Cooking Korean Short Ribs in the Air Fryer is an easy way to enjoy this classic Korean dish. The beef short ribs are marinated overnight with fruit and savory flavors making it perfectly tender and flavorful. The air fryer even gives it those nice little charred bits which are so good.
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Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Short Ribs Recipe
- Unique Flavor. These aren’t your ordinary short ribs, they’re Korean-style made with a traditional Korean BBQ sauce blended with fresh fruit and a few other ingredients.
- Perfectly Tender. These ribs cook up fall-off-the-bone tender and oh-so-good!!
- Easy to Make. All you need are a handful of pantry staples and common kitchen ingredients to make the BEST air fryer beef short ribs.
If you love this beef short ribs recipe you’ve got to try my LA Galbi next or these Korean Chicken Wings using the air fryer!
Ingredients
Here’s a look at the simple ingredients for making Korean-style beef short ribs air fryer.
- Beef short ribs: You will need about four pounds. I get mine from Costco but you can also find them in the meat section of most grocery stores.
- Fruit: Kiwi and pear blended with the other ingredients creating a sauce that coats the outside of the ribs. It adds moisture and hints of natural sweetness. The fruits also contain an enzyme which tenderizes the meat. Apple works similarly.
- Purple onion: I prefer using purple onion but you can also use shallots or white onion instead.
- Ginger and garlic: Use fresh for the most flavorful results.
- Korean BBQ sauce: A quick and easy way to add flavor to the sauce. It’s available in many Asian markets. If you don’t have it you can substitute it with 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 teaspoon salt, and ¼ cup of water.
- Oyster sauce: A thick yet savory sauce made from oysters and soy sauce added to make the marinade’s flavor richer.
- Soy sauce: For more savoriness and saltiness.
- Sugar and salt: Enhances the flavor adding more sweetness and bringing everything together.
How to Make Korean Short Ribs in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Wash the ribs. Wash the short ribs and soak them in a bowl of water. This step is optional but recommended because it helps remove any impurities in the bone and gives you cleaner-tasting beef.
Step 2: Prep the fruit and aromatics. Chop the peeled kiwi, onion, and pear, and slice the ginger.
Step 3: Blend the fruit. Place the garlic, kiwi, onion, pear, ginger, and water in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Step 4: Marinate the meat. Mix together the blended marinade, Korean BBQ sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Place the beef in the marinade and store it in the refrigerator overnight. It is crucial to marinate for 1 day for maximum flavor.
Step 5: Air fry short ribs. Preheat the air fryer to 390° F. When hot add the ribs with some of the marinade in the air fryer basket. Cook for 20 minutes. Flip the beef rib over and cook for 5 more minutes for some extra char. This cooking time is for medium rare beef!
Step 6: Rest and serve. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Don’t Marinate More than 24 Hours. The kiwi has a compound that helps tenderize the meat but if you marinate it for longer, the meat might get too mushy.
- Marinate for More Flavor. While you don’t want to marinate the short ribs for too long you also don’t want to cut it too short as the beef may not be flavorful enough.
- Let It Warm Up Before Cooking. Take the short ribs out of the fridge an hour before cooking!
- Check Doneness with a Thermometer. Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your beef bone so use a thermometer to check for your desired doneness.
- Spicy. If you love spicy you can add some chili paste or crushed red pepper flakes to add some heat.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can! The timing and temperature may vary. For my oven, I cooked the short ribs on 410 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-45 minutes. The thinner short rib took less time (30) while the thick ones took up to 45 minutes. Keep in mind, I cook my ribs to medium rare. So if you like them more well-done, cook them longer at a lower temperature (390-400 for 1 hour).
A classic main dish that goes well with a variety of dishes! White rice makes a classic pairing along with banchan (Korean side dishes). Try these Korean Spicy Cold Noodles, Kimchi Fried Rice, and Japchae Potstickers.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to three months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating. Reheat leftover Korean short ribs in the microwave using 30-second to 1-minute intervals until reheated. You can also reheat in the air fryer at 350° F just until heated through. Avoid over-cooking them when reheating as they may dry out.
Check Out More Korean Recipes
- Soy Garlic Korean Fried Chicken – crunchy and flavorful wings that are brushed with a soy garlic sauce that tastes sweet and savory.
- Easy One Pot Bibimbap (Made in Rice Cooker) – savory and spicy rice filled with lots of delicious vegetables and beef!
- Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim) – is a sweet and savory dish that goes perfect with a bowl of rice!
Korean Short Ribs in the Air Fryer
Cooking Korean Short Ribs in the Air Fryer is an easy way to enjoy this classic Korean dish. The beef short ribs are marinated overnight with fruit and savory flavors making it perfectly tender and flavorful. The air fryer even gives it those nice little charred bits which are so good.
- 4 pounds beef short ribs (I get mine from Costco.)
- 1 kiwi
- 1 small pear
- ¼ purple onion (can sub with shallots or white onion)
- 4 slices ginger (peeled)
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup korean bbq sauce (if you dont have this, substitute with 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoon salt and ¼ cup water)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ tablespoon salt
Wash short ribs and soak them in water. This helps remove any impurities in the bone and gives you a cleaner tasting beef. This step is optional but recommended.
- Chop kiwi (skin peeled off) onion, and pear. Slice ginger.
- Place garlic, kiwi, onion, pear, ginger and water in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- In a bowl, add blended marinade, korean bbq sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Mix together.
Add beef to the marinade and place in the refrigerator overnight. It is crucial to marinate for 1 day for maximum flavor. Sometimes if you marinate for longer, the meat might get too mushy from the kiwi. Too short of a marination time might mean the beef is not flavorful enough. Take out of the fridge an hour before cooking!
Preheat air fryer at 390° F and when it’s hot place the ribs (with some of the marinade) in the basket of the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes. Cooking times vary on the thickness of your beef bone so use a thermometer to check for your desired doneness.
After 20 minutes flip the beef rib over and cook for 5 more minutes for some extra char.
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!
- Don’t Marinate More than 24 Hours. The kiwi has a compound that helps tenderize the meat but if you marinate it for longer, the meat might get too mushy.
- Marinate for More Flavor. While you don’t want to marinate the short ribs for too long you also don’t want to cut it too short as the beef may not be flavorful enough.
- Let It Warm Up Before Cooking. Take the short ribs out of the fridge an hour before cooking!
- Check Doneness with a Thermometer. Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your beef bone so use a thermometer to check for your desired doneness.
- Spicy. If you love spicy you can add some chili paste or crushed red pepper flakes to add some heat.
Linda says
The short rib recipe was absolutely delicious. Definitely a recipe I will be using over and over again. You’ll want to share with family and friends!!
Dana says
Yay so glad it worked well ◡̈ Thanks so much!