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
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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Gonna try this after work today!! Glad I found you. Thanks..
This is my favorite IP Ribs recipe. So far this year, I’ve made this recipe three times. Since I use the IP 7.5 qt RIO WIDE, I can’t stand the ribs up to cook; but the ribs still come out great.
5 time Goodwin family BBQ rib cook off winning recipe!!!
Tom Goodwin, is that you!
This is our new favorite for IP ribs. We have substituted white vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar (reduced to 1/4 cup) and it was still really good. So easy to prep and cook!
I just made these Instant Pot baby back ribs for dinner and they were FALL OFF THE BONE FABULOUS! I used the apple cider vinegar and the liquid smoke and the flavor was wonderful. I know we’ll be having these many more times. Thank you Lauren!!
These are delicious. I follow recipe exactly. Have made them many times. I always put them under the broiler after cooking for a little char.
Delicious and easy!
I have made this recipe several times, it’s always a huge hit. Easy and delicious
I was skeptical about this technique, but it worked great! This is a great option when we can’t use our outdoor smoker. I used my own rub and bbq sauce, following the method described. Ribs were fall off the bone tender and delicious. We’ll be doing this again. It was so easy and fast!
20 minutes would have been enough time for the spare ribs I made. 25 minutes caused all the meat to fall off. The recipe however is a keeper with the shorter cooking time!
I’m mad that I’ve had my instant pot for 5 years and I’m just now trying ribs. This recipe was spot ON. I used a bottled rub and a bbq sauce of my choice. I broiled them instead of throwing them on the grill.
These instructions were so helpful and easy to follow. Thank you!
I have used this recipe several times and it is always a hit.
Easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing your gift with the world!
Delicious ribs and so easy to make! Will definitely fix these again in the future. They are tender and moist.
These ribs come out perfect every time…My go to recipe for fall off the bone, juicy, delicious, ribs. I’ve used this recipe atleast 10 times.
I just made these and finished them on the grill with a store bought bbq sauce and they were the best ribs I have ever eaten! I had baby back ribs and I pressure cooked for 30 minutes and did 15 min natural release just like the recipe says and they were just falling off the bone tender. I followed the recipe, but added 1tsp smoked paprika because I was feeling wild and it turned out great.
I wanted to add that I did use the apple cider vinegar versus the apple juice. I also used the liquid smoke. I cut the ribs apart and stacked them in my pot. I did not wrap them. Perfect!
This is the second time I have made this recipe. Thank you! It is my go to recipe for making ribs in my instapot! It is perfect!!!!
Made exactly as stated. Absolutely delicious!! I’ve botched many baby back ribs in the past. 🙂 My family said not only were these the best I’ve ever made but the best they’ve ever had! Thank you for restoring my rib reputation. 🙂 This is a keeper!
Delicious and easy. Thanks for the rob recipe.
FABULOUS RIBS!! Now my go to recipe for ribs!! SO EASY AND THEY ARE PERFECT! Thank you!
This recipe is a winner!
I have made it many times over the years.
I haven’t even bothered looking for another recipe as this one worked so well for me the first time I tried it. I do not make any changes to the ingredients. I make it exactly as directed. I also use the liquid smoke. (That’s an optional ingredient in the recipe. )
I ALWAYS finish the ribs off in the broiler or grill. You get that nice caramelization.
The rib meat always turns out tender and just amazing.
This recipe works out every time.
Big Thank you.
This is 100% the recipe that I continue coming back to for ribs! I adjust slightly by using smoked paprika in the rub and not using liquid smoke, but other than that, this recipe is spot on! I do this in my instant pot and then take it wherever I am going or to my roof and throw it on the grill on high heat with the barbecue sauce to give it that just off the grill flavor! Perfect!
Just plain terrible. Not sure how this recipe is so highly rated. I’ll stick to cooking ribs on the smoker.
Excellent !
Tried this recipe and followed directions. I did not alternate or change anything. Ribs were undercooked according to my meat thermometer. Very disappointing.
All you have to do is put them back in for a bit. I’d rather them be undercooked then over. It’s going to depend on the size of your ribs and your altitude like the recipe says.
Help! My pot came to pressure cooking time of 25 minutes, but only made it to 15 minutes left and it shut of to keep warm mode early. Did they get cooked enough you think?
I made this recipe without the liquid smoke because I didn’t have any. It was delicious! Broiling at the end was perfect.
This was an easy recipe and made tender ribs in my IP RIO Wide. So good, my husband went back for seconds immediately.
Can I cook the day before. Refrigerate and finish on grill the next day?
I don’t see why not as they will be fully cooked coming out of the instant pot, so there’s no food safety concern. The only thing to watch out for is I find following this method, they are often falling off the bone coming out of the pot. So just keep that in mind when handling them and maybe reduce the cooking time slightly to keep them from literally falling off the bones when you’re trying to grill them.
This is my favorite rib recipe! It’s quick, easy & DELICIOUS!
My go-to recipe for tender delicious ribs every time
This recipe is amazing! It’s so easy and tastes delicious. A keeper in our family
This is amazing! I like my bbq with a little kick so always ad a dash or two of some cayenne! 🌶️
This was my very first instant pot recipe. This was delicious!! I didn’t change the seasthe timing the The two things I adjusted was that I didn’t have a trivet so I just put the meat on the side and I couldn’t tell I had a part of the meat submerged in the water. Secondly I added the barbecue sauce on our personal plates because my husband does not care for barbecue sauce.
First try to use instant pot for roasting the pork ribs and it turned out taste really great and the meat easily to pull apart and I will keep this recipe for my next meal
Thanks Lauren for sharing this great recipe
Can you do 2 racks of ribs at the same time and spiral them inside the pot?
Yes, you can cook 2 racks of ribs in the Instant Pot at the same time by spiraling them around the inside of the pot. Just make sure they fit without being too tightly packed, so the heat and steam can circulate properly.
Perfect
3rd time making these. Every time it has turned out great. It’s my go to for ribs in the instapot.
Thank you so much for this recipe! Husband came down with Covid and so I had to figure out how to make all of the New Year’s Day traditional foods. These were delicious St. Louis ribs. Followed the recipe exactly.
I’ve made ribs in the Instapot several times and it’s the best way to go by far. Though I abandoned using traditional BBQ sauces on my ribs this year. It’s now only Char-Siu or nothing. A tip about using an Instapot and ribs, don’t bother trying to marinate the ribs in a sauce before hand. It will all come off during the pressure cook. So wait on that until after pressure cooking and before you broil. Also, as far as the membrane on the back of the ribs, this may seem trivial to remove it, but it does make the texture and taste of the ribs better without it. Also, use a dry paper towel to get a grip on that slippery sucker membrane to rip it off.
Time is all wrong. Id suggest maybe 15 on high pressure and 15 release. 25 high pressure and 15 release the ribs were tougher than Brock Lesnar. Had to throw the whole rack away. Kind of mad.
Wow! These ribs were so tender and delicious that I wanted to find out from which farm this pig was harvested so I could thank the pig’s family for raising their children up to be SO TASTY.
Absolutely perfect! Thank you for this new recipe to add to my favs
Couldn’t believe how good this recipe is. Delicious, perfect doneness, and in just an hour!
Best ribs ever!!
Quick, easy, very tender butt ribs. Didn’t make the sauce, but will.
Excellente recette! Merci beaucoup!
Made these tonight. Followed your recipe directions exactly. These are AMAZING!
I’m new to the instant pot family. This recipe gave me hope!
This recipe was absolutely delicious. Thank you Lauren. Super easy and somewhat healthy! Well maybe not. Admittedly I altered the recipe a tad to include a couple favorite spices. My guess, the ribs would have tasted just as yummy without them. Cheers!
Made these tonight. So tender and very rich flavor! Husband said these were the best ribs he’s ever had (please don’t tell my BBQ enthusiast father-in-law).
Followed the recipe as-is, including the broiling step, except: the rib rack sat directly in the Instant Pot because my wire rack didn’t fit and I added an extra teaspoon of liquid smoke because I love smoky ribs. I’m looking forward to the next time ribs go on sale! 🙂
Made these ribs today for my son who is home on leave from Pearl Harbor and I have to say they are absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the foolproof recipe.
Cassie — Are you sure you are using pork ribs? If they are “much bigger” as you say there is a good chance they are actually beef ribs. Beef ribs are actually my favorite and can turn out very tender, but the process is very different – basically lower temps and longer cooking times to properly render out the fat. Search the ol’ interwebs for “dino ribs” on how to properly prepare some massive ones.
Brian
St Louis ribs are bigger than baby backs and I believe that is what she was referring to. “Bigger” refers to St Louis ribs
Easy and delicious! Perfect for Memorial Day!
