These incredible air fryer country-style ribs are ready in less than 30 minutes, with minimal cleanup and effort required. It's the best way to cook country-style pork ribs in a hurry.
The tender air fryer country-style ribs are coated in a homemade dry rub for ribs and then glazed with a bit of sweet and smoky BBQ sauce.
Check out our Air Fryer Pork Ribs; we use spare or baby back ribs to make them. Or make this Air Fryer Pork Fillet.
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Recipe ingredients
Dry rub spices: Brown sugar, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, fine sea salt, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, a pinch of cayenne, and a pinch of allspice.
- I use sweet smoked paprika; if using hot paprika, reduce the amount unless you want a spicy rub.
Country-style pork ribs come from the shoulder or blade end of the pork loin. They're meatier and fattier than traditional ribs and are usually boneless or have a small piece of shoulder blade bone. Check out Country-Style Pork Ribs in the Oven or Slow Cooker Country-Style Pork Ribs.
BBQ Sauce: Use homemade or your favorite brand.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to air fry country-style pork ribs?
Step #1: Season ribs: Dry them with a paper towel and rub them with the seasoning mixture.
Step #2: Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step #3: Cook for 15 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the ribs, they might need 3-5 minutes longer. Check the temperature at this time; they should be almost done.
Steps #4,5: Brush with BBQ sauce and air fry them for another 3 to 5 minutes at 400°F/200°C. They should be sticky, shiny, and cooked through.
Cooking time
Cooking time: It depends on your machine, the thickness of the ribs, and whether they are bone-in or boneless. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be 145°F/63°C; slightly over that is ok.
- The best way to determine if the ribs are done is by using a meat thermometer (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab). The internal temperature of the ribs should reach around 145-160°F/63-71°C for medium doneness. You can cook them a bit longer if you prefer them more well-done.
Resting time: Once the ribs are cooked, allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and juicy ribs.
How to store and reheat?
Refrigerate the air-fried country-style ribs in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
Reheat them in the preheated air fryer (350°F/175°C) for 5-10 minutes or until they are heated through.
Reheat them in the preheated oven (325°F/160°C) in a baking dish covered loosely with foil to prevent them from drying out for about 15-20 minutes or until they are warmed through.
Microwave: Covered, on medium power in 30-second intervals, checking and flipping them each time until they are heated through.
Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry rub:
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika Note 1
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- pinch of cayenne pepper to taste
- pinch of teaspoon allspice
Pork ribs:
- 2 lbs country-style pork ribs Note 2
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce more if required, Note 3
Instructions
Dry rub:
- Gather and measure all the spices into a medium bowl. ½ tablespoon brown sugar + ½ tablespoon garlic powder + 1 teaspoon cumin + 1 teaspoon smoked paprika + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika + 1 teaspoon fine sea salt + ¾ teaspoon onion powder + ¾ teaspoon black pepper + ½ teaspoon oregano + pinch of cayenne pepper + pinch of teaspoon allspice
- Mix all the spices with a spoon or whisk until they are well combined, and ensure no clumps.
Country-style pork ribs:
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F/190°C as instructed by the manufacturer. Mine needs 3 minutes of preheating.
- Season ribs: In the meantime, dry the ribs with a paper towel. Place them on a large cutting board or plate and sprinkle them with dry rub on both sides. Massage the seasoning into the meat.2 lbs country-style pork ribs
- Air fry: Place the country-style ribs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Glaze: Increase the air fryer’s temperature to 400°F/200°C. Brush the ribs with the BBQ sauce and air fry them for another 5 minutes or until sticky, shiny, and cooked through.3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- The cooking time depends on your machine and the thickness of the ribs. Check the internal temperature; it should be 145°F/63°C (Note 2).
Notes
- Heat: I use sweet smoked paprika powder. If you choose hot, adjust the amount to suit you. Cayenne pepper should also be used to taste.
- Pork ribs: I use bone-in ribs, each one weighing about 7 oz/ 200 g; if your pieces are thinner or thicker, you might need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Boneless ribs are excellent, but you might want to adjust the cooking time; check if they are done sooner.
- Sauce: Use your favorite brand of BBQ sauce.
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