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    Home » Air Fryer » Air Fryer Spare Ribs

    Air Fryer Spare Ribs

    Published: Jan 19, 2022

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    pinterest image for air fryer spare ribs
    pinterest image for air fryer spare ribs

    This Air Fryer Spare Ribs recipe is a fast way to get flavorful and juicy ribs in a short amount of time. Coated with a homemade dry rub, these tender ribs will be ready in just 30 minutes! Pair with a few easy sides and you'll have a delicious and filling meal. 

    close up of plate with air fried spare ribs

    Spare ribs are some of my favorite types of ribs. The meat just tends to be juicier, meatier, and full of flavor. I've not met a spare rib that I didn't devour, and cooking them in the air fryer proves that to be true.

    Since there are minimal ingredients and steps to make ribs in the air fryer, get ready to be hooked. It's also a great way to not have to fire up the grill for hours (like with 3 2 1 ribs) during the coldest times of the year and still enjoy a meaty and delicious rib dinner.

    All that our recipe needs are some hearty sides to pair with it and you've got yourself quite the feast. Or, you can skip the sides altogether and just chow down on the ribs. No judgment here.

    air fryer spare ribs cooked with sauce

    Ingredients and Equipment

    Spare Ribs: I typically cook up about 2.5 pounds of ribs per meal. If there are any leftovers, they heat up great. If you want to do more, just increase the amount. 

    Garlic Powder: Great flavoring that really stands out against the pork. 

    Onion Powder: Gives a nice oniony flavor to anything you use it on.

    Smoked Paprika: Mixed with the other two spices is delicious. It gives a great smoky flavor to foods without needing to use a smoker.

    Air Fryer - This works with any type or size of air fryer just be sure that you don't overcrowd. I also use my air fryer lid attachment on my Instant Pot.

    How To Cook Air Fryer Spare Ribs

    Step One - Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray as well.

    Step Two - Mix the seasonings to make the dry rub and then apply all over the ribs.

    two racks of ribs on cutting board

    Step Three - Cut down the ribs so that they fit in the air fryer. Air fry them for 15 minutes.

    ribs in air fryer

    Step Four - Once the initial 15 minutes have passed, flip them with a pair of tongs and cook them for an additional 15 minutes.

    spare ribs in air fryer

    How To Serve Air Fryer Ribs

    Once the ribs are cooked, you can slice them into singular ribs and enjoy. Most people will grab and eat all the way to the bone, toss it in the trash, and grab another and enjoy.

    Ribs are great for a big dose of protein and are always a hit. You can wrap them in aluminum foil and have them sitting out on the table to save yourself from having to dirty up a plate.

    Common Questions

    Are spare ribs beef or pork?

    Spare ribs are referring to pork ribs whereas short ribs are referring to beef ribs. Both are delicious and can easily be cooked in your air fryer. Spare ribs tend to be a bit meatier than short ribs.

    cooked ribs on cutting board

    Can you add sauce to spare ribs?

    Absolutely.  No matter if you like dry rub ribs or ribs covered in barbecue sauce, do what you want to do. I still recommend using the dry rub and then you can always brush on the sauce at the end.

    You can also just use BBQ sauce as a dip, too.

    spare ribs on cutting board with knife

    What side dishes pair well with pork spare ribs?

    Air fryer pork ribs are good with just about anything. Cooking up some fries is a great idea, or pairing it with a low carb or keto friendly vegetable is great, too. We even love serving them with smoked pineapple for a sweet and savory combo.

    I'm also a big fan of coleslaw and any type of beans. Corn on the cob is excelling during the summer months.

    sauce being drizzled on pork ribs

    How to store leftover dry rub or BBQ ribs

    No matter if they're covered in barbeque sauce or not, any ribs that are leftover can be stored in the fridge. Just put them in a container with a lid and keep them nice and cool. As long as they're stored properly, they should stay good for 3-5 days.

    To reheat the ribs, you can warm them up low and slow in the oven or in the microwave.

    Can you freeze cooked ribs?

    You can. Once you have the ribs cooked, you can add them to a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer. Make sure to squeeze out any excess air so that the bag doesn't have any.

    I like to freeze a few in a bag so I can unthaw and enjoy and save some for later.

    Stick around after these and learn how to smoke chicken thighs and then how to smoke beef short ribs!

    plate with spare ribs

     

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    close up of plate with air fried spare ribs

    Air Fryer Spare Ribs

    This Air Fryer Spare Ribs recipe is a fast way to get juicy ribs in a short amount of time. These tender ribs are ready in just 30 minutes!
    Print Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 32 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 445.4kcal
    Author: Paul & Taryn

    Equipment

    Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb spare ribs

    Smoked Paprika Rub

    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
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    Instructions

    • Preheat air fryer to 400. Spray basket and rack with cooking spray.
    • Mix together rub ingredients and rub on the ribs.
    • Place ribs in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes.
    • Flip. Cook an additional 15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 445.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.2g | Protein: 24.8g | Fat: 37.2g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13.6g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 420.4mg | Potassium: 409.5mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 246.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 27.7mg | Iron: 1.6mg
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    Comments

    1. david vastine

      October 10, 2022 at 8:25 pm

      made them tonight very good. will be making this again5 stars

      Reply

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