Made the recipe and finished on the bbq for 5 minutes…absolutely amazing !
Love your spare rib recipe
Turned out fantastic, So tender!
For larger ribs would you need a longer cooking time? The ribs I buy at Costco are much bigger and I find never turn out as tender as the ones from the grocery store
I’m trying to expand my use of my Instant Pot(beyond weekly hard-boiled eggs) and tried this recipe. I’m so glad I did! The ribs were amazing and delicious. Thank you!
This was the first recipe I decided to try in my new instant pot. They turned out perfectly! Thank you for delicious recipe!
It’s true, food really does taste better from scratch! Thanks for this recipe for the IP, I didn’t start the ribs early enough to slow-roast them in the oven like I usually do, so this saved me!
I was gonna use sweet baby rays anyway 😃😃😃 can’t wait to try for dinner! Thanks for making it so easy to use my ip
Lauren your the best ribs are awesome delicious tender
Put barbecue sauce on put in toaster convection oven the top was soft
And tender ribs are the greatest I’ve ever made in instant pot thank you
For sharing your recipes that are from
Scratch easy delicious three racks
ACV is the total key melt in your
Mouth delicious
Happy new year 😎😎😎😎😎👌👌
can you stack the slabs on top of each other?
Yes
Making these tonight! However, I don’t see any salt listed in the recipe. Isn’t it needed?
Yes! 🙂 I see that it says 1 tsp of salt. I used kosher salt, but that’s just my preference.
Turned out wonderful!
Ok, so I’m new to this Instant Pot. I am old school, and I really don’t like change. I decided to try just to help my busy boys in making their life easier. I purchased each of us an Insta Pot and I’m starting to try recipes. These ribs are fall off the bone, melt in your mouth delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Will be trying more.!!!
I made this ! Loved it !
Used apple wood smoke flavoring which went very well in this recipe. Very, very taste! Thank you.
Near perfect and FAST! Juicy and fall off the bone tender. Pork fried rice tomorrow.
Hi there! Have you ever used your rib recipe in the instant pot on the slow cooker setting? I’m wondering if it works like a true slow cooker.
Danielle, in my experience, yes, the instant pot works just like a true slow cooker when you use the slow cooker setting.
I’ve had to rewrite this review 3 times because they were too wordy. These ribs were amazing. Perfect. Easy. My boyfriend is asking for them again tomorrow. Thank you for the easy recipe!
Simple, fast & delicious!
Yes on this recipe, it`s a keeper.
Excellent super tasty and finger-licking good!! Everyone loves them.
My favourite rib recipe! Perfect every time!
So easy
Hardly any cleanup
Better than grilled
These baby back ribs I got from a local meat deli turned out fantastic! They’re broiling up now in the oven!! Lunch and dinner for the next day or two at our house for sure.
Tough inedible ribs no matter how long they are cooked for
This is now my go to recipe for ribs. They are fall off the bone tender and very simple to prepare. I’ve made ribs in the oven, slow cooker and grill. These take less time and are the best.
Thank you very much!
I’ve had excellent results with this method. I’ve done two different rubs / marinades so far and have gotten great results. Fall off the bone tender with amazing flavor and a good finish from the broiling at the end. This is as good as my smoker and grill methods.
Absolutely perfect! I keep this in my saved folder for each time I make instant pot ribs
These are very good. One little part got dry but I’m not sure why. Otherwise, it was amazing!!
This recipe was a pleasant surprise. Very delicious. Thank you for sharing. We have always did a low and slow process in the oven for hours. This recipe was just as good if not better and more time efficient. This will be our go to for ribs going forward.
Hi there! Was wondering what does apple cider vinegar does for the ribs ? How does it benefit the coking process?
Thank you
Excellent recipe! Turned out delicious!! Its my staple instapot pork ribs recipe.
Tried this recipe with 1# of beef spare ribs and it was still tough(no where near the descriptions I read in other comments! ) even after cooking a twice& totalling 60 minutes:( I use power xl instant pot ALL the time but I’ll keep searching…
This recipe is for pork ribs not beef ribs. They will cook different. Beef ribs are larger and will cook differently hence the result wasn’t what was expected. Try again with pork.
The recipe is for baby back pork ribs…Beef ribs are prepared entirely different as the fat and bone is very different!
Tried this recipe to night .went over great will keep this recipe .I finished them off under the grill
I’d like to have had some idea what the weight of the meet was and what was the minimum and maximum amount of meat that would cook in this time no mention just a rack I don’t know what that Waze would’ve been helpful otherwise good recipe
I made these!!!! Spot on!!! My 1st time ever using a pressure cooker and these ribs turned out pure perfection. Thank you so much for your recipe. It’s superb!!!
These ribs were so easy and so fall off the bone delicious, impressed! Slathered them with barbecue sauce and put them under the broiler for a couple minutes, turned out great. Will definitely be making again and again.
Simply A mazing !!! 6 kids here, I made these twice now and my family absolutely loves them. Easy to make, fall off the bone goodness. Thank you for this.
I usually smoke ribs. However I tried this hoping to get decent results quicker. They turned out cooked to perfection, however they lacked the smoky flavor we like. Next time I will try a combination of IP and smoker.
How about using liquid smoke that what some recipes call for helps.
I usually smoke my ribs, but it was snowing for a few days and looked for an alternative way to cook them. Not as tasty as smoked ribs, but not too bad, my son liked them. Taste is average (3 stars), Convienence is very good (5 stars). Cooked 2 racks of ribs for 30+15 minutes.
I just made this recipe, and love it so much, I immediately bookmarked it on my laptop. I served them with my potato salad, which was also made in the instant pot. The whole meal took less than an hour to prepare and got raves from those whoe ate it.
Follow up to last post. I forgot to rate it…. so I give it 5 stars. Also, to make it super fast… I buy premade rib rub for quick week night dinner.
Julie, to save time I doubled the dry rub recipe so that I would have it already available next time I wanted to make ribs. I prefer DIY rubs because that way you always know exactly what’s in it! 🙂 (And the salt helps keep it preserved, it won’t go bad.)
This is one of my favorite recipes. We love ribs… but slow cooking on grill over indirect heat is an all afternoon process. This recipe allows me to have tender, mouth watering ribs on a busy week night.
I made this recipe today and it turned out amazing!!! Super easy!!
Amazing- these turned out way better then I expected. Hand down the best I’ve made. I did pork and filled the pot to the brim – I was worried but they turned out absolutely excellent!!
I do use the liquid smoke. Plus I add a tsp of Smoked Paprika. I rate a 10!
For two racks of ribs I let it cook for an hour and 20 minutes and Naturally let it release like you said in your recipe. And the bones just fell out very very delicious thank you
We made these a few weeks ago and they are to die for! We were so pleased with the flavour of the falling-off-the-bone ribs straight from the Instapot that we opted to skip the BBQ sauce in order to enjoy all the flavour from the rub. Making this again tonight for company. Thank you!!
Your intro says cooks in 30 mins. But your instructions read prep time 10 mins cook time 1 hour. Is it 30 or 1 hour total cooking?
They cook for 30 minutes but we’ve added time for the natural release of the instant pot and a quick broil (optional) in the oven. Enjoy!!
Can these be cooked from frozen?
Yes, that should be fine.
They were falling g off the bone tender, very full of flavor. It was first try with Instant pot. Will definitely make again!
Hello, thank you so much for this delicious recipe! I’ve made these baby back ribs in the instant pot many times, and it has always turned out fall-off-the-bones tender. But I cooked pork back ribs today, and for the first time, it turned out tough. I used the same ingredients & time: 2 pork back ribs in the instant pot for 35 minutes (10 minutes extra for 2 ribs) with 15 minutes natural release. What did I do wrong? Is it because the pork back ribs are bigger than the usual baby back ribs I cook?
Effects were too strong. The bones fell out of the meat while cooking when I followed the instructions. Still super good tho
I make these all the time. Love them. And the sauce. This weekend I’m doing 5 or 6 slabs. Can I make ahead, refrigerate and when I’m ready to eat throw on the grill?
I’m making mine a day in advance and will throw on grill tomorrow July 4th. So good!
I am 18 and have been cooking and baking for fun since 14. I have never commented on any post.. This recipe is amazing!! I am so picky about my ribs, I only eat them from one restaurant. I used spare ribs, 1 and 1/2 racks and cooked for 35 mins and naturally vented for 17 mins. SO GOOD! I used my own rub & rays sugar free barbecue!
This is our all-time fav recipe for ribs! Outstanding instant pot recipe! I used the apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke and finished with Stubb’s Hot and Sweet barbecue sauce under the broiler as recommended.
Great recipe. Loved it very much
Best ever! These ribs I can cook and turn out perfect!
