Making these easy Instant Pot Ribs is a game-changer for your dinner rotation! The ribs come out incredibly tender, with meat that melts off the bone. The savory and slightly sweet dry rub infuses the pork with a rich flavor while the pressure cooker locks in the moisture, ensuring each bite is juicy and delicious.
Serve them straight from the Instant Pot, or broil them for an extra flavor! After a quick broil, the BBQ sauce carmelizes into a sticky, flavorful crust that adds the perfect finishing touch. This no-fuss, easy recipe is quick enough to prepare for weeknight dinners and makes a memorable main dish for group gatherings. For more easy Instant Pot recipes, try my Instant Pot pulled pork, Instant Pot chicken tacos, or Instant Pot mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Baby Back Ribs — these pork ribs are smaller and more tender than spare ribs, making them perfect for pressure cooking. Look for a rack that’s well-marbled with fat for maximum flavor.
Dry Rub Seasoning — I like to make my own rub with a savory-sweet combination of brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, ground black pepper, and chili powder. For a spicier kick, add cayenne pepper or smoked paprika. For convenience, you can also try a pre-made rib seasoning blend.
Apple Cider Vinegar — adds tang and helps tenderize the ribs during cooking. White vinegar or lemon juice can be used as alternatives.
Liquid Smoke — while optional, liquid smoke adds a deep, savory flavor without needing a smoker. If you don’t have liquid smoke, skip it and use smoked paprika in the dry rub.
BBQ Sauce — you can really make this recipe you’re own by choosing your favorite BBQ sauce! Choose a sweet barbeque sauce for extra caramelization under the broiler, or experiment with spicy, smoky, or homemade BBQ to suit your taste.
Water — adding liquid is necessary to create steam for pressure cooking. For an extra layer of flavor, you can substitute water with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth, or add a splash of apple juice to add depth of flavor.
How To Make Instant Pot Ribs
1. Combine the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. If needed, remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and discard.
2. Coat the ribs all over with the spice rub seasoning.
3. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Add the water, vinegar, and liquid smoke if using.
4. Place the ribs upright on the trivet, curling them into a circle with the meat side of the ribs facing outward. Secure the lid, making sure the steam valve is sealed. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Let the steam naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually or quick release the remaining steam.
5. Preheat the oven to broil for a more caramelized crust on the ribs. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. The ribs will be very tender, so carefully remove them using tongs and lay them out on the prepared sheet.
6. Using a basting brush, slather the ribs on both sides with barbecue sauce. Broil them in the oven until the sauce is bubbly and caramelized, about 3-4 minutes. Cut the ribs apart and serve with additional sauce. If you don’t want to broil the ribs, just cut them and serve after brushing them with sauce.
What Kind Of Ribs Should I Use?
Baby back ribs are ideal for their tenderness. They are leaner than spare ribs, so you want to stick to the recommended cooking time. For a meatier option, use spare ribs, but expect to add more cooking time, as they are larger and take longer to cook.
How To Prepare Ribs For Cooking
Pat the ribs dry with paper towels, removing as much excess moisture as possible. If necessary, remove the membrane, or the thin, sliverly layer covering the bones, from the bone side to allow the rub to fully penetrate the meat. To remove it:
- Flip the ribs so the bone side is facing up, then slide a knife or the tip of a spoon or butter knife under the membrane at one end of the ribs to loosen them.
- Grab the loosened membrane with a paper towel for a better grip, and slowly and firmly pull it off in one piece.
- Now, you’re ready to season and cook!
How Long To Cook Ribs In The Instant Pot
Set the timer to cook under high pressure based on the weight and type of ribs you are cooking. Baby back ribs need 20 – 25 minutes under pressure. Spare ribs need 30 – 35 minutes under pressure. Allow a 10-minute natural release before quick releasing the remaining pressure. You can cook up to 5 pounds of ribs in this same cook time range.
