Boneless pork country style ribs in air fryer

If you’re planning a cookout or celebrating for the 4th of July or Memorial Day and want to make something different than burgers and dogs, then look no further. Boneless country ribs in the air fryer make the perfect meal for outdoor or backyard gatherings with family and friends. And if you want to make your life even easier, impress your guests by cooking country pork ribs in the air fryer.

When properly prepped, your air fryer will do all the hard work, cooking the ribs to perfection, whether you’re basting them with barbecue or using a rub. The beauty of the air fryer finish is that you get a crisp outer cook that locks the juices in without the risk of burning or overcooking on a grill.

You won’t believe how easy it is to make tender and juicy country-style ribs in the air fryer! You’ll never want to use the tedious low-and-slow method again.

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Certain cuts of meat can feel more intimidating to tackle. Country-style pork ribs, for example, get a reputation for turning out tough unless you cook them low and slow. That’s great if you have all day, but sometimes, you just want to get a meal on the table fast.

That’s why I will only cook country-style ribs in the air fryer! Instead of taking hours, this recipe only needs about 35 minutes total. And the meat turns out fall-off-the-bone tender every time!

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

• How to make delicious air fryer country style ribs
• The difference between country-style ribs and baby back ribs
• How to know when your air fryer pork ribs are done 
• What to serve with country-style ribs

The beauty of this cut is that you get way more meat compared to traditional ribs. And when that meat turns out juicy, tender, and delicious, what could be better than that? If you’ve been nervous to try country-style ribs or had them turn out too tough in the past, you have to give this air fryer recipe a try!

I made this recipe using the 5.8 QT Cosori Air Fryer. Its square basket makes it the perfect size for our family of 4.

How To Make Country-Style Ribs In The Air Fryer

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F. 

STEP TWO: In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Set aside.

STEP THREE: Trim the ribs, if necessary, then spray or rub them with cooking oil. Sprinkle the ribs with the seasoning, making sure to massage it in on all sides.

STEP FOUR: Place the ribs in a single layer inside. This will allow them to cook more evenly.

STEP FIVE: Cook for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

STEP SIX: When the timer goes off, remove the ribs from the fryer. 

STEP SEVEN: Brush the ribs with a thin layer of BBQ sauce, then place them back in the basket and cook for 8-10 more minutes. Serve with additional BBQ sauce.

You can use a store-bought BBQ sauce or use our homemade BBQ sauce recipe found here.

What Is The Difference Between Country-Style Ribs And Baby Back Ribs?

Despite the name, country-style ribs don’t actually come from the rib area at all. In fact, this cut of meat comes from the shoulder end of the loin, also known as the blade steaks.

Baby back ribs, on the other hand, refer to a cut of meat that comes from the rib cage. They’re smaller than spare ribs and come from the back of the pig, hence why we call them “baby backs.” The name has nothing to do with the age of the pig.

Do Country-Style Pork Ribs Get Tender In The Air Fryer?

Yes! Roasting this cut on the grill or in the oven makes it easy to cook them too fast, which is why the meat turns out tough.

When you cook country-style ribs in the air fryer, on the other hand, they turn out juicy, tender, and perfect!

Can I Use Bone In Pork Ribs In The Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Just keep in mind that the time and temperature can vary compared to cooking boneless ribs.

Most recipes for bone in pork ribs in the air fryer recommend cooking your ribs between 380 and 400 degrees. 

What Temperature Do I Need To Cook Country-Style Pork Ribs To?

The F.D.A. recommends cooking pork to at least 145 degrees F. While they will be safe to eat at this point, most people agree that you want the temperature to be higher to help tenderize the meat. Ideally, we want the internal temperature to reach around 185 degrees.

For cooking any kind of meat, I always recommend using an Instant Read thermometer. You want to stick it into the thickest part of the cut to ensure you get an accurate reading.