J MACL, I think the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of Liquid Smoke not 1-1/2 cups.
JAMES, I think you misread J MACL’s post. It stated 1 cup of liquid, not Liquid Smoke.
Personally this is my favorite rib recipe. I don’t have an IP, but a Cuisinart and only use a total 1 cup of liquid (3/4 cup water 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar).The ribs are always fall off the bone tender.
Thank you, Lauren for your recipe.
Lol dude, get off the internet
Came out excellent, even though I didn’t add/couldn’t find liquid smoke. Ejoyed just the same!
My husband has declared these the best ribs I’ve ever made. Outstanding instant pot recipe! I used the apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke and finished with Sweet Baby Rays barbeque sauce under the broiler as recommended. No need to look any further for a delicious rib recipe. Thank you!
I added a teaspoon of sesame oil in the BBQ sauce for a smokey taste
It’s an easy flavorful recipe. Very tender and a good taste.
They came out “fall off the bone” cooked, indeed. I used 1 cup of liquid instead of 1 and 1/2 cups. Even 1 cup was too much as the liquid from the pork raised the level above the trivet by about an inch and the pork ended up sitting in the liquid. Therefore, too much vinegar flavor was transferred. I would reduce the liquid to 1/4 cup and not use any vinegar. The Kansas City BBQ sauce I intend to use in the broiling stage should help with the vinegary taste.
My go to Rib recipe.
This is my favorite IP rib recipe!! They always turn out perfect. Thank you!!
My new rib recipe !! Love them ! Thanks a bunch : )
turned out absolutely perfect! We used Stubbs Sweet Heat BBQ and it complemented the flavor perfectly! Meat absolutely fell off the bones, and the flavor was spot on.
The next time I would add extra 10 minutes or even longer, ribs were not very tender.
Thanks for a wonderful recipe. I’ve made these numerous times and always a winner!!
This is a great go to recipe. My ribs came out perfect. Super easy.
Loved the recipe. My kids never want ribs in a restaurant- only when I make them. This was easy and can be tweaked easily too. I love this recipe and have made it a few times and each time it comes out amazing. Thanks.
My family of six loved this, and I loved that it was so easy. I did cut my full, large rack of ribs into 2-rib sections and portioned the top flap to make for easier serving. I think the meat might have fallen off the bone if I had tried to cut them apart after cooking. Thanks for a great recipe.
I was worried that the IP would make them more like steamed than roasted, but I worried for nothing. I made my own barbecue sauce, and when they came out from under the broiler, they were just so tender and delicious. Thank you for this recipe, I’ll be checking out more of your recipes.
The pork recipe is delicious. The ribs came out tender, juicy and is easy to cook using the instant pot. Definitely a recipe worth having!!!
This is the best recipe ever. I never use anything else. Its my go to. My ribs always come out perfect!!!!! Thank you so much for this wonderful wonderful recipe!!!!
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..
Made it but substituted red wine vinegar for the apple cider vinegar. Awesome.
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 😊
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!!!
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
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.
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 🙂
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!!!!
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.
Love this recipe!! Very tender baby back ribs!! Make sure you broil your ribs at the end to caramelizethe bbq sauce!!
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.
Ribs were delicious
Fabulous!!!!!!!! And the rub was THE best rub ever!!!!! A keeper!
Delicious 😋
Followed the recipe exactly, including BBQ sauce and a quick trip under the broiler. I then reduced the cooking liquid by half, sifted in a couple T of flour, cooked it a bit more, added a big dollop of sour cream, and cooked another 5 minutes. Great Gravy!
Yummy moist and simple prep
Best ribs ever! So easy to cook with the Instant Pot. Easy prep and the Pot does the rest. Of course the recipe is perfect.
Hands down best Ribs Recipe. Entire family of Texas BBQ men and I impressed them with MY ribs 😊
Can I make the ribs one day..and re heat and use oven to caramelize sauce the next day? Im worried that they might be dry in doing that…thoughts from anyone please. Thanks ljchezem@gmail.com
You could, but they definitely taste best fresh.
A big family favourite here. We’ve made this recipe a few times now and it’s always spot on.
Easy to make and great rub. Thank you!
Amazing! I’m vegetarian my kids told me don’t use the oven again!
These ribs were finger licking good. I made the rub and let them sit about 30 min then coiled them into my insta pot as suggested with the water and apple cider vinegar. It was quick and easy. I used a bottled BBQ sauce and broiled them for 5 mins just as suggested in the recipe. They were awesome.
Superb. 28 mins in my Cuisinart. Famous Daves Rich and Sassy for the pot. I splash on some Devils Spit for myself and those who like more zing. Super recipe, well done. Thanks
I have made these ribs half a dozen times now. Always come out perfect and so damn delicious. Never making ribs any other way again!
I cram three racks into my 8 qt instant pot. Comes out perfect every time! And we love fall off the bone: 35 min!
Excellent and easy to do! This is the third time I’m making these ribs! Everyone loved them!
I love the recipe to death. The “good ribs” my family calls them. I’m cooking for the extended family and I have a very question, can I cook three slabs at once or is it best to do two and then one? If that’s the case then can I reuse the same liquid?? SOS!
I have the same question. What did you end up doing?
After YEARS of smoking ribs outside on my smoker, I can’t tell if I am happy or sad I found the Instapot recipe. I spent hours and hours tending those ribs on my smoker and they never tasted like they do with this recipe. They are tender, juicy but not greasy, and have the right amount of crunch after the broiler. They may not have the full smoke flavor, but we easily overlook that for the quality we get out of the instapot! So I’m happy I found this amazing recipe, but sad for all the time lost on that old smoker!
Tried it and the family LOVED it so much!!!!!!!!!! And it was super fast and easy to do! Thank you!
First time using a pressure cooker. These ribs were dee li cious!!! It was too easy. I did my electric grill afterwards and tented. Mine were cut weird from the butcher but still came out awesome. I’ll be trying again with a rack va fingers and miscues. I used your rub recipe and added scotch bonnet pepper for heat as well as sumac vs salt and turmeric. Thanks for the recipe!!!!
We chose 35 minutes for fall-off-the-bone, and indeed they did! The rub was delicious. I put them in the fridge for about 2 hours once I seasoned them. I did happen to have Baby Rays barbecue, which I brushed on lightly and under the broiler they went. They were beautiful. The best I ever made! Thanks. Served with scalloped corn and baked beans. Still patting myself on the back.
Excellent ribs. We cooked them over charcoal after taking them out of the pressure cooker and they were so tender and delicious. Definitely a keeper recipe. BTW we use spare ribs.
Absolutely the best!
Call it overload if you want but:
I used our 8 quart instant pot LUX and was able to fit EIGHT POUNDS of ribs below the fill line
I quadrupled the ingredients for the rub.
35 minutes on high pressure.
Smothered both sides with STUBBS STICKY SWEET barbecue sauce.
A few minutes on each side under the grill. (Bone side first).
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!
These were the best ribs ever!! Fall off the bone, tender and juicy. We decided after trying this recipe, we would never go out for ribs again! After taking them out of the instant pot, we put them on the grill instead of the broiler. I would give this more than 5 stars if I could. FANTASTIC!!
My husband and 2 boys INHALED these ribs… I am thrilled to have found this recipe!!! They were so tender and fall off the bone. We threw them on the grill for the last few minutes rather than in broiler. SOOOOOO delicious!!!!
I find that I need a pair of pliers to grip the membrane and puullit off.
Best ribs ever
Mine were fall off the bone and delicious! I finished on the grill! So quick and easy. Thank you for the recipe!
These are seriously the best ribs I’ve ever had. This was my first time ever making ribs and they were SOOOOO good and tender. My husband took a bite and instantly looked at me all wide-eyed in amazement at how good these are. My husband likes the heat and I’m a more mild kind of girl so I cooked two racks of ribs in my 6qt pot and then did one rack with a spicy bbq and the other one a classic Memphis and then broiled for a few as recommended and they seriously were so good. This will definitely be a contender next time I’m cooking for a crowd or for family night. This one is definitely a keeper.
This recipe is FANTASTIC!!! And so easy. I have never done ribs before this and now I have done them five times. They are done in just 60 mins and so tasty! I am sharing this recipe with everyone!
Best ribs ever!
My go to rib recipe. Fall of the bone deliciousness. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is fabulous recipe, so easy and yummy. Going to make ahead for camping trip, and vacuum seal till ready to put on grill.
Just made these. Soooo great. Thank you for sharing recipe. Question: can the liquid that remains be used for anything? Almost tastes like a bone broth?
Sure! Would work as a broth.
I use the broth to cook potatoes for mashed potatoes! I throw the potatoes in when I take the ribs out!
