Our Air Fryer Pork Ribs recipe is great for a cookout, game day, or weeknight dinner idea.
Pork is a delicious and versatile meat that can be cooked in many different ways.
We love Baby Back Ribs, and we’re sharing what’s about to be our favorite go-to way to make pork ribs in the air fryer.
When it comes to eating pork, there are many options—from pork shoulder to pork chops, roasts, spare ribs, and every cut in between! Pork has something for everyone.
The National Pork Board sponsors this post; however, all content and photos are our own.
Air Fryer Pork Ribs
It’s safe to say we love pork. There are many versatile ways to cook pork, from our Braised Smothered Pork recipe to our Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
One of my fondest memories regarding pork comes from a childhood memory of my dad roasting a whole suckling pig for a summer barbecue way back in the day.
I remember my dad putting up the spit, building a fire, and then hearing the heat as it sizzled the meat as it was turned round and round.
But what I remember most was the taste! The pork was tender, flavorful, and seasoned with the perfect amount of salt and black pepper.
It wasn’t anything fancy, but at the same time, it was a mouthwatering delicacy.
Fast forward to here and now.
We’ve come a long way from old-school barbecue spits, and today, I am making ribs in an air fryer.
The whole process for this easy recipe, from start to finish, takes roughly forty minutes, give or take a minute or two.
What You Will Need
Baby Back Ribs. I love cooking baby back ribs this way because it is faster than cooking them in the oven or using a charcoal grill. Plus, cooking them in the air fryer gives you extremely juicy and tender ribs.
Seasoning. I recommend going with your favorite rib rub when it comes to seasoning. I made my own using many usual suspects, like salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, chili powder, granulated garlic, and smoked paprika. And to amp things up a bit, I also used umami seasoning. Oh boy! I did it now!
All-Purpose Flour. Eggs. Corn Starch. Beer. These ingredients are the bedrock of a beer batter because it clings to the flour-dusted ribs and cooks up golden brown and crispy. Not a bad deal at all!
Equipment. You will need an air fryer, two large bowls, a large baking sheet pan, a whisk, a sharp chef’s knife or meat cleaver, and a pair of tongs. Paper towels and parchment paper come in handy as well.
Why Do We Love Pork?
One of the reasons we love this air fryer pork recipe is its fast cooking time and great flavor.
And for us, ribs are one of those dishes we all love to gather around the dinner table and enjoy. They are also a great game-day appetizer idea.
We also love ribs because they’re versatile. I can bake them in the oven or grill them over hot coals.
I also use ribs cut into pieces to make hearty soups and stews, and have you ever had rib-meat tacos?
Trust me, rib-meat tacos are my jam!
Tips on Cooking Pork
Endpoint cooking temperature is critical when it comes to cooking delicious pork.
If you are not careful, your pork can become tough and dry.
To ensure that your pork reaches the perfect endpoint, we recommend using a digital meat thermometer to take accurate measurements.
This way, there will be no guesswork involved, and you will know that your food is cooked perfectly!
For flavorful, tender, and SAFE pork, look for an internal temperature of 145⁰F, then follow with a 3-minute rest time when cooking whole muscle cuts (like loin roasts, chops, or tenderloin).
Larger cuts like shoulder or ribs will need longer cooking time, though, for the optimal eating experience.
Ground pork should always reach a temperature of 160° F for safe consumption.
No worries for those who worry that their pork might be contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses if not cooked long enough.
With modern production practices, commercial retail pork is safe when cooked to an internal temperature of 145⁰F followed by a 3-minute rest.
These standards were set by the USDA and FDA Food Code to ensure safety and deliciousness!
Learn more about cooking your pork and getting the correct end temperature by visiting pork.org for more tips and information.
How to make Pork Ribs in the Air Fryer
Ingredients:
- 1 slab of baby back ribs cut into pieces
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + 3/4 cup all-purpose flour for dusting the ribs
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 12 ounces beer
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp coarse Kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black peppercorns
- 1 tsp ground chili powder
- 1 tbsp umami seasoning
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic (if you don’t have this, use garlic powder)
- 11/2 tsp smoked paprika
- cooking oil spray
Directions:
Preheat the air fryer to 375° F.
