Our easy Ninja Foodi ribs recipe we love is here! Pork fall off the bone tender pork ribs pressure cooked with barbecue glaze and then crisped to a golden brown to caramelize the sauce at the end with the other lid that is attached yields the best results.
Have you tried making pork Ninja Foodi ribs yet??!! They’re really easy and so tender they’ll melt in your mouth. Using both functions in this multi cooker appliance you can get the tender meat you want plus a crispy outside everyone loves. A favorite Ninja Foodi recipes we make every month.
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:
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.
Should you remove the membrane on ribs?
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.
Ingredient Notes
Barbecue sauce of your choice. You could substitute Frank Red Hot sauce but beware, that would be over the top hot
Pork 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 which helps break down the meat to tenderize too vs. using water
Pressure Cooker Beef Ribs or pork 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. That means you get fall off the bone meat with a bit of crispy on the outside.
How to Cook Ninja Foodi Ribs
You will want to pressure cook first to make meat fall off the bone (almost). 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.
What is the best type ribs to cook in the 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. 😉
Tips
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. You can really use any sort of trivet with little legs to keep it up a bit off the bottom of the pot.
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 Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 rack ribs, we use pork, 3.5 lbs. is seen here
- 18 oz barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider, or apple juice
Instructions
- Remove membrane from ribs (instructions above in post) for very tender ribs. Then place inside your Ninja Foodi with the meat side facing the sides of the pot, wrapped around. See photo above in post.
- Pour bottle of barbecue sauce on ribs and into pot. Then add apple cider. Make sure ribs have bbq sauce on them, can spoon over.
- Close pressure cooker lid, one that isn’t attached, and close steam valve.
- Turn pot on, then press pressure button. Set to high for 30 minutes (timing is good for 3-4 lbs of ribs to completely fall off the bone). Allow to naturally release steam for 5 minutes at end, then release remaining steam.
- If you want to make outside cripsy then gently cut rack of ribs into 3-4 equal pieces.
- Gently lift out and on to a plate (they will want to completely fall apart so handle with care).
- Pour sauce from pot into a bowl and rinse out inner pot if desired. (you can leave as is but sauce will get more stuck on during the air frying process if you don’t wash off now)
- Place rack into pot upside down so rack is lower to the bottom and ribs will fit with lid closed.
- If you want really crispy ribs only place 2 pieces of ribs in at a time on to rack. Pour a bit of sauce from pot, or more bbq sauce from another jar on top of each piece and close air fryer lid (lid that is attached).
- Set to air crisp, 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Check and if you want them crispier then add a few more minutes. Remove and add other racks the same way to crisp outside.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other easy Ninja Foodi recipes you’ll love
This is how to make Ninja Foodi chili or go on to make cheesy chili mac. You can also make pressure cooker frozen chicken wings and crisp those after in the Foodi!
Would apple cider vinegar work?
it worked deliciously for me! although without trying the plain apple juice, not sure if there were any flavor/textural differences. i mixed 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup orange juice. as long as there is ~1/2 cup of some liquid high in acid, it should be fine
Glad it was a hit
I used a bottle of beer. Delish.
Oh great idea!
@Tony, please don’t unless you are a huge fan of vinegar bbq. Any sort of fruit juice, wine or beer will substitute fine.
@Tony, I made them with it n they turned out great
I dont have apple juice or cider. What can/should I use?
Beer works
I used beer too! Came out super tender, and super tasty!
Great idea using beer for sure
I use a can of Coke or Diet coke and 1/4 tsp of liquid smoke. So good!
OH great idea
1st time doing ribs and followed this as a guide. They turned out great. A lot less time than the 6 hrs on the slow cooker,,,and I think better as the AC crisped them better than the broiler.
Glad you loved them
I have an 8 quart – can I put 2 racks in at a time?
I would think so
Hi…Going to try this tonight and I’m wondering if I should–since I plan to air fry the ribs–divide the rack into pieces before pressure cooking (I imagine I should)…and thanks for all the other great Ninja recipes you’ve provided!
Wow!!! This is the best recipe for BBQ pork ribs EVER. I have tried many and none of them were as simple and as tasty. I made this last night but I did not have any apple cider and did not want to risk going out due to the COVID-19 so I made it without it and it was still AWESOME. I had about 6-7 pounds of pork ribs and put it in my Ninja Foodi XL for 50 mins. Definitely was a winner. Heating up leftovers now for lunch for my 15 year old son who is picky and would not ask for seconds or leftovers if he did not like it. Not only did he ask for seconds and thirds, he is requesting that I make this again. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. I have fallen in love again with the Ninja Foodi and RIBS.
yay!!
How long did you air fry after 50 min of pressure cooking?
8-10 minutes
First meal I made in my new foodi. Better than any I have bought at a restaurant. Will definitely try more dishes. Love them.
Yay glad it was a hit
Can I use a dry rub for 30 minutes or so, then follow your recipe exact as well? (Pouring bbq sauce on then pressure cook
Thanks
Some will fall off but yes
Thank you! I was concerned about flavor.
Great question Steve! Thanks Typical Mom, I’m sure you’re anything but typical! I just dry rubbed my 2 racks, Wasn’t sure temp, timing, or technique using ninja, last time I did ribs it took 6 hours! Very lucky to immediately find this sight! I now have 5 extra hours to read these recipes! We can get just about anything apple related food/bev/AND craft , the type of apple choices is a whole other blog ‘how to dehydrate your apples to make a wreath for your front door!’ Anyway, I don’t have apple cider right now, but apple soda, apple ale…Along the lines of ‘don’t cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink idea, correct? Oh my!! I HAVE APPLE WINE!! What am I waiting for? Oh yeah, 4 1/2 more hours! Thanks!!
Just had the ninja food I as a present,have you got a dry rub recipe for barbecue ribs?Many thanks
3-4 pounds is to much for just the 2 of us. Can I use all the same instructions for half that amount?
Would decrease time a bit for half the amount