Sides To Serve With Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs

• Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
• Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
• Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake
• Easy Air Fryer Ranch Potatoes
• Roasted Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon

You can also check out this great list of Air Fryer Vegetables for more ideas!

How To Cook Frozen Country-Style Ribs In The Air Fryer

1. In a small bowl combine the paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.
2. Trim the ribs, if necessary, then spray or rub them with cooking oil. Sprinkle the ribs with the seasoning, making sure to massage it in on all sides, then freeze in a plastic zipper bag.
3. When you’re ready to cook the ribs, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
4. Place the frozen ribs inside in a single layer.
5. Cook the frozen country-style ribs for about 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through at the 10-minute mark.
6. Open the air fryer and brush the ribs with a thin layer of BBQ sauce, then place them back in the basket and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. 
7. Serve with additional BBQ sauce and enjoy!.

How To Reheat Pork Ribs In The Air Fryer

1. Preheat your air fryer to 300 degrees.
2. Plavce the leftover country-style ribs in the air fryer and cook for about 5 minutes, until warmed through.  
3. Serve with additional BBQ sauce.

See how to reheat other kinds of ribs in the air fryer here.

Other Air Fryer Pork Recipes You’ll Love:

• Air Fryer Pork Belly
• Air Fryer Pork Loin
• Stuffed Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bone in Pork Chops
• Air Fryer Pork Steaks
• Marinated Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

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Yield: 4-5 servings

Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs

Print

A juicy and flavorful country-style rib covered in BBQ sauce for the ultimate air fryer dinner.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds country-style boneless pork ribs
• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat an air fryer to 370 degrees F. Combine the paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Trim the ribs, if necessary, and spray or rub them with cooking oil, then sprinkle the ribs with the seasoning, massaging in it on all sides.
3. Place the country-style ribs in the air fryer in an even layer. Cook for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through at the 10-minute mark.
4. When the timer goes off, brush them with a thin layer of BBQ sauce, then place them back in the basket and cook for 5-8 more minutes.
5. Serve with additional BBQ sauce.

Notes

How to Cook Frozen Country-Style Ribs in the Air Fryer:

1. Prepare the ribs through step 2, then freeze in a plastic zipper bag.
2. When ready to cook, spray the inside of the air fryer basket with non-stick spray. Place the frozen ribs inside in a single layer. Cook at 380 degrees F for 20 minutes, flipping once more halfway through the cooking time at the 10-minute mark.
3. When the timer goes off, remove the ribs from the fryer. Brush the ribs with a thin layer of BBQ sauce, then place them back in the basket and cook for 8-10 more minutes at 400 degrees F. 
4. Serve with additional BBQ sauce.

How to Reheat Country-Style Ribs in the Air Fryer:

1. Spray the inside of the air fryer basket, then place the ribs inside. Air fry at 380 for 5 minutes, until warmed through.  
2. Serve with additional BBQ sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 536Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 987mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 25g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

How long do you cook boneless country ribs in the air fryer?

Boneless ribs take about 20 – 25 minutes to cook in an air fryer. I like air frying country style ribs at a temperature of 370 F and then finishing them off at a temperature of 400 F.

How to cook boneless ribs in an air fryer oven?

Place ribs in a single layer to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Air fry at 325˚ for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, flip each rib over and cook again for another 12 minutes. While these cook, mix up your barbecue sauce.

How do you cook boneless baby back ribs in an air fryer?

Preheat air fryer to 350 F | 177°C..

Brush both sides of ribs with light olive oil..

Rub spices on both sides of pork ribs..

Place ribs in air fryer on parchment liner (optional).

Cook at 350° F | 177° C for 15 minutes..

Flip, and cook for an additional 3 minutes..

Plate and enjoy!.

How long does pork ribs take in an air fryer?

Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes, then place the ribs in the basket, meat side down and cook for 20 minutes. Once the 20 minutes is up, grab a pair of tongs and flip the ribs over, and cook for an additional 10 minutes on 380 degrees Fahrenheit.