Dry rub ribs in an air fryer

Table of Contents

Introduction:

Craving tender, flavorful ribs but don’t want to fire up the grill or oven? Your air fryer has you covered. These Dry Rub Ribs are juicy inside, crispy on the edges, and bursting with bold, smoky flavor thanks to a simple homemade spice rub.

This method is perfect for:

Quick weeknight BBQ cravings

Apartment or indoor cooking

Avoiding messy grills or slow cookers

Whether you’re using baby back ribs or St. Louis-style spare ribs, this recipe gives you tender ribs with just the right bite—no sauce needed (though you can add some at the end if you like).

Ingredients

One tablespoon of cumin powder

Half a teaspoon of paprika, ground

Half a teaspoon of powdered garlic

One teaspoon of chili powder, or more if you prefer a hot taste

One spoonful of brown sugar

One teaspoon of salt

One teaspoon of black pepper

Two teaspoons of olive oil

Liquid Smoke (this stuff is amazing on ribs!) 2 tablespoons

One rack of “beef ribs,” or baby back ribs

Directions

Combine your olive oil, liquid smoke, and spices in a small bowl.

All over the ribs, rub it.

In the air fryer, put your ribs. Ribs may be trimmed to fit inside an air fryer, which is a benefit when cooking them in one.

For 20 minutes, set the air fryer’s temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the ribs are cooked through by checking with a meat thermometer after 20 minutes.

Calorie Content per Serving: 166

12g of total fat

4g of saturated fat

Unsatisfied fat: 8g; TRANS fat: 0g

33 mg of cholesterol

378 mg of SODIUM

5g of carbohydrates

FIBER: zero grams

3g of sugar

9g of protein