I was looking for a great and simple rib recipe for ribs. I saw this with such high ratings and I’d have to agree. The meat just fell off the bones and is the best I’ve had. I will continue to use this recipe for ribs–super easy with perfect ribs without cooking them all day.
Thanks for this! I have been a little afraid to use my Instant Pot, but needed a quick and easy way to make ribs, rather than stick store-bought already prepared ones in the oven for an hour. These came out great and way more tender than the ones I usually buy! I followed your suggestion and broiled them with BBQ sauce after cooking, and they looked and tasted great. You rock!
Is this spicy?
Not at all (unless you use a spicy BBQ sauce).
Easy and delicious! Tender, perfect flavor. Great hit at the party!
I made this least night for my boyfriend’s birthday party and it was a hot! I’m definitely making this again
Made for the first time st.louis ribs fell off the bone delicious😍😍
My husband just said “This is the way we are eating ribs from now on through the end of time.” Absolutely delicious and super easy to prepare in the Instant Pot!!
So delicious! This is our go-to rib recipe!!!! Thank you!
Good but not great. I’m not sure what was missing. The meat was tender but had an underlying flavor of boiled meat.
This recipe is delicious! I also cooked short ribs with this recipe. Soooo good!
Easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Looks like a great recipe! Could i put a rack and a half in my instant pot?
Yes (as long as your ip is big enough– a 6quart should be.) Enjoy.
Made baby back ribs for the first time using this recipe. This was definitely a 5-star! My family loved this! Easy to make and fall off the bone. I’m keeping this and making it for my in-laws when they come to visit next time!
Delicious!
So delicious!!!! Thank you for this recipe!! These were amazing and so easy
I lost all my pinterest saves when I changed my phone and email and could not find my passwords. Shame on me this time. I am rebuilding my collection and this will be my go to rib recipe
Cooked this tonight. Awesome! I grilled the ribs on 250 degrees after and it added more Smokey flavor.
I never write reviews but this recipe was so good I had to share. The spare ribs were falling off the bone tender, flavorful, and juicy. The only tweak I made was leaving the dry rub on overnight vs immediately before cooking.
Excellent! Thank you for this recipe!
Easy! Came out great! I finished it with Whole Foods brand of Texas BBQ sauce. Fall off the bone Texas style reminds me of home!
Love this recipe. Second time I have used it
So yummy! I only included a dash of chili powder because of the kiddos, and used apple cider vinegar. They were spectacular and we can’t wait to make them again. Love the ease of the Instant Pot!
I tried this recipe 2 days ago& it was fall off the bone, full good flavored great! I cooked the ribs a little longer than specified,& put them under the broiler for a few min with Sweet Baby Ray’s. I recommend this recipe.
Best fall off the bone ribs. Highly recommend placing them in the oven with some sauce to finish them off. I’ve made this twice in the past two weeks they were so good. Thanks!!!!!
Made for the first time, they were delicious. My husband loved them. I sent the recipe to my niece in NC.
Have been making this for a couple of times. Didn’t have all the seasonings but still taste delicious. My almost 2 year old son who normally cannot chew pork/ meat very well was able to eat this. He devoured the ribs every time!
They were absolutely wonderful. We did not remove the membrane and had not problem at all. They were fall off the bone delicious. I did add 5 minutes as we are in the mountains. And about 10 in the broiler.
Excellent! A success! I didn’t do the final few mins in the oven. I was on a meeting and forgot to count the 15min after the 25min but I did quick released it when it was on lo07. I did it with the regular saint Louis ribs and they fell off the bone. I used Kansas seasoning and apple wood for the dry condiments.
Thank you!
These sound so yummy!! Can these be done in a 3 qt instant pot?
Yes, you may need to cut the ribs to fit.
My husband loved these! The rest of us our vegetarian so we didn’t try, but he said they were very good and would eat them for days! I followed the recipe entirely and they came out perfectly.
Made a 1/2 rack. 25 minutes 20 min Nat release. Not even close to done.😒
In oven now. Soooo disappointed.
Are you sure you instant pot works? Or are you totally into eating shoe leather?
They came out exactly as described. Falling off the bone good! I never removed the membrane before. It made a BIG difference!
I made these and cooked for 40 mins in the Insta Pot with a 15 min depressurize time. I used the 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and water + Liquid smoke. Did the rub as listed in the recipe but used famous dave’s rich and sassy BBQ sauce and broiled for a few mins. They were amazing and my husband loved them!! I will definitely make this again. I’m really glad that I had them in longer and I feel they were the perfect amount of tender. I live in High Elevation 6500 ft + so I usually need to cook things longer.
I do my own spice rub every time I make ribs based on whatever I have in the spice cupboard, but I always use this recipe for the cooking method (a good splash of liquid smoke is key!)
Just made these for the first time. Turned out delicious. I had not had Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce before, I really like it.
Hi Lisa. FYI,
Instead of liquid smoke try smoked paprika. It’s actually smoked for real and adds amazing smoked flavour with out the harsh chemicals that are put into liquid smoke. I use it in replace of liquid smoke always now cause I do love a smoked flavour. Hope you try it…
Do you use the smoked paprika in your dry rub, or do you add it to the cooking liquid like the liquid smoke? I really don’t like liquid smoke, so I would love to have an acceptable alternative.
I made my own rub and a rack of spareribs came out super tender, falling off the bone in 30 mins at high pressure with the 15 min natural release. Great way to cook the ribs. I used beer as the liquid. And it was really really good!
Found them to be cooked well, but they came out a little soggy. Will try using the oven to crisp them up a little bit.
I followed the recipe, just didn’t have any liquid smoke and used cider vinegar rather than apple juice. I was waiting on potatoes in the oven to be done, and didn’t time it quite tight, so the ribs needed to sit out before I could broil. They were quite tender, however, and I’ll definitely use this recipe again. Just need to get some smoke!
If I’m cooking 2 racks at a time, would the cooking time be the same? 2 racks of spare ribs.
Yes, same cook time.
The cooking time would be the same how about the liquids?
Easy to follow recipe and the family loved the ribs! Have made it twice in one week! Used parchment paper which made clean up a breeze. Thank you very much for sharing.
Turned out well. Pressure cooked 30 minutes. Not following off bone but tender. Broiled for 3 minutes. They were a hit!
This is a great recipe if you follow it closely. The only modifications I make are that I double the amount of rub so that it covers the ribs fully, and I throw them on the bbq with sauce instead of broiling. They always turn out well. Thanks Lauren!
This recipe was easy to follow. It took me a while because I had three racks to cook.
I recommend cooking longer if ribs are thick at least 35-40 min.
A recommendation to broil the ribs straight out of the pressure pot to brown the meet first. Then add the BBQ sauce and broil both sides to caramelize. I also add honey to my BBQ.
They turned out great!
Loved this recipe! Ribs were fall off the bone delicious.
First time out they were amazing! I did St Louis ribs and we always do them on the grill but they are tough. These were amazing. My husband was a bit jealous. Although we used a rub that we got in a man crate for grill masters. I did put the ribs in the oven on broil and I used Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Making more tonight.
Flavors were amazing, huge hit! They weren’t falling off the bone though, what did I do wrong??
Nothing–as long as they were tender! (Pro grillers would actually say “falling off the bone” ribs are overcooked Ideally you’d want them really tender to the bite but still on the rib bone.
I added 10 minutes for side ribs for a total of 35 minutes. I guess I must have overcooked them because they were awful. I normally steam my ribs…..to perfection…. then finish with sauce in the oven. These ribs were dry and tough….worst I’ve ever made. I presume this is because they cooked too long. They shrunk back from the bone significantly, so they weren’t undercooked. Not sure I’ll try this again. I used a Power Cooker.
You changed the recipe, and now you won’t use it again?? Try it using the recipe…
Amazing. Followed recipe exactly except did not remove back membrane on ribs. A family favourite
The kids loved these fall off the bone ribs!
Have made these several times now and always excellent. We use beer In place of all of the liquid in the pot. Yum!
If I were to double or triple the amount of ribs, would I need to add more cooking time? Thanks – these look delicious!!!
No cooking time is the same, the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.
I made this for dinner. Very, very good. I did not have liquid smoke, but it is on grocery list.. Thank you very much.
Unbelievable triumph. I have never been able to get ribs to fall off the bone until this recipe. I will never go back. Used the BBQ sauce recipe on the back of Grandmas Molasses. Hallelujah!
Delicious! I used a 3lb rack and had to double the seasoning but the meat fell right off the bones and it turned out amazing. Definitely will make again!
I off the bone (literally) tender! I’ve always used the broiler method as well to firm up the texture and caramelize the outside skin for that special crunch and extreme tenderness combination. Rub is excellent and/or you can experiment. Delicious!
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!!!
