These Instant Pot Ribs are so tender, flavorful, and delicious, it's really hard to believe they cook in just about 30 minutes! Another great, easy recipe made with your pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Ribs
Cooking tender, bbq ribs at home is one of those dinners that will always, always make me feel like a rock-star for how amazing they turn out, and how little work was required on my part.
My go-to ribs recipe is usually these slow cooker ribs, but the instant pot also makes fantastic ribs and it's perfect for those of us that don't always plan dinner out early enough to pull the slow cooker out in the morning.
My favorite quality about the instant pot (and the area where the instant pot really shines) is how it can take hefty cuts of meat and cook them to tender in such a short amount of time. These instant pot ribs are the perfect examples of the type recipe that cooks GREAT in the pressure cooker or instant pot. Learn all of my instant pot tips!
How to make Instant Pot Ribs:
- Season the ribs all over with a dry spice rub.
- Add liquid to the bottom of the instant pot.
- Curl the ribs around the instant pot, with the meat side facing out. If your ribs are already cut in sections then stand them up in the same manner, lining them up around the pot.
- Cook them on high pressure. Cooking times will vary just slightly depending on the type of ribs you use, your elevation, and if you want them tender to the bite, or fall-off-the-bone tender.
When the ribs are finished cooking you can slather them in your favorite store-bought or homemade bbq sauce.
I also like to stick them under the broiler for just a few minutes, to let the bbq sauce caramelize and char a little bit. YUM!
Tips for the perfect instant pot ribs:
What type of ribs to use:
I prefer baby back ribs but you can also use spare ribs. It's important to not that your cooking time will vary, depending on your altitude and what type of ribs you choose.
How long to cook ribs in the instant pot or pressure cooker:
- Baby Back Ribs: 25-30 Minutes
- Spare Ribs: 30-35 Minutes
- For low altitude, use the lower number, and for high altitude cook them a little longer.
- Also, the longer you cook them, the more “fall-off-the-bone tender they will be. If you want them tender, without falling off the bone, use a slightly lower cook time.
What size instant pot for instant pot ribs?
Any 6 quart or larger instant pot will work!
Removing the membrane from the ribs:
Depending on where you buy your ribs, they may still have the white, shiny membrane connective tissue on the back (bone side) of the ribs. I buy mine from Costco and they already have the membranes removed. Check to make sure the membrane on your ribs has been removed and if it hasn't, follow these steps to remove it:
- Just flip the ribs so the top (meaty part) is face down.
- Slide your fingers or a butter knife under the membrane and rip it off.
- No special skills needed here, just use your fingers to yank it up and off the ribs.
Consider serving with a Side Dish. Here are some of my favorites:
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Recipe
Instant Pot Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-2 racks pork ribs (*see note below)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup apple juice , or ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke , optional*
- 1 cup barbecue sauce , homemade or store-bought (*see note)
Instructions
- Remove membranes from the back of ribs, if needed.
- Rubs seasonings over both sides of ribs.
- Place wire trivet rack in the bottom of the instant pot.
- Add water, apple juice (or apple cider vinegar) and liquid smoke (optional, but recommended for that great smokey flavor).
- Place the ribs upright, with the meat side facing out. If you’re using one large rack of ribs, then circle them around the pot.
- Secure lid and close vent.
- Press “manual” or “pressure cook” and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
- When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 min, then turn the valve to quick release.
- Carefully remove ribs to a large, foil-lined baking sheet and slather them in BBQ sauce.
- Optional: broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the bbq sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you tried this recipe?!
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Excellent recipe! Turned out delicious!! Its my staple instapot pork ribs recipe.
WOW!!! We LOVED these ribs!! I did take liberty with the rub. I added some allspice, Ceylon cinnamon, a little cayenne pepper and dry yellow mustard. FANTASTIC!!!
Pulls easily off the bone and tender but soggish and traste like boiled ribs.
Should they be baked for an hour or something?
Totally normal to feel like IP ribs taste a little “boiled” if you skip the broil! They’re super tender out of the pot, but to get that sticky, caramelized finish, you need the oven step.
I’ve made this recipe a few times. It’s always a winner. It’s my go to for ribs. Always fall off the bone tender and delicious!
Making them right now! Literally my exact same experience!
Use this recipe all the time!
Can I use the 3qt. pot? Just got it… 🤞🏻
Yes, you can cut the rack of ribs in pieces to fit in your instant pot as needed.
I decided to return the 3 and got the 6 qt Pro instead. So happy! It even has a sous vide function! At 68 I’m excited to learn new ways to cook! On to the ribs!
Can I use frozen unthawed ribs for this recipe!? With a pressure cooker you can cook frozen meat right?
We haven’t ever tried cooking the ribs from frozen. We recommend letting the meat thaw in the refrigerator overnight first. The seasoning may not stick well on the frozen meat either. If you choose to try it, let us know if it works out for you!
My ribs are pre-cut so just stand them up on a trivet meat side facing out?
You can just lay them flat, staggered. They don’t have to stand up if they are already cut! Enjoy!
This was a great recipe. We will always cook our ribs in the instant pot from now on. The only change I made was seasoning the ribs. One side I used Cajun seasoning & brown sugar. The other size, smoke paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, and brown sugar. We are not fans of chili powder on our ribs. Fall off the bone goodness!
I’ve avoided cooking ribs for SO long for fear of them being tough and bland. THIS recipe is absolute perfection and will now be in my regular rotation! Whole family loved them. Fall off the bone and well seasoned.
Highly recommend not skipping the broil step at the very end if you can help it!
Really good and easy.