Name: Boneless Ribs in the Air Fryer
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 lb. Country-Style Pork Ribs; 2 tsp Creole/Cajun Seasoning (salt free!); 2 tsp Smokehouse Maple Seasoning; 2 tsp House Seasoning (see note); 2 TBS Barbecue Sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray’s); 2 TBS Yellow Mustard; 1 TBS Black Vinegar (if you can’t find that, just use apple cider vinegar); 1 TBS Brown Sugar

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Boneless Ribs in the Air Fryer?! This easy recipe for air fryer ribs starts with an easy dry rub and ends with your favorite bbq sauce!

If you like baby back ribs, but don’t want the hassle of smoking, or grilling, try air fryer pork ribs!

You can make boneless ribs in the air fryer!? Yes, you can!

This air fryer recipe is definitely a keeper and one to “add to the rotation” of weeknight meal ideas.

First, what are boneless ribs?

They’re called country style pork ribs, and are a great way to enjoy traditional ribs without the bone!

Words to look for in the grocery:

Boneless Country Pork Ribs
Pork Country Style Ribs
Country Style Ribs

Air Fryer Country Style Ribs might be one of my new favorite ways to make tender ribs.

Y’all! I am loving my air fryer baby!! That sounds ridiculous, but it’s been such a helper in the hot summer months. I can get a full meal on the dinner table in a shorter time without using my oven!

The Chefman Compact is perfect for my single-girl self, but I hear the Ninja Foodi is amazing!

How to Make Boneless Ribs in the Air Fryer

This post contains affiliate links. This means when you purchase an item through the links below I make a small commission at no charge to you! Michael Scott calls that a Win-Win situation.

Start by heading to the store and buying country-style pork ribs.

As soon as you get home, remove from the packaging, pat dry with a paper towel, and season with a dry rub. Even if you’re not making it that day, this is the best way to ensure a delicious recipe!

Pro Tip: Add a dry rub and/or salt and pepper to every meat you bring home before storing it in the fridge or freezing for later! It’s an easy way to build flavor from the beginning. And by giving it a couple of days in the fridge, the flavors build really well. Also, double wrap any meat with plastic wrap before freezing, and place in a freezer-safe airtight container!

I used a mix of creole seasoning (salt-free!!), Smokehouse Maple, and House Seasoning.

House Seasoning is a blend I started making years ago! It’s garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper all blended together. I keep it in a jar next to my stove, and sprinkle some on almost everything I cook! The exact measurements are in the recipe card below!

Take your dry rub and rub all sides of the ribs with it. You want it evenly coated all over. Place in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil (or these handy bowl covers!) and let marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to cook, take the boneless country ribs out of the refrigerator and let them come as close to room temperature as possible.

Air Frying Pork Shoulder Country Style Ribs

Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees f for 5-6 minutes.

To the ribs, drizzle a little olive oil on top. This will help them not stick to the bottom of the air fryer!

In the bottom of the air fryer basket, ensure you spray it with nonstick cooking spray.

Place ribs in a single layer and begin air frying at 325˚ for 15 minutes.

The cooking time for each air fryer varies. I have a smaller air fryer, and the time takes less because I am cooking less food.

Air fryer country-style ribs need to cook to an internal temperature of 195˚ — this is way past the point of cooked through. This is the temperature for juicy ribs, that will release all the connective tissue, and produce the best results.

Most ribs, spare ribs, short ribs, beef ribs, etc. You can cook them low and slow, and once they reach this high temperature, they’re almost guaranteed to be tender!

That being said, if you are making these in the slow cooker (douse in barbecue sauce, and let it cook on low for 8 hours!), if they don’t shred easily when you remove them… Cook them longer! The same goes for cooking in the oven!

Different types of ribs will have different cooking times. Just remember, if it’s not tender, keep cooking, and eventually, it’ll get there!

Back to cooking Air Fryer BBQ Ribs!

Once the timer goes off for 12 minutes, take it out and flip it to the other side. Now is a great time to use a meat thermometer and check the temperature.

Air fry again for 10-12 minutes.

The total cook time for pork should country style ribs in the air fryer should be about 25-30 minutes.

During the last couple of minutes, you can slather with your favorite bbq sauce.

Depending on the wattage of your air fryer, you may want to crank up the heat so the sauce adheres to each rib!

Let’s chat barbecue sauce for air fryer ribs!

I made up my own with yellow mustard, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce.

My dad years ago got really into smoking a rack of ribs on the Big Green Egg, and he made this “Carolina gold” barbecue sauce we became obsessed with! For backyard gatherings, there were always squirt bottles of additional bbq sauce, all labeled. So good!

When you are ready to serve, pile them high on a platter, and serve with your favorite recipes for side dishes!

Side Dishes for Boneless Ribs in the Air Fryer

Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Deviled Potato Salad

Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese

The entire meal is the best thing! You get the best ribs, without bones! And it’s just a better way of eating them.. with a fork and knife! Ha!

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