These mouthwatering Ninja Foodi ribs deliver restaurant-quality results in just 35 minutes from start to finish. Perfectly tender and juicy, these ribs showcase the magic of pressure cooking combined with air crisping technology.
With only 5 minutes of prep work, you’ll get fall-off-the-bone meat that’s caramelized on the outside while staying incredibly succulent inside. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or weekend gathering, this foolproof recipe guarantees show-stopping results every time.
Ingredients
- Pork Ribs: 3 1/2 lbs, cut into thirds for even cooking
- BBQ Sauce: 1/3 cup, select your favorite brand for personalized flavor
- Montreal Seasoning: 2 Tbsp, or your preferred dry rub for a flavorful crust
Instructions
- Preheat: Set your Ninja Foodi to 375°F on Bake/Roast setting for 5 minutes to ensure optimal cooking temperature
- Season: Generously coat each rib section with Montreal seasoning, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor
- Initial Cook: Place one rib section in the air fryer and cook at 375°F for 15 minutes on Bake/Roast setting
- Flip & Continue: Turn the ribs over and cook for another 15 minutes at the same temperature
- Sauce Application: Turn ribs right side up, brush with BBQ sauce, and cook at 400°F on air fry setting for 5 minutes until glazed
- Rest & Repeat: Let ribs rest for 5 minutes, then repeat the process with remaining sections
- Serve: Slice between bones and serve these tender, juicy ribs while warm
Cooking Tips
Hi there! Here’s a friendly tip about getting the best results with your ribs. The key to tender ribs is letting them rest after cooking – those 5 minutes make all the difference! Also, cooking them one at a time might seem like extra work, but it helps them cook more evenly. If you’re not sure about doneness, the meat should easily pull away from the bone but not completely fall off.
Easy Variations
Love making these ribs your own way? Try switching up the seasonings! While Montreal seasoning gives great flavor, you can use:
- Classic BBQ dry rub
- Cajun seasoning for some heat
- Simple salt, pepper, and garlic powder
For the sauce, feel free to use any BBQ sauce you love – whether it’s sweet, spicy, or smoky!
Serving Ideas
These ribs taste amazing with classic BBQ sides! Try serving them with:
- Creamy coleslaw
- Corn on the cob
- Baked beans
- Mac and cheese
Don’t forget extra napkins and maybe some extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping!
Storage and Leftovers
Got leftover ribs? Lucky you! Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes – this keeps them juicy and brings back that nice outer texture. Add a little extra BBQ sauce while reheating to keep them moist.
Classic Ninja Foodi Ribs
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 lbs Pork Ribs cut into thirds
- 1/3 cup BBQ Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Montreal Seasoning or other dry rub
Instructions
- Preheat your Ninja Foodi air fryer to 375 on the Bake/ Roast setting for five minutes.
- While your air fryer is preheating, rub down each slice of ribs with a third or your Montreal seasoning or dry rub, ensuring that the seasoning covers the entire slice of ribs.
- Place one slice of ribs in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes at 375°F/ 190°C on the bake/ roast setting.
- Flip your ribs over and cook for an additional 15 minutes at 375 degrees on the bake/ roast setting.
- Once your ribs have finished cooking, flip them back over so they are facing right side up and leave them in the air fryer. Using a spoon, lather the top of the ribs with BBQ sauce and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 400 degrees on the air fry setting.
- Allow your ribs to rest for 5 minutes to finish cooking. Repeat the above steps with the other rib pieces, cooking one at a time. Slice the Ribs apart before serving.