Do I have to adjust the amount of liquid for an eight quart instant pot?
No, should be fine.
Wow! The spare ribs were exceptional! Ive never made a pork anything so tender..ribs were coming apart, additionally i did manage to arrange them on baking sheet and put in oven at 450 for about 15 mins or until i saw the bbq sauce looking sticky, the result was slightly crispy on the outside extremely tender on the inside. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Excellent Recipe – the Ribs were Delicious
I have used your recipe several times and the results are always excellent!
This was delicious!! I just found your recipes and cannot wait to start implementing them!!!
Your directions read to have the meat side of the ribs facing out and thrn in another spot you comment down. Which is in TIA
Either way is fine.
So tasty, tender and fast. Was a hit at our pot luck 😊 Thank you!
Loved these ribs!! I’ll add more liquid smoke next time because we love the smokey flavor. Left out the brown sugar – no need for it! Used a sugar free bbq sauce too and it was great! This recipe was easy and delicious.
I am planning on making these ribs in the Instant Pot one day ahead of time (since I need to do several batches to feed many people) and then finishing them in the oven the following day. Any recommendations on how to reheat them and broil without them drying out?
My honest suggestion is to bake your ribs in your oven. You can use a large cookie sheet with sides. Place rib racks side by side lengthwise
on cookie sheet. Adjust oven racks to evenly space. Season ribs same as on my recipe, cover with foil and bake at 275* for 4 hours first, then remove foil and baste generously with favorite B-B-Que sauce. Continue baking for 2-3 more hours until tender, (taste test)
This may not be what you wanted but my honest opinion is that re-heated ribs are not the best. Best wishes
It would be best to use a large electric roaster oven for many racks, they are around $25 at Walmart.
My first meal in the instapot and we were so excited! My husband has a smoker and I was hoping this would taste as good as his 4 hour smoke process. We used our own rub and sauce. I would recommend if you want your seasoning to be present, let the rub sit for an hour or more in the fridge. Overnight is best.
The broil process is a must! The meat fell off the bone! My husband is sold!
The best “cook in the kitchen” ribs, hands down. I’ve tried a lot of different methods and styles and this way to cook things is the most tender and flavorful! Made them for Christmas… after tasting them, the ribs almost didn’t make it to the table!
Absolutely the best ribs! Easy recipe too.
Excellent…cooked longer as suggested for “fall off the bone”…and finished off on a rack on baking pan for 5 min in 425 degree oven. Thanks for the recipe!!
Just tried these last night and they were superb, a definite addition to my growing Instant Pot recipe collection. Thank you!
I followed the directions exactly and the ribs turned into a pulled pork. Was too long in the pot – They fell apart. Definitely needed to put sauce and broil them. I would not make again -they did not taste like ribs but rather just pork – I will say my husband enjoyed them but next time its the smoker or oven. I am not sure why everyone was raving about them.
First recipe I used with my brand new Instant-pot…best…ribs…ever!!!! If I never use this gadget for anything else it will have been worth the price just to use this recipe! My mouth waters just thinking of last night’s supper! So tender….
The whole family loved these and asked me to make them again. Thanks for this recipe!
What if I don’t have a wire rack to put the ribs on? What can I use? Thanks for your help.
Try rolling tinfoil into a snake to set them on. You just don’t want them touching the water.
Excellent! Being a lazy old man I used a prepacked commercial rub and Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce. Other than that I presecily followed your directions I’ve been around more years than I care to say but these ribs were the best I have ever had. Thanks you for the great recipe .
I’m making these for the second time in 2 weeks. The first time, we agreed these were better than almost any rib joint, and making them in the Instant Pot, just exactly per the directions, they came out so tender and delicious. We finished them with Sweet Baby Rays original, and under the broiler (not too close though) for a good 10 minutes. I feel like I could enter a competition with these ribs. Thanks for the recipe!
These were excellent. Making them again today. Thank you for a full proof recipe.
Our go-to recipe! We slather these in my mom’s homemade bbq sauce and are generous with the liquid smoke. Delicious!
These were sooooo good! My family loves ribs but I don’t love how long they normally take to make…who has time to babysit their ribs for hours? These were perfect, fall off the bone ribs and so delicious. I love how easy they are to make in the pressure cooker.
Fantastic! Followed receipe and family loved it! Yummmmm
In Nova Scotia some stores sell pork tavern ribs, which appear to be called button ribs or perhaps tip ribs elsewhere. They are meaty and have small flat bones. They are mostly meat so they are not as stiff as regular spareribs or baby back ribs, so it is harder to stand them up at the sides of the instant pot. I trimmed as much fat off as I could and rubbed them with Old Bay seasoning. I used a cup of water in the instant pot and put the ribs on the trivet leaning against the sides of the pot. I used the meat setting at 15 minutes and a natural release of 15 minutes. I then removed them and slathered them with chicken a rib BBQ sauce and heated them in a convection toaster oven for about 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. They were very tender and came off the bones easily and to my taste delicious. The broth left in the pot was really good and I will use it in another recipe.
Can l do two slabs at once?
Yes, you can do as many as will fit in your pot!
This is my go to recipe. The family loves these.
Amazing!!
Can you use boneless ribs and if so how long do I cook them for
Same cooking time should be fine!
Oh, this came out so good. I made the fat country style pork shoulder ribs (with bone). Followed recipe exactly with the exception of adding more liquid smoke, and afterwards put in oven in a small covered roaster (to minimize splatter). I added about 1/4 c of the leftover liquid to the bottom, slathered ribs in my preferred bbq sauce, and cooked 30 mins at 325° so meat could absorb more bbq flavor. Last minute broiled for 3 minutes to caramalize the sauce. Nothing got black or burned, ribs are super tender and my house smells great. I might lick the walls all week lol.
Big hit in my family too. Used chicken stock and apple cider vinegar also added small potatoes around one slab of ribs. Cooked for 37 min. Put ribs and potatoes on tray. Basted all with Baby Rae chipotle bbq sauce and broiled both sides of ribs and potatoes to crisp up. Very good.
Easy to follow with delicious results. Family favorite!
Trying it for the first time, truly wonderful. ..
This is my go to rib recipe, they always are fall off the bone delicious! Instead of broiling them, I put them on the BBQ grill and baste meat side up with BBQ sauce for a few minutes, yum!
We loved the ribs! I cooked 2 racks at once. So easy to make and very good. My husband loved them and he’s picky! I would highly recommend this recipe. I followed the recipe exactly as stated. I used apple cider vinegar instead of apple juice. I used Sweet Baby Rays bbq sauce.
I followed this recipe as a roadmap, used cider vinegar. Added different spices. 34 minutes because my ribs filled all the space of my instant pot. Used baby Ray’s original. Loved by all.
Made that recipe 3 times already. I found out that to my taste putting less spices is preferable as I like to taste de ribs. Also I cook it 2mins less as I have troubles getting it out of the instant pot, they fall appart, i leave them 3-5 mins longer in the oven instead.
For the sauce we tried it with Joe Beef and baton rouge’s both great choices from province of Quebec. Joe beef is simply out of this world actually!!!
Used the recipe with the apple cider vinegar and the liquid smoke, then quickly broiled at the end. Excellent, I’ll be adding this to my favourites.
These are excellent! I use my own rub but the one here is perfect. I use broth in the bottom since I use Carolina BBQ sauce after which is already vinegary. Great recipe!
What if my ribs are still a bit frozen?
That should be fine. Depending on how many you’re using and “how” frozen they are you could add 5-10 extra minutes.
These are by far the best ribs my family and I have tasted. My husband will no longer cook them on the barbecue he only wants these. I have an 8qt Instantpot and I put four racks in it and cook for 60 mins.
They are so popular in my family that I always have some rib rub at the ready.
How long would you cook 3 slabs? Thank you!
The cook time should be the same, the pot will just take longer to come to pressure. Enjoy!
When you do 3 racks did you triple the recipe? I mean liquid, obviously you rubbed all the ribs…I have all boys and usually extra boys joining in so we always need lots lol I just got an instapot!
This was soooo good!!! I have an 8qt Instapot and this was only the 2nd thing I’ve made in it, so I was nervous. Also, I had two racks of ribs and took the chance that I could successfully get them both in there. It took an extra 15 minutes under pressure, but they were absolutely delicious and not so “fall off the bone” that they didn’t still have a nice tooth to them. I didn’t have any liquid smoke, but I used smoked paprika for a bit of smokey flavor and it was awesome. Thank you for making this simple enough to give me the courage to try it!
I bought an Instant Pot and hadn’t used it yet when one of my sons and his wife dropped in. All I had defrosted was a rack of ribs so I thought this would be a great time to test it out. I found your recipe and it was very easy to follow. To my family’s shock the ribs were amazing! Ribs in less than an hour?! This is the first recipe saved to my new Instant Pot Recipes board. It’s a keeper! Thank you!
