” is actually very misleading! I was so surprised when I learned that country-style ribs don’t come from the rib cage at all but from the shoulder end of the loin, also known as the blade steaks.
How To Make Country Style Ribs In The Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F.
STEP TWO: In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Set it aside.
STEP THREE: Slice and trim the ribs, then spray or rub them with cooking oil. Sprinkle the ribs with the seasoning, making sure to massage it in on all sides.
STEP FOUR: Place the ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray and cook them for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
STEP FIVE: Brush the ribs with a thin layer of BBQ sauce, then place them back in the basket and cook for 8-10 more minutes. Serve them with additional BBQ sauce.
tips for the best Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
- Slice the ribs into even pieces to promote even cooking. I get much better results when all the pieces are similar sizes so they cook at the same rate!
- If I have time, I bring the ribs to room temperature before cooking to get an even tender meat. I find that helps them cook even more evenly too.
- Cook the ribs in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. I leave room between each piece so the hot air can circulate properly.
- I recommend cooking the ribs to 185 degrees F, which is past the 145 degrees F point where the F.D.A. considers pork safe to consume. I’ve found that cooking the country-style ribs to a higher internal temperature and using a meat thermometer is the key to getting fall-off-the-bone tender meat!
- Allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This lets them reabsorb all their juices, so I always give them at least 5 minutes to rest.
Air Fryer Ribs Variations and substitutions
- When I want a kick of heat, I’ll use a spicy BBQ sauce or add a pinch of chili powder into the dry rub seasoning mixture.
- Mix honey and minced garlic into the barbecue sauce for a sweet and savory variation. My husband loves this version!
- For an aromatic twist, I like to add dried rosemary, thyme, and oregano to the seasoning mix.
- When I’m in the mood for Asian-inspired flavor, I’ll brush the ribs with a mix of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- I sometimes swap out smoked paprika for cumin in the seasoning blend for a little something different.
What to Serve country Style Ribs
Air fryer country style ribs are packed with protein, so I love serving them alongside comforting sides like air fryer baked potato, gouda mac and cheese, or air fryer cornbread.
For something lighter, I’ll pair air fryer ribs with asparagus in the air fryer, air fryer corn on the cob, or air fryer broccoli.
Country Style Ribs in the Air Fryer FAQs
How to store air fryer country style ribs
I let any extra air fryer boneless country style ribs cool down completely before storing them in an airtight container or wrapping them tightly in foil. I store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to reheat country style pork ribs in the air fryer
I say the air fryer is the best way to reheat country-style ribs! I start by preheating my air fryer to 300 degrees F, then place the ribs in the basket and cook for about 5 minutes or until they’re warmed all the way through.
Do country style ribs get tender in the air fryer?
The air fryer is my favorite way to get country-style ribs super tender! When I cooked them on the grill or in the oven in the past, it was really easy to cook them too fast, which made them tough. But every time I cook them in the air fryer, they turn out tender, juicy, and perfect!
Can I use bone-in pork ribs in the air fryer?
I love making bone-in pork ribs in the air fryer! I cook them between 380 and 400 degrees F and use an Instant Read Thermometer to help me gauge when they’re ready.
Why are my air fryer country style ribs getting dark on the outside?
Country-style ribs will get dark in the air fryer as the BBQ sauce caramelizes on the outside. I love the way this gives the ribs a burst of flavor and crispiness!
More Easy Air Fryer Pork Recipes
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Easy Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds country-style boneless pork ribs
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F.
- Combine the paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne in a small bowl and set it aside.
- Slice and trim the ribs, spray or rub them with cooking oil, then sprinkle the ribs with the seasoning, massaging it in on all sides.
- Place the country-style ribs in the air fryer in an even layer. Cook them for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cooking time.
- Pull them from the air fryer and brush them with a thin layer of BBQ sauce. Place them back in the air fryer and cook for 5-8 more minutes.
- Serve with additional BBQ sauce.
Video
Notes
- Slice the ribs into even pieces to promote even cooking.
- Bring the ribs to room temperature if you have time to allow them to taste even more tender and evenly cooked.
- Cook the ribs in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- Cook the country style ribs to 185 degrees F, which is the key to getting fall-off-the-bone tender meat!
- Allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This lets them reabsorb all their juices. Just 5 minutes will do.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 300 degrees F for about 5 minutes, until warmed through.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
You’re Awesome! Thank you so much for all the ideas,help,and recipes..i’m getting my air fryer by Christmas.
You are going to LOVE your air fryer, Steve! We rarely use our oven anymore!
I had some baby back ribs I wanted to try in my Ninja SP101 Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven, but I couldn’t find a recipe. I saw this and decided to give it a try even though they are different cuts of meat. Worked perfectly! I was so afraid they would turn out tough but they did not. I used the same rub recipe and the same timing. Thank you!
I did not know you could cook ribs in the air fryer. I love how these turned out.
My family loved these ribs! They were so delicious, we didn’t have any leftover.
Would love to try this!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
so flavorful and easy!
I bought country style ribs for Memorial Day cookout. It got rained out so I had to find a faster way to get them done without heating up the kitchen. Didn’t have to try very hard. I knew I was going to use my air fryer but wasn’t sure of the oven temp or how long to cook them. Once again you’ve come to my rescue. I followed your directions and they came out perfect. Probably even better then if I had done them on the grill. No leftovers and in one instance I saw someone licking there plate clean. Wish I had gotten a picture of that.
Do we do the air fryer temp on bake or air fry
You will use the air fry or air crisp option on any recipe that has air fryer in the title!
I followed the recipe exactly and mine turned out horrible – but I think it’s because I had cheap, low-quality ribs that didn’t have much meat on them.
Hi Zach, that could definitely be why. I also recommend checking on the ribs while they cook. If they’re small with less meat on them, they’ll require much less cooking time or they will get tough.
Made this for dinner easiest ribs ever still moist juicy and tender. and so flavorful. Most definitely the go for just the 2 of us for Dinner. I used country style boneless pork ribs. I most definitely would recommend this air Fryer rib recipe!Thumbs up👍
Can you use beef ribs for this recipe?
Hi Criss, Beef ribs require a different time and temperature to cook through. I have this recipe for air fryer Boneless Beef Short Ribs that would work. I hope this helps!
My air fryer doesn’t have a preheat option nor a basket, just 3 trays. So can this be baked in a regular oven? If so what temperature and time?
I think it wpuld be easier that way
Hi Alex, Preheating your air fryer just means that you set it to the cooking temperature, and then give it about 5 minutes to heat up before adding any food to the basket or tray. There isn’t always a preset for that. You can absolutely make these country ribs in an oven, but (in my opinion) they turn out much better in the air fryer. I hope this helps!