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!
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. Find more Ninja Foodi recipes here you’ll love too on The Typical Mom. (affiliate links present)
Table of Contents
- How to Cook Ninja Foodi Ribs
- How Long to Cook Ribs in Ninja Foodi
- Why do ribs taste so good cooked in the Ninja Foodi?
- Pork Spare Ribs in Ninja Foodi
- What Ninja Foodi accessories do you need to make ribs?
- Ninja Foodi Ribs Ingredients
- How long does it take to to make air fryer ribs at the end?
- Ninja Foodi Ribs Recipe
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!
- Our pressure cooker corn dog bites make a perfect snack or lunch!
- This is how to make Ninja Foodi chili or go on to make cheesy chili mac.
- For dessert you can try our sticky air fryer cinnamon rolls. They’re to die for!!
- You can also make pressure cooker frozen chicken wings and crisp those after in the Foodi!
Ninja Foodi Ribs
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 rack ribs, we use pork, 3.5 lbs. is seen here
- 18 oz barbecue sauce
- 1/2 c 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.
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