Mary the vinegar helps tenderize the meat. Black coffee is a good replacement. I use a little in my roasts. My dad said it helps the meat break down and i havent had anyone mention being able to taste it.
Just tried the cooking directions using the 3o minutes and they were tough. The spare ribs were pre-seasoned. What did I do wrong? Help
Hi Pam, sorry to hear this. I honestly feel this is because of the quality of the ribs.
I’m a novice cook. My husband cooked/smoked awesome ribs before his stroke took away the use of his left side. I used this recipe to christen my Black July 6qt instant pot. I did substitute Penney’s BBQ 3000 spice for the chili seasoning. The result was —DELICIOUS! My husband loved it!
These ribs are amazing! I don’t even get ribs at a restaurant anymore! I followed the receipie except for the liquid smoke. A must try!
My only complaint it a teaspoon of the ingredients definitely does not cover a rack of ribs. They were tasty though and will definitely be made again
To get the film off of the back of the rack of ribs prior to cooking, I have found that if I use a “paper towel” to pull on the film after I get it started from the end of the rack with a sharp knife that it’s much easier to pull off. It gives you a better grip when pulling. We like our ribs falling off of the ribs tender when we eat them so I cook them in my Instant Pot for 55 minutes and natural release. Another IP owner shared this tip with me and it works for me.
I have never commented on a recipe I have found online before but I can’t help myself with these ribs. They were absolutely wonderful. I followed the recipe exactly except for the BBQ sauce. I had some Broncho Bob’s chipotle raspberry sauce that was a bit spicy for us so I just added some ketchup and brown sugar and made my own. Getting back to the ribs though, my husband said they were the best he had ever eaten. So we highly recommend this recipe and can’t wait to have some more ribs.
I can’t tell you how much that means to me! Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Love these ribs!!! Tender and flavorful. I like the “fall off the bone” ribs. Makes them easier for me to eat them and not nearly as messy. We substituted vegetable broth for water and added baby bellas and sliced red onion to the pot. This made a great side dish for the ribs.
Can you leave out the apple juice or vinegar and only use water for cooking? Asking for allergy reasons. Was wondering if we could just place water at the bottom and season them and still have them cook properly. Tia!
Yes, you can just use water! Enjoy~
Got my instapot yesterday. Made these ribs today and they were delicious! I didn’t use brown sugar in the rub since I don’t eat any sugar.
Will definitely make them again.
Thanks for the recipe and easy to follow directions. 😋
I love ribs, but I’m new to IP cooking so I tried this for the first time tonight. The ribs were really good and would probably please most people, but I cooked my baby backs for 25 minutes and they were overdone IMHO. I’m from that group of Southerners for whom “fall off the bone” doesn’t mean you can’t pick them up with tongs (before they’re even sauced).
I’ll definitely try this again, but I’ll probably do 20 minutes and adjust from there to achieve what I’m looking for… which is basically ribs that hold together until you bite.
Wow! Another winner, Lauren! My husband and I were a bit sceptical about pressure cooking ribs but we were so wrong. They were tender and flavourful, and your rub mixture is absolutely delicious. I took the optional step of giving the ribs a quick broil with a smoky, non-sweet bbq sauce. They were a wee bit fragile immediately after cooking but firmed up after broiling so maybe we’ll let them rest a bit before trying to move them in future. Thank-you for this yummy recipe! Next up: Chicken Marsala.
That makes me so happy, thanks for sharing Jane! I’m confidant you’ll love the chicken marsala too!
Can you begin with frozen ribs? How much extra time?
Yes, that will be fine! You can add an extra 5 minutes.
These ribs were by far the most tender and succulent. I had 3 racks of ribs because that’s what came in the Costco package. I doubled the rub recipe, but used 1/2 the salt and pepper and a little more brown sugar because we like it on the sweeter side. I let the rub marinate on the ribs for 2 hours in fridge before I cooked them. I cooked in 2 batches because all 3 racks would not fit in 8 qt pot. Coming out of the IP practically falling off the bone, some did. Put on Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce and broiled in oven.
Made for 4th of July. Messy faces and lots of grunting. Just the way it should be. Will make again. Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Tried this last night and it was fantastic! Definitely a keeper.
I made these last night for guests and they were devoured! Delicious and so easy. Instead of putting them under the broiler at the end, my husband put them on the grill with the BBQ sauce on top ( just enough time for that grilled flavor). Thanks for this great recipe!
Sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Made these today with a pre-seasoned Memphis style rub pork rib. Cooked under pressure for 25 minutes then slow release for 15 minutes, but because of size of ribs needed an extra 15 minutes under pressure and another slow release of 15 minutes. I wanted some Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce so I added some pork juice (from pan ribs were wrapped in) a small amount of bar-b-que sauce to large non stick skillet and put heat on high! After getting color I desired……perfection! Everyone loved the tasty, tender ribs and didn’t heat up house and require a lot of attention. This will definitely be made again and again!
Sounds perfect! I’m so happy you enjoyed them. Thanks for coming back to comment.
So tasty but tough. What did I do wrong?
Spare ribs: I did 30 min high pressure, 15 natural release (We’re in LA). Then 3 min broiler.
Too long maybe???
Help, I want to love my IP but I almost always over cook when it comes to pork or beef.
Hi Kara, that would most likely be due to the quality of ribs.
How would you double the recipe?
You can put as many ribs as will fit in your IP, and double the seasoning. The cook time will stay the same (the instant pot will just take longer to come to pressure).
Esta receta es fácil de hacer y muy rica, la recomiendo la salsa bbq es muy importante usen la que consideren mejor
Delicious! Tender, almist sliding iff the bond! Used onion soup mix in water and rubbed with montreal steak spice, which is what I had on the boat. I have a 3 quart and it was fine for cooking a full rack.
Got a slightly wider rack of ribs this time. To close the lid properly place the two ends where you turn the lid, the. There us plenty of clearance. Cooking 2 racks tiday to take up north to the biat ?
I will be making these tonight, but I’m going to do a couple of racks at once in the eight quart if I can get them to fit. Other than increasing liquid, are there any other adjustments I am not considering? Thank you in advance…these look delicious!
You don’t even need to increase the liquid. The pot will just take longer to come to pressure 🙂
Just a follow up as I prepare to make these again tonight! They were wonderful! I was able to fit three whole racks (eight pounds) into my 8 qt. IP and they were perfect!
Always delicious! We’ve made this several times. Sometimes we buy the Costco ribs that are already seasoned. These are wonderful! Thanks for the recipe!
I bought boneless pork ribs. Do you think this recipe will work?
Yes, it will work great with boneless!
This recipe is amazing. The seasonings and addition of cider vinegar just puts these ribs over the top. I have made this recipe exactly as written with great results. Today, I am about 9,000 feet above sea level so I am going to cook for 35 minutes. I am sure there is no way to mess these up. My hubby could eat these ribs every day!
This is my go-to recipe for Instant Pot Ribs. I always follow the recipe and have to say the ribs never disappoint, very tasty and fall of the bone tender.
Can you put two racks of ribs in a 6 quart? I buy mine from Costco as well.
I think you could squeeze them in there. You may need to cut the second rib rack into 2 pieces to get them to fit, which is fine!
Hi 🙂 I used pork spare ribs and added dry mustard to the rub. It was delicious but the spare ribs were too tall even without the trivet so after circling them inside I had to fold them over a bit toward the center. But they turned out great! Next time I will use baby back. Thanks for a great recipe with easy to follow instructions!
As a vegetarian having made these for friends– my reputation grows into new areas! They turned out perfectly (I’m told) and I am so glad to not have to cook them for hours in my oven! Very little mess or fussing and really high quality results. Thanks for posting!
Have made this multiple times and it is delicious every time. Followed recipe to a tee. Thank you for a great recipe!
HI, We made your recipe for pork spare ribs in our InstaPot and they were absolutely delicious! We followed your recipe to a tee. Thank you for sharing it.
What could be substituted for apple juice? I have cranberry juice. Or could i just use sugared water in place?
You could just use water, or sugar water if you want 🙂
Best homemade ribs ever! I made these for the first time a few weeks ago and my family devoured them. They’ve been requesting them weekly now. Thank you for this delicious, simple recipe!
I have an 8 quart IP. Can i cook more Than one coil of ribs at a time for a big party?
Yes you can! Cook time will be the same, it will just take the pot longer to come to pressure.
Made 4 lbs in my 6qt last night for my anniversary. Sooooooo good! Used the apple juice in the water and just doubled the rub recipe. Cooked 25 min and my only complaint was that they fell apart while trying to take them out. Still delicious! I would try cooking them for 20-22 minutes next time to see if I can get them out of the IP in one piece. #firstworldproblems ?
