Best Ninja Foodi Ribs Recipe

Ninja Foodi ribs recipe we love is here! Pork fall off the bone tender ribs with a crispy barbecue glaze outside using both the pressure cooker and air fryer! 

How to Cook Ninja Foodi Ribs

Whether you’re new to using your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and air fryer, or an expert you’ll love this Ninja Foodi ribs recipe. You are going to use both lids, both functions to make these pork ribs super tender tender with a crisp on the outside in the same machine.

We will show you the biggest TRICK to making your ribs fall off the bone every single time! If you need directions for pressure cooker short ribs, we have that too here.

How Long to Cook Ribs in Ninja Foodi

30 minutes if you just want to pressure cook or an additional 8 if you want to air crisp at the end. I like both so the bbq sauce caramelizes all over. Here are a few resources to start with:

• This is the Ninja Cooking system we got 
• You’ll find more Ninja Foodi air fryer recipes here too.
• Join my Ninja Foodi EASY Recipes Facebook group for more recipes.

The first thing you MUST to do when making ribs in a Ninja Foodi is to remove the rib membrane. This thin layer is tough and inedible. If you do not remove it your ribs will not be able to fully release from one another and create that ultra tender taste you’re looking for.

That is why we created a post above all about how to get rid of it. Taking this extra step that only takes 5-10 minutes will make a world of difference and change the way you make ribs forever more.

Then you’ll want to place your rack of ribs into your pressure cooker as you see here. You do not want to set them down with the meat flat on the bottom, they will burn and cook unevenly.  This is how we cooked our Crock Pot Express Ribs and Instant Pot teriyaki ribs recipes too.

Why do ribs taste so good cooked in the Ninja Foodi?

Pressure cooking the ribs in this first step softens the meat and makes them REALLY tender! You’ll use the pressure lid for this step. It is the one that isn’t attached.

• Using the air crisp mode at the end crisps up the outside. Just like you’d get them at a restaurant.
  • For this step the crisping lid will be used. The one that is attached to the machine.
  • Adding more bbq sauce during this step creates a thick layer of OH MY goodness yumminess you’ll love.

Pork Spare Ribs in Ninja Foodi

Now of course there are several types out there, pork is the best by far if you ask me. There are baby back style as well which have less meat but cheaper, take your choice. Now country style is the meatiest and typically is boneless. If you insist on beef then go ahead, use the same timing and tell me your thoughts. 😉

What Ninja Foodi accessories do you need to make ribs?

• You only need the rack that comes with your machine for this.
  • Flip it upside down (seen here) so the lid can close during the air fryer process.
• If you need an air fryer rack this is the best one to buy.

Of course you can skip the last step if you want and not crisp the top at all, but we like it. You just want to keep it off the bottom so the hot air can circulate around the meat and not just the top.

You can see what ours looked like here once the pressure cooking process was done and it was ready for air crisp.

Ninja Foodi Ribs Ingredients

• Barbecue sauce –this is our favorite
  • You could substitute Frank Red Hot sauce but beware, that would be over the top hot
• Rack of ribs – ours were 3.5 lbs.
  • We have the 6 qt. pot, you could probably fit more in the 8 qt.
• Apple cider – or apple juice
  • This helps break down the meat to tenderize too vs. using water

How long does it take to to make air fryer ribs at the end?

• Timing will depend on how crisp you want them.
• Set temperature to 400 degrees.
• Then set time for 10 minutes and check after 8 to see if you want them in longer.
  • Ours took 10 minutes to look like this.
  • I cut our rack of ribs into 3 equal pieces and overlapped the top piece.
  • If you want them as crispy as possible I wouldn’t overlap them and air crisp them in 2 batches.

Other Ninja Foodi recipes you’ll love after you try these!

1. Our pressure cooker corn dog bites make a perfect snack or lunch!
2. This is how to make Ninja Foodi chili or go on to make cheesy chili mac.
3. For dessert you can try our sticky air fryer cinnamon rolls. They’re to die for!!
4. You can also make pressure cooker frozen chicken wings and crisp those after in the Foodi!

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