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These air fryer short ribs are made with thick-cut boneless beef short ribs, marinated in a savory-sweet soy sesame sauce, then air fried into juicy, tender steak-like bites.
This recipe is different from LA galbi or kalbi short ribs, which use thin flanken-cut ribs with bones. Here, the marinade does most of the work, making this a great make-ahead dinner that cooks in about 10 minutes.
Why this recipe works
This recipe is simple, but the beef comes out big on flavor because the marinade does most of the work.
- Made for boneless short ribs: This method is tested for thick-cut boneless beef short ribs, cut into steak-like bites so they cook quickly and stay juicy.
- Simple marinade, no chopping: Garlic powder, onion granules, soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and a touch of sweetener create a savory-sweet marinade with very little prep.
- Great for make-ahead: The beef can marinate for 1 hour or up to 3 days, so it’s easy to prep ahead and cook when you’re ready.
- Tender and juicy inside: Cooking at a lower air fryer temperature helps the thick pieces cook through without drying out too fast.
- Sauce bonus: The leftover marinade can be boiled and reduced into a quick sauce to drizzle over the short ribs.
What kind of short ribs to use
For this recipe, use boneless beef short ribs, about 1½ inches thick. This cut is rich, meaty, and cooks more like steak bites in the air fryer. Once marinated and sliced against the grain, the beef turns tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
This recipe is not for thin flanken-cut short ribs, also called LA galbi, kalbi, or Korean-style short ribs. Those ribs are sliced across the bone and cook differently. For that style, use my Kalbi short ribs recipe instead.
Try not to use thick bone-in English-cut short ribs here either. They are better for braising or longer cooking methods because they need more time to become tender. For this fast air fryer method, thick-cut boneless short ribs work best.
Ingredients
You only need a few pantry ingredients to give these boneless short ribs a deep savory-sweet flavor.
- Boneless beef short ribs: Use thick-cut boneless short ribs, about 1½ inches thick. This cut has good marbling, which keeps the beef juicy in the air fryer.
- Soy sauce + water, or coconut aminos: Soy sauce gives the marinade its savory base. Coconut aminos also works and tastes a little sweeter, so skip the extra 1 teaspoon sugar if using it.
- Rice vinegar: Adds brightness and helps balance the richness of the beef. Apple cider vinegar works, too.
- Garlic powder and onion granules: I use powder and granules here instead of freshly minced aromatics because they cling to the meat quickly and season the surface faster. This helps the short ribs pick up flavor even with a shorter marinating time.
- Toasted sesame oil: Adds a nutty aroma and makes the marinade taste fuller.
- Olive oil: Helps the marinade coat the beef evenly and keeps the surface moist as the short ribs air fry. It also supports better browning.
- Mirin or rice wine: Optional, but it adds a little sweetness and rounds out the sauce.
- Honey or sweetener: Honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or date syrup all work. This adds a light sweetness and helps the sauce reduce nicely.
- Gochugaru: Optional, for a mild chili warmth and a little smoky flavor.
- Scallions and sesame seeds: Simple garnish that adds freshness, crunch, and a pretty finish.
How to make air fryer short ribs
This is a quick overview. The full measurements and detailed timing are in the recipe card below.
- Cut the beef: Trim some excess fat if you prefer leaner bites. Slice the boneless short ribs against the grain into 1½-inch chunks.
- Marinate: Toss the beef with the soy sesame marinade. Massage it in so every piece is well coated, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
- Air fry: Let the extra marinade drip off, then place the beef in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320°F until the short ribs are browned outside and juicy inside.
- Reduce the sauce: Bring the leftover marinade to a full boil first, then simmer until slightly thickened.
- Rest and serve: Let the beef rest for 5 to 8 minutes, then slice against the grain before serving. Drizzle with the sauce reduction and finish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Tip
Air fryer short ribs cooking time
The cook time depends on the thickness of your boneless short ribs.
- 1½-inch thick pieces: Air fry for 9 minutes for medium-rare, or 10 minutes for medium.
- ¾-inch thick pieces: Air fry for 7 minutes for medium-rare, or 8 minutes for medium.
Air fryer models can vary, so use this timing as a guide and adjust based on the thickness of your beef and your preferred doneness. For the juiciest texture, let the beef rest for 5 to 8 minutes before slicing.
How to keep them tender and juicy
Boneless short ribs cook quickly in the air fryer, so a few small details make a big difference.
- Cut against the grain: This shortens the muscle fibers and makes each bite more tender. I like to cut the beef into chunks before marinating, then slice again against the grain after cooking.
- Use similar-size pieces: Try to keep the beef pieces close in size so they cook at the same speed.
- Marinate long enough: For thick-cut short ribs, marinate for at least 1 hour. Overnight or up to 3 days gives the beef a deeper flavor and a more tender texture.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Arrange the beef in a single layer with space between each piece. This helps the edges brown instead of steam.
- Rest before slicing: Let the beef rest for 5 to 8 minutes after air frying. This keeps the juices inside, so the short ribs stay tender when sliced.
What to do with leftover marinade
The leftover marinade makes a flavorful sauce for drizzling over the short ribs, but it needs to be cooked first because it touches raw beef.
Pour the marinade into a small saucepan and bring it to a full boil. Then lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until it thickens slightly into a savory-sweet sauce.
For an easier option, reserve a few tablespoons of the fresh marinade before adding the beef. Then you can reduce that reserved portion separately for serving.