Ask anyone how they make their ribs, and they will give you ten steps and two days in the making. This one is simple and tasty! Just finish them off in the oven with some good barbecue rib sauce.
Tough, flavorless, and terrible.
Outstanding recipe. Cooked to perfection. Spices not overwhelming so you can get the flavor of the meat even with the BBQ sauce. Adding liquid smoke is a must. Don’t leave it out.
This recipe is spot on!!!! I made them this evening and they were delicious.
Have made this 3 times and it’s my husbands favorite! Love Thai recipe! Will continue to make it!
Delicious, fall off the bone tenderness. I used my own rub but otherwise followed the directions exactly, including apple cider vinegar & liquid smoke. My family of 6, including my 5-year old who had 2nd’s, devoured a whole rack of ribs in about 10 minutes. Thanks for sharing! I’ll be making these again for sure, just wish I had a bigger instant pot lol
I know why people are all saying, “WOW!” I usually roast ribs for 3 hours on a low temp. I can’t believe how amazing these are…in 25 minutes! I used McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning as the rub. Only complaint by the 3 guys in my house (husband and 2 grown boys)…I didn’t make enough! (I used apple juice in the water, BTW.)
Oh I will certainly be making this again and again!
Made this again but with more meaty baby back ribs and had both my 6 and 8 qt. IPs going with a different rub…(Penzeys Bavarian rub and their Southwest blend). Both excellent. I did the broiler thing with bbq sauce to finish them off. Used Stubb’s Sweet Heat. There weren’t too many ribs left from the 4 of us eating 2 racks. Served with roasted veggies…parsnips, carrots, onions, leaks, garlic, turnips coated with olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper all roasted to a caramelized goodness.
First time making ribs and 3rd recipe in IP ever. These literally fell off bone when trying to remove from pot BUT it was my mistake. I did tweak my rub to include some cayenne and Italian seasoning. And used a tablespoon of apple liquid smoke along with apple cider vinegar and apple juice-no water. I had only one rack of baby back ribs but 2 packs of country style boneless ribs. So wrapped the ribs as in circle in trivet and took the country style ribs standing them up circular inside the rack of ribs. My first error was setting for 32 minutes cook time. I just thought maybe too much meat they may need more time (wrong). I should have stuck with exact directions of cook time. I was all set and doing the 15 NP release then got side-tracked and didn’t get to QR until 22 minute mark. I started by using tongs for country style and they were breaking apart and when I tried to remove the baby back ribs I was getting same thing. So I just pulled out trivet with the baby back ribs on it. Put on pan and slathered with bbq sauce. Cooked both sides and last 2 minutes put on broil to get that good carmelized, slightly charred look. No doubt they were tender and I feel I may have dried out the country style a little bit with the oven. Had i followed instructions as given, i know 100% i would have achieved optimal results. I do think that i may dry-rub and let rest for a few hours or overnight next time. And even with increasing to a tablespoon of the apple liquid smoke, I just couldn’t taste that smokiness. But I bought the apple smoke on a whim as I had never seen that flavor before. Next time I will stick to exact times and go back to my original smoke. Also I will not mix the 2 types of ribs. I did that because it’s what I had on hand. Think I might jack up the smoke flavor to 2 tablespoons though…..we like it smokey lol. Now my research tonight has been how to reheat these without losing moisture. In fact I’d love to throw some moisture back in them. I don’t reheat in microwave and I’ve spent a cple hours looking on specifically reheating ribs in IP. Not too much out there. Just the pot in pot method for most part and some suggestions were 2-3 hour reheats….yikes!!! And I know the responses aren’t immediate but does anyone have a good moisture locking IP reheat on these or even oven? If you’ve read this far then God bless because I do tend to be lengthy. But overall thank you for the recipe. Without user error, no doubt they would have been perfect. (Still might be, I only tasted them last night as it was very late so family will be getting the reheated process today). Looking forward to doing these again. I’m an IP newbie and so far am thrilled. And I appreciate your descriptive breakdowns of the recipe. For those of us just starting out, there’s a lot of buttons to learn and IP terminology that gets short-handed a lot in recipes and it gets confusing when you don’t yet understand quick releasing, natural pressure and my most confusing thing was learning that 20 minutes cook time does not mean put in pot and 20 minutes you are done lol. Also I thought the times were in seconds and that 200 meant two minutes Haha. BIG whoops. But I’m sure common mistakes for those that have never owned a pressure cooker. And all of my crockpots were manual. Thanks again.
Line a sheet of foil with sheet of parchment paper. Make sure the paper is just a little smaller than the foil. Place any meat in the middle and wrap and seal very tightly.. Place on rack in oven pre-heated to 350 degrees. Heat for 20 minutes. This method has never failed me. The meat does not dry out.
Absolutely perfect! Today I learned how to use the trivet rack 9f my instant pot for the first time, thank you so much!. I followed you recipe but for the marinade I also used BBQ sauce and have them in the fridge since the day before. I cooked the ribs for about 40 minutes and then broiled for 10 minutes with extra BBQ sauce!.
Your recipe states 1 hour cook time, but in the description just under that, it says “cooked in just about 30 minutes!” Might want to change that. 🙂
They do “cook” in 30 minutes–the cook time in the recipe card is accounting for the time it takes to come to pressure and the time it takes to release the pressure.
I have made ribs this way a number of times.. I use my own rub, which is actually very similar to this recipe, apple juice and liquid smoke in the bottom of the pot, cook for 25 minutes, baste with my homemade BBQ Sauce and then throw them on the grill to caramelize and finish them. My rib process used to take 2 days, with seasoning, slow roasting, etc. I’m making them again today for about 20 people coming to our house for a party. I’ll make them this morning, and just reheat them this afternoon and throw them on the grill….super easy!!!
WOW! I have never successfully made ribs at home before. They are usually so greasy that they are not eatable. This recipe is so easy and the ingredients are staples that most people would have in their pantry. My family loves these. Thank you for the recipe.
Can you put another ring of ribs inside the first ring? Or does that change the way it cooks. I have an 8 qt.
That would work fine!
I’m confused. This recipe call for 1 1/4 cups of liquid to pressure cook the ribs. However, the manual that comes with the instant pot says to always use no less than 18 oz liquid when pressure cooking in the instant pot. Is 1 1/4 cups o.k.?
We really enjoyed these ribs! This was my 1st attempt at ribs in the insta pot and I was really pleased with how they turned out!
Wow. My first meal with our instant pot. I can say it was absolutely amazing! We bought a baby rack of ribs for only $6 at the store today, so I looked up recipes and this game up first. We made a few substitutions, but I still think it tasted about how it was intended, because it was fantastic (I also really appreciate all the instructions, because I wasn’t too sure how long to cook it for/do the natural release for).
The ribs were cooked for 30 minutes at an altitude of 5,000 ft., with 15 minutes natural release. Instead of broiling them afterwards, I stuck them just in just the standard oven for 14 minutes and it had the same effect. I had about 1/3 of a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s which was enough, but we could have used a bit more if we cut the ribs apart before sticking them in the oven and glazed them individually for the best flavor. I’ll definitely be making these again!
———–
If anyone was wondering what substitutions we did, here they are:
We used Cayenne pepper powder instead of chili powder.
We didn’t have powdered onion or garlic, so we took a bit of actual garlic/onion and just minced/diced them really small and mixed it in the seasoning.
We added about the same amount of Lawry’s seasoning (I think it’s mostly paprika, but it also had garlic/onion/turmeric) to the rub (we add that to pretty much every meat we make) so that probably added whatever flavor we weren’t able to add.
We also didn’t have apple cider vinegar or apple juice; however, we did just buy some balsamic vinegar, so we added a bit less than a 1/4 cup and a bit more water into the pot, then put some lemon pepper in the water. I’m not sure if the lemon pepper did anything with the flavor whatsoever because it was in the water only, but the vinegar was definitely present in the ribs and it actually was very, very good!
One thing to note, though, is that the amounts listed for the seasoning is just enough to cover a single rack of baby pork ribs, so I’d suggest to double that for another rack.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I will be sure to check out some of the other ones on your site.
Just made these tonight and they were a winner! My husband was a little reluctant on instant pot ribs but he loved them! I followed the recipe exactly and used the apple cider vinegar. I think next time I’m going to broil both sides first and then adding a little sauce or leaving them dry since we like to try different sauces. Overall great recipe!
Used this recipe to make ribs for the first time ever in my Instant Pot. They were AMAZING! And the recipe was super simple to follow. I broiled them after applying the BBQ sauce for about 4 minutes. My husband said we don’t ever need to make ribs any other way. Thank you so much for sharing it!