- Pat as much moisture from the rack of ribs as you can. Trim and cut the pieces along the ribs’ bones and set them aside.
- Add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, seasonings, eggs, and beer into a large bowl. Mix the combined ingredients until the beer batter is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes up to half an hour.
- Place the prepared baby back ribs into a large bowl and toss with the remaining 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour.
- Remove the beer batter from the fridge. Using a pair of tongs, dip each rib into the batter, gently shake off any excess beer batter and place the rib on the baking sheet. Repeat the process until all of the baby back ribs are evenly coated.
- Cook the ribs in batches, and arrange the beer-battered ribs into the air fryer basket, 5 or 6 at a time, do not crowd the basket. Air fry ribs meat side down for twenty minutes. If you need more cooking time, turn the basket 180°, then spray the ribs with a cooking spray. Place the ribs back into the air fryer and cook for an additional ten minutes.
- Use a pair of clean tongs and transfer the crispy ribs onto a paper towel or parchment paper.
- Serve with your favorite bbq sauce, fresh slices of jalapeños, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, or carrots.
We all know that air fryers are the new “it” gadget. And for a good reason!
Air fryers use less oil than traditional deep-frying and cook food faster. But one thing you may not know is how versatile air fryer recipes can be—Air frying is a fast and healthy alternative that will change the way you cook!
Ways to substitute beer in the beer batter
Yes. You can use seltzer water, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, or soda.
Best cooking spray oil for air frying
I recommend a cooking spray with a high smoke point like avocado spray oil, ghee spray oil, canola spray oil, and coconut spray oil.
Can I use spareribs for this recipe?
Yes, but since pork spare ribs and beef ribs are bigger, they will take longer to cook.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of at least 160° to 165° F.
We tested this delicious recipe a few times, making our baby back ribs with a beer batter edged out using a dry rub and cooking the ribs in the oven.
Plus, the amount of time we saved by using the air fryer was a win-win.
Next time we plan to try country-style ribs in the air fryer.
See, pork offers endless possibilities!
Get more pork recipe ideas and pork inspiration by visiting pork.org.
Now that you have the recipe, you must grab the ingredients and print the direction below using the recipe card.
Let our easy Air Fryer Ribs be the show’s star for quick weekday meals, family get-togethers, and, my favorite, tailgating!
Find more Air Fryer recipes below:
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100+ Beginner Air Fryer Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 slab of baby back ribs cut into pieces
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + 3/4 cup all-purpose flour for dusting the ribs
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 12 ounces beer
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp coarse Kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black peppercorns
- 1 tsp ground chili powder
- 1 tbsp umami seasoning
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic if you don't have this, use garlic powder
- 11/2 tsp smoked paprika
- cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375° F.
- Pat as much moisture from the rack of ribs as you can. Trim and cut the pieces along the ribs' bones and set them aside.
- Into a large bowl, add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, seasonings, eggs, and beer. Mix the combined ingredients until the beer batter is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes up to half an hour.
- Place the prepared baby back ribs into a large bowl and toss with the remaining 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour.
- Remove the beer batter from the fridge. Using a pair of tongs, dip each piece of ribs into the batter, gently shake off any excess beer batter and place the rib on the baking sheet. Repeat the process until all of the baby back ribs are evenly coated.
- Cook the ribs in batches, arrange the beer-battered ribs into the air fryer basket, 5 or 6 at a time, do not crowd the basket. Air fry ribs meat side down for twenty minutes. If you need more cooking time, turn the basket 180°, then spray the ribs with a cooking spray. Place the ribs back into the air fryer and cook for an additional ten minutes.
- Use a pair of clean tongs and transfer the crispy ribs onto a paper towel or parchment paper.
- Serve with your favorite bbq sauce, fresh slices of jalapeños, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, or carrots.
Nancy says
Delicious, came out cripsy and tender. Made for a friends beer tasting and they were a hit.
T Worthey says
Awesome! I’m glad to hear that, Nancy! We LOVED them!