Serving Instant Pot Ribs
Instant Pot baby back ribs are perfect for family dinners or group gatherings. Serve them hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side. They pair well with classic sides like baked beans, coleslaw, pasta salad, mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes, and cornbread.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Cooking two racks of ribs at once. If your ribs come in two separate slabs, or you want to cook more at one time, curl the racks around each other in a spiral shape in the Instant pot. Do not stack them.
- Broil for extra flavor. After pressure cooking, broil the ribs for 3-4 minutes in the oven to caramelize the BBQ sauce, adding a rich, smoky crust. If not broiling, just cut and serve the ribs after brushing them with sauce.
- Handle with care. The ribs will be very tender after cooking, so use tongs to prevent them from breaking apart when transferring them to the baking sheet.
- Remove the membrane. Before seasoning the ribs, remove the membrane for the most tender texture and better seasoning penetration.
- Add liquid smoke. A dash of liquid smoke can bring an authentic, smoky barbeque flavor to your ribs without needing a smoker.
- Double the recipe. For a large gathering, double the recipe and cook up to 5 pounds of ribs in a large instant pot with the same cooking times.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 6-quart Instant Pot is ideal for cooking a standard rack of baby back ribs (up to 5 pounds). If you have a larger Instant Pot or pressure cooker, such as a 12-quart size, you can cook multiple racks simultaneously.
Note: if cooking multiple racks at once, there is no need to adjust the cooking time. The pressure cooker will naturally adjust the time it takes to come to pressure, eliminating your need to do so. However, I would double the amount of liquid added to the pot.
If your ribs are tough, they may have been undercooked. Meaty cuts, like ribs, have to reach a certain temperature to break down and become tender. To avoid this, cook at high pressure for the recommended cooking time and allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
If your ribs are underdone, you can return them to High pressure for 2 minutes, then quick release the steam.
I don’t recommend using cut ribs instead of a whole rack for this recipe. Cut ribs may cook unevenly and dry out easily. For the best results, use a whole rack of ribs and adjust the cooking time based on the type of ribs and weight of the rack.
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Instant Pot Ribs Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot or pressure cooker
- Baking Sheet (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 racks baby back ribs (about 2 ½ pounds/1,125g) (see Notes for cooking 2 racks)
- 1 cup water (240mL)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (60 mL)
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (240mL)
For the Dry Rub:
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
For the Dry Rub:
- Stir together the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.
For the Ribs:
- Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. If needed, remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and discard. Coat the ribs all over with the dry rub seasoning.
- Place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Add the water, vinegar, and liquid smoke, if using.
- Place the ribs upright on the trivet, curling them into a circle with the meaty side of the ribs facing outward.
- Secure the lid, making sure the steam valve is sealed. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Let the steam naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually or quick release the remaining steam.
- For a more caramelized crust on the ribs, preheat the oven to Broil. Line a large baking sheet with foil.
- Carefully remove the ribs and lay them out on the prepared sheet. (They will be very tender!) Slather the ribs on both sides with barbecue sauce.
- Broil until the sauce is bubbly and caramelized, about 3 to 4 minutes. Cut the ribs apart and serve with additional sauce. If you don’t want to broil the ribs, you can cut and serve them after brushing with sauce.
Notes
- Cooking two racks of ribs at once. If your ribs come in two separate slabs, or you want to cook more at one time, curl the racks around each other in a spiral shape in the Instant pot. Do not stack them.
- Broil for extra flavor. After pressure cooking, broil the ribs for 3-4 minutes in the oven to caramelize the BBQ sauce, adding a rich, smoky crust. If not broiling, just cut and serve the ribs after brushing them with sauce.
- Handle with care. The ribs will be very tender after cooking, so use tongs to prevent them from breaking apart when transferring them to the baking sheet.
- Remove the membrane. Before seasoning the ribs, remove the membrane for the most tender texture and better seasoning penetration.
- Add liquid smoke. A dash of liquid smoke can bring an authentic, smoky barbeque flavor to your ribs without needing a smoker.
- Double the recipe. For a large gathering, double the recipe and cook up to 5 pounds of ribs in a large instant pot with the same cooking times.
