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.
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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Instant Pot Ribs
Video
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 1/4 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?!
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Elizabeth Sosbe says
Love this recipe!! Very tender baby back ribs!! Make sure you broil your ribs at the end to caramelizethe bbq sauce!!
Cara says
Love this recipe, it tastes like it’s straight out of a restaurant! As someone who is just learning how to cook, this was easy and definitely will help boost your cooking confidence with the results.
Stacey says
I got my first instant pot delivered yesterday. I scrolled through hundreds of recipes on the internet . I kept coming back to this one. I bought 4 pounds of St. Louis style ribs (2 huge racks). I doubled the rub recipe and cooked for 30 minutes because the ribs were meaty. I altered the rub a bit by adding 1 tsp of paprika power and 1 tsp of cayenne powder. I only did that because almost every other recipe included them. They were soooo tender they were falling off the bone when I was transferring them to a cookie sheet. I drenched them in sweet honey BBQ sauce and placed them under the broiler on high for 5 minutes. They’re AWESOME!!!!
Erica says
These came out amaaazzziznnng!! I bought the baby back ribs from Sam’s Club and these were so easy to prepare and make. I find new love for my instant pot each day 🙂
Ron says
Ribs were tasty. But they fell apart way too easy. 25 minutes plus 15 minutes release is WAY TOO LONG! And too much liquid, after cooking the bottom of ribs were sitting in the water/juice. And I did use the trivet. Going to try another recipe next time with less liquid, less time
Mlee says
Did you find a better recipe? I don’t like the meat to fall off so much. I want them to be super tender, but still on the bone.
Constance says
Omgosh!! Easy peasy and soo tasty!! I didn’t use the rub, I used Hickory Smoked Salt instead. Then Sweet Baby Ray for the broiling part. Fall off the bone delish!!! I had no idea ribs could be this easy. THANK YOU!!!
Crystal says
My first time making ribs EVER and they came out tender and juicy. I paired it with your IP baked beans recipe and HOLY MOLY!! You have a new follower 😊
Huck H. says
Made it but substituted red wine vinegar for the apple cider vinegar. Awesome.
Paula k says
Thank you for this recipe making them for dinner tonight. This will be my second time making these.. as good or better than any bbq restaurant..