If the beef has been marinating for more than 3 days, discard the used marinade and skip the sauce reduction.
Air fryer short ribs recipe
Video
Ingredients
For the beef:
- 2 lbs boneless beef short ribs thick-cut, about 1½ inches (3.8 cm) thick
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce + 1 tbsp water or ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 1 tsp sugar skip if using coconut aminos
- 1½ tbsp rice vinegar or 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion granules or onion powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp coarse salt
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp mirin or rice wine optional
- 2 to 3 tsp honey coconut palm sugar, brown sugar, or date syrup
- ½ tsp gochugaru optional
- Olive oil spray
Garnish:
- 1-2 spring onions finely chopped
- Sprinkle Toasted white sesame seeds
Instructions
Marinate the beef
- If you prefer leaner bites, trim off some of the excess fat. Slice the short ribs against the grain into 1½-inch (3.8 cm) chunks.
- In a large bowl, combine the short ribs with the ingredients from soy sauce to gochugaru, if using. Gently toss and massage the beef so the marinade coats each piece well.
- For thick-cut short ribs, about 1½ inches (3.8 cm) thick, marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days in the fridge.
- For thinner-cut short ribs, about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick, marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days in the fridge.
Air fry the short ribs
- Preheat the air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Lightly spray the basket with oil.
- Let the excess marinade drip off the beef, then place the pieces in the basket with a little space between each one. Lightly spray the tops with more oil. Cook in batches if needed.
- For 1½-inch-thick pieces, air fry for 9 minutes for medium-rare or 10 minutes for medium.
- For ¾-inch-thick pieces, air fry for 7 minutes for medium-rare or 8 minutes for medium.
Reduce the marinade sauce
- While the beef cooks, pour the leftover marinade into a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil first, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is slightly thickened.
Serve
- Transfer the short ribs to a serving plate and let them rest for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Slice each piece against the grain before serving. Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, and a few spoonfuls of the sauce reduction. Serve hot with extra sauce on the side.
Notes
- About using the leftover marinade as sauce
- Because the marinade has touched raw beef, bring it to a full boil first. Then lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- For an easier option, reserve a few tablespoons of the fresh marinade before adding the beef, then reduce that reserved sauce separately.
- If the beef has been marinating for more than 3 days, discard the used marinade.
- How long to marinate boneless short ribs
- For thick-cut boneless short ribs, marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days in the fridge. Overnight gives the best flavor.
- For thinner-cut pieces, 30 minutes is enough, but you can still marinate them longer for deeper flavor.
- Make-ahead, storage, and reheating
- Make-ahead: Slice and marinate the beef up to 3 days in advance.
- Freeze: Freeze uncooked beef in the marinade for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before air frying.
- Storage: Store cooked short ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer or oven at 320°F (160°C) for 3 to 4 minutes, or until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What to serve with air fryer short ribs
These boneless short ribs are rich, savory, and lightly sweet, so they pair well with simple carbs, crisp vegetables, and bright, tangy sides.
For an easy meal, serve them with steamed white rice, air fryer fried rice, or scallion oil noodles. The extra sauce is especially good spooned over rice or tossed with noodles.
For something fresh and crunchy, pair the beef with Chinese smashed cucumber salad or spicy cucumber salad. If you want more vegetables on the table, bok choy stir fry is a simple, healthy side that balances the richness of the short ribs.
For a brighter, tangy side, cucumber kimchi or bok choy kimchi also pairs well with the savory-sweet short ribs.
FAQs
This recipe is best for thick-cut boneless short ribs. Flanken-cut ribs are thinner and bone-in, so use my Kalbi short ribs recipe instead.
Not for this fast method. Bone-in English-cut short ribs need a longer cook time to become tender, so they are better for braising or slow roasting.
They may be sliced with the grain, cut unevenly, overcooked, or not marinated long enough. Slice against the grain and rest before serving.
Yes. Marinate the beef for 1 hour or up to 3 days in the fridge, then air fry when ready to serve.
More Asian beef dinners to try
If you love these savory-sweet air fryer short ribs, try my miso ginger braised short ribs for a cozy, slow-braised version with a rich sauce and fall-apart tender beef.
For another short rib recipe, my Vietnamese short rib beef stew is hearty, comforting, and perfect when you want a longer-simmered dish. For quicker weeknight beef dinners, try Beef with Chinese broccoli or Ground beef bulgogi.
Made a dish and loved it? Please rate the recipe and leave a comment in the section below! It helps my blog grow organically, allowing me to continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!
This was one of the best beef recipes I’ve ever made. Very flavorful and melted in my mouth
Thank you!
Like all your recipes, this one is phenomenal!! 10 out of 10!
Thank you, Kathleen.
Wonderful recipe! I substituted honey for sweet soy sauce. I cut the meat 3/4 inch thick and marinated for 30 ish mins. I cooked it in the air fryer for 7 mins at 350°, rester for 5 mins and they were PERFECT! I wouldn’t cook it any longer (medium rare perfection).
I added edamame and white rice, as well I cooked the marinade isn’t a thick sauce as suggested.
Thanks for sharing, Kiki! Love the short rib bowl you’ve made for yourself there. Sounds so so yummy. Exactly the meal combo I’d do, too!
These short ribs are super easy to prepare and they taste delicious! They are perfect for make ahead meals. Adding them to our back to school meals! Thank you!