Description
Juicy and tender baby back ribs cooked quickly in the air fryer with a flavorful dry rub and finished with a sticky barbecue sauce glaze. Perfect for a no-fuss, indoor rib dinner with great texture and taste.
Ingredients
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1 rack baby back ribs (about 2½–3 pounds)
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1–2 tablespoons yellow mustard
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3 tablespoons BBQ seasoning or dry rub of choice (e.g., brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne)
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2 tablespoons water (for air fryer basket)
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½ cup BBQ sauce (plus extra for serving)
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2 tablespoons water (to thin BBQ sauce if needed)
Instructions
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Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes.
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Remove membrane from back of ribs by loosening with a knife and pulling off with a paper towel grip.
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Cut rack into 2-3 sections to fit air fryer basket.
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Brush ribs all over with yellow mustard to help seasoning stick.
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Rub BBQ seasoning evenly over ribs.
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Add 2 tablespoons water to air fryer basket bottom. Arrange ribs bone-side down, overlapping slightly but allowing airflow.
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Cook ribs for 45-60 minutes, flipping every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. Add more water if basket starts to smoke.
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Ribs are done when internal temperature reaches 180-190°F (82-88°C).
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Remove ribs, place on tray, and mix BBQ sauce with 2 tablespoons water. Brush sauce generously on ribs.
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Return ribs to air fryer, bone-side down, in batches if needed. Cook 3-5 minutes until sauce bubbles and caramelizes.
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Serve immediately with extra BBQ sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-65 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 rack
- Calories: 360-430 kcal
- Sugar: 8-12g
- Sodium: 600-750mg
- Fat: 25-30g
- Saturated Fat: 9-12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10-15g
- Trans Fat: <1g
- Carbohydrates: 12-18g
- Fiber: 1-2g
- Protein: 28-32g
- Cholesterol: 95-110mg