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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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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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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!!!
This is the only recipe I use for ribs. Thank you. Everyone that has them asks for the recipe. I like the baby rays BBQ sauce but will have to try the homemade one one day. But then again I might not as it’s delicious as it is.
If you cant cook your ribs outside on the grill. This is the next best thing. So fast and easy and taste so good. Thanks for posting this. I will be following you!
The best ribs ever
Hi. I’m about to make this for new year. 🙂 Chili powder – is this the mexican chili powder commonly added to chili con carne? or is this cayenne pepper? Sorry if it’s a dumb question. Also, do you need to marinate the ribs before cooking? If yes, how long? 🙂
Just regular chili powder (not cayenne). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F5IB4Q0/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=taste03e-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01F5IB4Q0&linkId=0ccd8c129b10fe29f5fbf6c9165eb311. (affiliate link)
Ribs were to die for, but a little too sweet for my taste. I did them again but used SONNY’S barbecue sauce. It was perfect to my taste and not as sweet. I did a 51/2 LB slab for 45 minutes, perfection. Thank You! JP
These are great! So quick, easy and flavorful. I doubled the rub mix for one rack of baby back ribs intending to cook them after a short marinade. As luck would have it, I didn’t get to them for a couple of days. No problem. The meat was tender and finger licking good. Under the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce. Fantastic.
YUMMM! I made these a couple of weeks ago! So good! I’m making these again today! Than you
This recipe is an absolute 10+! My family and I have never had such wonderful ribs before even at a restaurant. I just purchased my Insta pot and your recipe was the first I have tried. Your directions were so clear and concise that I had no issues. Thank you I will be checking out your site more often!!
A must try for anyone !
WOW and I don’t usually like ribs. This recipe in my InstaPot was unbelievably delicious. And so easy. Not to mention I could tell it was going to be awesome the minute the lid was opened. So much so that I took pictures hoping I could share them. UmmmUmmUm. We paired the ribs with some steamed Brussels sprouts. So good no dessert needed.