In less than 30 minutes, you can enjoy juicy and tender Air Fryer Country Style Ribs! These boneless pork country style ribs are full of BBQ flavor and don’t take much work to make.
In less than 30 minutes, you can enjoy juicy and tender Air Fryer Country Style Ribs! These boneless pork country style ribs are full of BBQ flavor and don’t take much work to make.
*This is a spice blend that’s sold in the USA and Canada. In the UK and other places around the world, people buy pure chili powder. This is much milder.
Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years for their ability to make crispy “fried” foods like french fries and chicken wings with little to no oil. But did you know that air fryers can also be used to cook tender, juicy meats like pork ribs?
Cooking country style pork ribs in an air fryer is quick easy, and results in ribs that are fall-off-the-bone tender with a delicious crispy exterior. In this article, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to make perfect air fryer country style ribs at home.
What Are Country Style Pork Ribs?
Country style pork ribs come from the shoulder area of the pig near the pork loin. They have more fat and connective tissue than baby back ribs, making them extra juicy and flavorful when cooked low and slow.
The bone is removed before cooking country style ribs so they look similar to pork chops but with lots of marbling throughout. This makes them ideal for the air fryer, where food cooks quickly from hot circulating air rather than slow braising.
Benefits of Cooking Ribs in an Air Fryer
There are several advantages to making ribs in an air fryer versus using traditional oven baking methods:
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Super fast cooking time – Ribs are done in 20-25 minutes max in an air fryer vs. 1-3 hours baking.
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Crispy exterior – The hot air circulates around the ribs, browning and crisping the outside.
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Tender and juicy interior – The marbling renders down keeping the ribs moist.
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Less mess – With no simmering liquid, there’s minimal splatter.
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More flavor – Spices and sauces caramelize directly on the meat.
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Healthier – Less fat is used compared to deep frying or braising in sauce.
Tips for Cooking Ribs in an Air Fryer
Follow these tips to ensure your air fried country style ribs turn out perfectly cooked:
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Trim excess fat – For crispy ribs, trim thick sections of fat so it renders while cooking. Leave about 1⁄4 inch.
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Pat ribs dry – Dry ribs allow spices and sauces to stick better. Blot with paper towels before seasoning.
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Brush with oil – A light coat of oil helps distribute spice rubs and promotes even browning.
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Use a rib rack – Standing ribs vertically lets air circulate all around.
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Spray basket – Coat the fryer basket with nonstick spray so ribs don’t stick.
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Don’t overcrowd – Cook ribs in a single layer with space between for best results.
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Flip halfway – Rotate and flip ribs about 10 minutes in for even cooking.
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Brush on sauce at the end – Adding sauces too early can burn. Brush on just before serving.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for tender, fall-off-the-bone country style pork ribs cooked to perfection in your air fryer:
Ingredients
- 2 pounds country style pork ribs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄2 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
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Pat ribs dry with paper towels and trim off any excess fat.
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In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Brush spice mixture all over both sides of the ribs.
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If your air fryer basket is not nonstick, spray lightly with cooking spray. Place ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
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Cook at 380°F for 12 minutes. Remove basket and carefully flip ribs. Cook for 10 more minutes.
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Brush ribs generously with barbecue sauce. Return to air fryer and cook 2-3 more minutes until sauce is sticky.
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Let ribs rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Cooking times may vary based on the thickness of ribs and your particular air fryer model. Check for doneness and adjust cook time if needed.
Ribs should reach an internal temperature of at least 145°F. The meat should look slightly pink and juices should run clear when poked.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Ribs
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Play around with different spice rubs. Cajun seasoning gives a kick of heat, while using brown sugar will caramelize and crisp the outside.
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To get saucier ribs, brush with sauce a few times during cooking rather than just at the end.
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For extra smokey flavor, use smoked paprika and liquid smoke in the spice rub.
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Air fry plain ribs then toss in your favorite sauce after cooking for sauce control.
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Cook ribs on a rack over a foil lined pan to catch drippings for making pan sauces.
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Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
More Delicious Air Fryer Pork Recipes
The air fryer works great for all kinds of pork dishes in addition to ribs. Try out these tasty recipes:
- Air Fryer Pork Chops with Apples
- Air Fryer Pork Carnitas Street Tacos
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Sweet & Spicy Sausage Bites
With just a few simple tricks, you can make super tasty country style pork ribs cooked perfectly in your air fryer. Crisp on the outside, juicy inside, and full of flavor in way less time than using a grill or oven. Give this easy air fryer ribs recipe a try soon!
Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
These country style ribs are incredibly tender, juicy, and tasty. They are covered in a tasty dry rub that was made at home. It has just the right amount of sweet and spicy. The cumin adds a little heat to the dry rub, and the smoky BBQ sauce makes it all just right.
Not only are these ribs incredibly delicious, they’re also super fast to make. In thirty minutes, they can be cooked and served, and they don’t take much work or clean-up to make. This is definitely the best way to cook country style pork ribs fast.
The crispy edges and caramelized sauce make these taste even more like a BBQ, which is my favorite part. These ribs are amazingly good!! Yum yum yum!.
Country Style Ribs: I prefer using boneless country style ribs for this recipe. They’re easier to cook evenly when you’re trying to cook them quickly in an air fryer. The ones I used were 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 inches thick.
You can buy them cut to the shape of ribs, where the width is a bit smaller. I prefer the ones that aren’t cut so small for this recipe. That allows you to fit more meat in the air fryer in one batch without the pieces overlapping.
Herbs and Spices: To season ribs, mix garlic powder, chili powder, brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, paprika, cumin, onion powder, and pepper in a blender until smooth.
You can add more brown sugar or a sweet BBQ sauce to make them sweeter. You can add a little cayenne pepper or more crushed red pepper flakes if you like them hot. Not a huge fan of the smoky flavor? Try swapping the smoked paprika for paprika.
BBQ Sauce: A smoky barbecue sauce works well in this recipe, but you can use any sauce you like!
How Long Do Country Style Ribs Take In An Air Fryer?
Boneless ribs take about 20 – 25 minutes to cook in an air fryer. I like cooking country-style ribs in the air at 370 F for a while and then finishing them at 400 F.
Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs Recipe
FAQ
What is the difference between pork ribs and country style ribs?
Are ribs better in air fryer or oven?
What is the best temperature to cook country style ribs?
Can you cook country-style pork ribs in the air fryer?
Yes, you can cook country-style pork ribs in the air fryer! Air frying is a convenient and efficient method for preparing country-style ribs, as it allows you to achieve a crispy exterior while keeping the meat tender and juicy on the inside. Perfect for backyard gatherings or a twist on traditional ribs, these are so good!
Are airfryers healthy?
Air fryers should be used sparingly, as very high temperatures when cooking food – especially those rich in starch, such as potatoes, cassava and other roots – can produce a chemical called acrylamide, which is harmful to the human body and has carcinogenic potential.
How long to cook pork ribs in air fryer?
Cook at 400 degrees for 16 minutes, flipping pork ribs halfway through cooking time. Next, pull basket out of air fryer and brush bbq sauce onto ribs. Cook for 2 minutes at 400 degrees and repeat on other side— add bbq sauce and cook. Once pork ribs are completely done, use tongs to remove from basket and serve.
Can you cook bone in pork ribs in an air fryer?
Absolutely! Just keep in mind that the time and temperature can vary compared to cooking boneless ribs. Most recipes for bone in pork ribs in the air fryer recommend cooking your ribs between 380 and 400 degrees. Love air frying?