The secret to making Ninja Foodi ribs is to broil the meat for a few minutes right before serving. The extra blast of heat transforms your sauce into a sweet and sticky glaze!
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Slow cooking has always been the best way for me to get perfectly cooked meat that is full of moisture and flavor.
The only problem with it is that it’s so slow! When I started playing around with my Ninja Foodi, I realized I could accomplish the same results in a fraction of the time.
With just 4 ingredients and a single appliance, you can have these Ninja Foodi ribs cooked and on the table in under an hour.
It’s the perfect solution for busy mornings when you don’t have time to get dinner started in the crock pot.
If you don’t have a favorite bbq sauce, or if you want to try making your own, this 2 ingredient BBQ sauce is the perfect choice for ribs in the Ninja Foodi!
Then, try my Ninja Foodi baked potatoes for another classic dish that you can make in less time with your air fryer.
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- How to get slow-cooked flavor and textures from your Ninja Foodi air fryer in less than an hour.
- Why rinsing raw meat is a bad idea but drying it helps to maintain more flavor.
- How your Ninja Foodi can pressure cook AND broil your bbq ribs to perfection!
This Ninja Foodi ribs recipe shows you just how versatile this appliance can be.
From pressure cooking to broiling, you won’t believe how much incredible flavor you can get in less than half the time it takes to cook traditional ribs!
I used the Ninja Foodi 8QT Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer for this recipe. I find this to be a great size for my family of four!
How to Make Ninja Foodi Ribs
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Remove your ribs from their packaging and pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Evenly sprinkle both sides of your ribs with the dry seasoning and rub into the meat.
STEP TWO: Pour the water into the inner pot and place your trivet in the lower position. Then, place the ribs on the trivet with the bones facing down and the meat side facing out. This positioning is essential to keep your ribs tender and juicy.
STEP THREE: Cook for 30 minutes at high pressure, then do a quick pressure release as soon as the cooking time is up. Carefully open the lid and remove the ribs using tongs. It’s ok if the ribs come apart at this point.
STEP FOUR: Slice the racks into 3 or 4 smaller sections and generously brush each section with bbq sauce.
STEP FIVE: Remove the trivet and discard the cooking liquid. Set the trivet back in the pot, but in a higher position this time. Place the ribs in the Ninja Foodi air fryer and close the lid.
STEP SIX: Broil for 3-5 minutes or until the bbq sauce begins to bubble and darken slightly. Serve immediately with extra bbq sauce for dipping!
What Is The Best Way To Cook Ribs In Ninja Foodi Air Fryer?
I like to use pressure cooker mode to get that slow cooked flavor and texture in a fraction of the time.
You’ll get fall-off-the-bone meat without needing to stand over a hot grill or smoker.
Because this appliance is multi-functional, you can also broil ribs in the Ninja Foodi instead of transferring them to your oven.
Easier cleanup for the win!
How Can You Tell If Ribs Are Overdone?
Ribs that are overdone will be more mushy than tender, and the color will appear off. To avoid this, cook just until the meat falls off the bone with slight pressure.
When you cook ribs in a Ninja Foodi, you won’t have to worry about messing up your meal!
They are pressure cooked to perfection and broiled just long enough to create a sticky glaze.
Be sure to release the pressure immediately after the timer goes off, so they don’t continue to cook.
More Rib Recipes
- Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
- Air Fryer Short Ribs
- Baby Back Ribs Oven Recipe
- Country-Style Ribs in the Air Fryer
- How to Reheat Ribs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Prime Rib
Should You Rinse Ribs Before Adding Dry Rub?
Do not rinse your ribs before adding the dry rub! This will only spread any potential bacteria to kitchen surfaces and utensils.
Instead, pat ribs (or any meat) dry with paper towels to remove moisture. This will help your seasoning stick to the surface while keeping your spaces safe and clean.
Other Ninja Foodi Recipes You’ll Love:
- Ninja Foodi Chicken Wings
- Ninja Foodi Burgers
- Ninja Foodi Bacon
- Ninja Foodi Corned Beef
- Ninja Foodi Chili
- Ninja Foodi Steak
- Ninja Foodi Salmon
- Ninja Foodi Pork Chops
- Ninja Foodi Chicken Breasts
- How to Clean a Ninja Foodi
Ninja Foodi Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- 2 tablespoons dry bbq seasoning or your favorite dry rub
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup bbq sauce plus more for serving
Instructions
- Pat the ribs dry, then sprinkle with seasoning and rub it along front and back of the ribs.
- Add 1 cup of water to the inner pot, followed by the trivet on the lower position.
- Curl the seasoned racks of ribs into a circular shape, meat side out, and place into the pot on top of the trivet with the bones pointing down.
- Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes.
- Release pressure and carefully remove the ribs using tongs (they will likely split during removal, which is okay because you need to cut them smaller for the next step anyway).
- Cut each rack into 3-4 smaller pieces and generously brush with bbq sauce.
- Discard the cooking liquid and place the trivet back in its higher position into the pot.
- Broil for 3-5 minutes, until the bbq sauce bubbles.
- Serve immediately.
