Name: Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 37 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Eight country -style boneless pork ribs. Allow 6 to 8 ounces uncooked per person; Olive oil to brush on meat before adding the rub; Dry rub to coat meat on all sides (recipe on separate card and ideas in the post); Favorite barbecue sauce for final finish and serving on the side

Make Ribs and Chops This Way It’s The Only Way to Fly

I was so excited to find a special at our local HyVee grocery store for boneless country-style ribs at an astonishing price of just $2.99 a pound! Your sharp eye will notice those are not boneless ribs in the picture! Let me explain…

I noticed it as I got busy putting the rub on my delicious bargain pork. I started with the ribs and made them for dinner in my brand-new, roomier PowerXL Vortex air fryer, which I’m in love with, by the way! Especially when it was on sale at Target for just $79.99!

That’s when I noticed I had two cuts of tasty pork! The package contained both ribs and these stubby-looking thick little pork chops. I went ahead and made the ribs, and while they were cooking, I put the yummy rub on them, too. When the ribs were done, I moved the chops into the air fryer.

Well, those ribs were so amazing we devoured them before I even thought to take a picture! I mean, they were succulent, juicy, and oh-so crispy on the outside; we were licking our fingers before a photo crossed my mind!!

Why Make Country-Style Ribs And Chops In An Air Fryer

When it comes to cooking country-style ribs, using an air fryer is the only way to fly! Let me give you a handful of reasons why!

Blazing Speed: With an air fryer, you can achieve perfectly cooked country-style ribs in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. Air fryers use fast-moving hot air to cook food quickly and even—no more waiting hours for ribs to cook.
Amazing Texture: The air fryer creates a remarkable texture you just can’t get any other way. It delivers the best of both worlds: a crispy, caramelized exterior and a juicy, tender interior. Every bite is delicious!
No Guesswork: The precise temperature control and even heat distribution means you can expect consistent and reliable results every time you use it.
Healthier: It requires little to no oil to achieve that coveted crispy exterior, so you have fewer calories and fat in the ribs. The excess fat from the ribs is drained away during cooking with no sacrifice of flavor.
Variety: Use any spices you want in the rub. This allows you to choose a flavor profile and level of heat that’s just perfect for your family!

Let’s Talk About That Rub It’s The Secret To Great Results

The first step is to mix up a dry rub. I worked in food service at a university years ago. I watched the chefs mix up dry rubs in a very slapdash manner, tasting as they went along. Using a dry rub brings out the most amazing flavor in pork, regardless of how you cook them. This step gives pork the beautiful crust and great flavor we crave.

Honestly, anything goes in a dry rub, but it should contain sugar, salt, and spices. A good rub should include some of each element.

I usually make a batch using one cup of dark (or light) brown sugar, one-half cup of kosher salt, or smoked salt (or a combination of the two), and from there, it’s a total of one-half cup of a blend of spices I have on hand. I have even used small amounts of cinnamon and instant coffee in my rubs. If you have some left over, keep it in a tightly sealed jar for later!

Here are some ideas for spices to use and an article with a few ideas to get you started. Here is another dry rub recipe for inspiration.

smoked paprika (also called Spanish paprika)
garlic powder
white or black pepper
chili powder
onion powder
chipotle chili pepper
cayenne pepper
cumin
thyme
oregano
dry mustard

Begin by rinsing the country-style ribs under cold running water, then pat them dry thoroughly. Brush or drizzle some olive oil on both sides, press all meat surfaces into the rub, and pat it into place. Then put the chops in the preheated air fryer and get your cookin’ on!

How To Cook Your Country-Style Ribs or Chops

Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees for five minutes, then place your ribs or chops in a single layer in the basket and try not to crowd them. They will shrink some as they cook.

Cook the chops for twenty minutes, then brush some of your favorite barbecue sauce on and cook them for another two minutes.

It’s important to check the temperature of the meat before serving. Pork should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees, so give them a few extra minutes if needed. An instant-read thermometer is the ideal gadget for this!

When you take the pork out of the fryer, put it on a plate to rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to form. I like to slice them thin and dip each bite into those glorious juices with each bite!

Yield: 4 serings