Yep. Perfect. Turned off oven and left ours in for an hour to dry out a bit more (we like them crispier).
My husband is a strict smoker of ribs. Hes not home tonight, so I thought O would try this recipe. It is AMAZING!! The ribs ar seasoned beautifully and so tender. Honestly, I was skeptical because the rack was taller than my 6qt. I just circled and folded a little and they are perfect!! So excited I can have ribs whenever I want now. We don’t sauce before eating, but I did put them under the broiler for 3 minutes just to brown.
Thanks Jill!
Okay these are hands down the best ribs ever! Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave positive feedback!
Amazing recipe! Ribs turned out perfectly.
Quick question- if I wanted to make these ahead of time for a dinner party do I just keep them in the instant pot till I’m ready to serve them and just broil them with the barbecue sauce when I’m ready to serve? Otherwise can I take the ribs out of the instant pot, put the barbecue sauce on the ribs, put them back in the instant pot on ‘keep warm’ and then broil before serving?
Thanks so much!!! I’m new to instant pot ribs…I’ve always done them in the slow cooker:)
I’m new to using my Instant Pot and am nervous cooking with it (is it too good to be true?) This recipe was AMAZING! I did the 25 minute and broil as instructed. They were tender but still had some bite to them. Making them again right now, actually. Thanks!
Our dry rub, slow roasted , then grilled ribs are so perfect, I’m reluctant to try them in the pot. I also don’t want the bone to come out when I pick them up, just want them tender to the bite, and it’s easy to check for doneness in the oven. The reviews are so good it makes me want to try…but I’m really concerned about overcooking them. (Falling off the bone.)
Ketokitty, you can always cut down on the pressure cooking time and the NPR time. That will keep them from getting to the “falling off the bone stage”. I tried this recipe a couple of weeks ago and it was really good. I am going to fix them tonight again. Only thing I am doing different is doubling the rub and really putting it on heavy because some of it is lost in the pressure cooking. Just a couple of thoughts for you.
Great rub, although I substituted Cajun for the Chili powder. Used a can of Labbatt Blue in place of the water and used the Apple Cider vinegar. I cooked 1.73 lbs of spare ribs for 75 minutes on high pressure then put in the oven with some Sweet Baby Rays BBQ, 7 minutes per side as suggested using HI broiler with just a dash of pepper. It was falling off the bone and the only other thing that I will do differently next time is to break up the big pieces up into smaller bite size when putting into the oven so that you get more of the BBQ cooked into the meat.
These look awesome. Mine will be cooking in just a few minutes. An easy way to get the silverskin (white membrane) off is to start them as you do but when you have about half an inch of skin separated, grab it with a paper towel and just pull. I have never had a problem removing it and it is so much easier and less frustrating. The skin tends to come off in one piece.
These are amazing and Oh-so-Easy! I bought the Costco ribs which already have the rub on them.
I couldn’t believe how good they were and definitely fall-off the bone tender. Definitely making again. Have shared the recipe with my Intant Pot friends!
Would make these again. Made these tonight with the changes I saw in the comments. Substituted one cup of beer for water (Yuengling) cause that’s what was in the fridge. Sliced one medium onion and put some rub on it and threw it in the middle of the pot. Cooked the ribs according to directions. Put them, the ribs and onions, in the oven after instapot at 400 with Baby Rays BBQ sauce for 7 minutes then turned for 7 more. Finger licking good. Threw some corn muffins in the oven also. Used some of the left over cooking liquid from the ribs to cook up some green beans in a pan, yummy. Saved the rest of the cooking liquid for something, not sure yet put in fridge will remove fat from top and get creative. Really good recipe, I highly recommend giving it a try. Thanks
What is the rack your talking about putting ribs on?
The instant pot brand of pressure cooker comes with a wire trivet rack. It looks like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K1Q6MCY/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=taste03e-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07K1Q6MCY&linkId=b3bbc69c9365a2f0646f5f1471c20237 (affilate link). If you don’t have one you could roll up tinfoil, as others have done in the comments. It just helps elevate the ribs above the water.
Mine turned out fabulous! I didn’t have any liquid smoke, so I used a tsp of smoked paprika! This recipeis a keeper! Thank you very much!
I followed the recipe to a t. With the exception that at the very end I added a half a cup of Jack Daniels whiskey into the mixture at the bottom of the pot we will see how this turns out super excited.
Would it hurt to slightly cut ribs so rub would adhere better to st. Louis ribs
No, that would be fine 🙂
Mine came out tough and dry. I even cooked them 5 minutes longer than the recipe stated to get that “fall off the bone” tenderness. I think ribs need to be cooked in some kind of liquid and not suspended in air surrounded by steam. I may cook what we have left some more today.
Hi Lucy, I’m sorry they didn’t work out for you, but it sounds like it’s more to do with the quality of ribs you used then it is to do with this recipe and cooking method. If you were to “pressure cook” the ribs right in the water without suspending them then they would essentially just get boiled in the water. The purpose of the water is to allow the pressure cooker to create steam, which is what cooks the ribs.
My first “big” meal in the Instant Pot. Your directions were easy to follow. My ribs just said “Pork spare ribs” – definitely not Baby Back but not sure if they were the “St Louis” type I’ve read about in the prior comments. Anyhoo… ribs were delicious. Thank you for the super recipe!
I had a really big slab of baby back ribs. I cooked them 30 minutes and was going to let them sit 30 minutes @ natural release. That was how long it took for the button to pop. Broiled with BBQ sauce about 3 minutes. Really great!
Made this today and loved it. I’ve never made ribs inside before. My husband always charcoal grills them. These were fall-off-the-bone tender and had great flavor. My husband was very happy with them, and is now a believer in non-grilled ribs.
IP Back Ribs was one of the first recipes I made after buying an IP. I only buy back ribs, despite their cost and I watch for specials. One such was from Peru (frozen) and were fine. In Canada “spare ribs” are advertised as “side ribs” as that is the part of the pig from which they are obtained and usually have less meat on them.
I usually look for the packaged ribs with the lowest price as I find the bones are smaller and the meat tenderer. I have used a similar recipe but it says to use the “Meat” button on my IP DUO 6O Ver 3 for 20 – 25 mins depending on tenderness wanted Your mileage may vary.
Somewhat new to Instant Pot but the recipe instructions were perfect. I think the variety comes in what rub and what sauce you choose. Really easy to change flavor by changing them but instructions perfect.
Not sure the rub made much difference in taste but they were lovely fall off the bone ribs. Will try Apple cider vinegar and beer next time to taste the flavour difference. Very easy to follow directions!
I was going to make pork tenderloin today, but the grocery store had pork back ribs on sale BOGO, so I switched it up. Randomly found your instant pot recipe online … turned out amazing (and it was so easy – I already had all the ingredients in my pantry)! It took an hour and ten minutes total from prep to table and the ribs were falling off the bone wonderful. I highly recommend the recipe (I used sweet baby ray’s hickory barbecue sauce and I broiled 2 minutes on each side to caramelize the sauce after the instant pot -cooked mine for 30 in the IP).
First time using instant pot. They came out great.
Received an Instant Pot for Christmas and used this recipe for the maiden voyage. Followed the recipe as written, using pre-seasoned St. Louis ribs from Costco. Excellent results!! Great way to ring in 2019 – Happy New Year!!
Hi, we’re going to try this recipe for the first time in the Instant Pot, can you please tell me where I can find a rack like the one in your photograph, I found one similar but doens’t have the handles. Thanks.
My wire trivet rack came with my 6qt IP duo when I bought it…I’m sure you can buy one off Amazon 🙂
These ribs were good but if you usually take the time to do 3-2-1 ribs on a smoker, you will most likely be disappointed. It is nice have a quick option but sadly you can’t compare them to a 6 hour smoking.
Followed the recipe cooking 35 min and resting 25 for my spare ribs at high altitude. They were fall off the bone tender and a few minutes under the broiler really added a nice touch. Next time I might cook a bit less. Overall a great recipe for ribs. I am wondering if taking off the membrane allowed them to cook faster. I was a bit surprised at how tender they were. I need to take better notes when I cook. The pressure cooker/IP is always a learning experience. Thanks for the tasty recipe!
Are the spices in the ingredients what you used for the rub?
This recipe is fine of you want pulled pork and not “pick up and hold in your hand and eat” spare ribs. I used 3 1/2 lbs. of St. Louis style Ribs, and cooked them the recommended 30 mins, with a 15 min natural pressure release. We have a Breville Fast-Slow Pro, not an Instant Pot, but the cooking procedures are virtually identical to an Instant Pot. When I went to remove the ribs, the meat fell off the bone before I could even remove them from the pot. We ended up just serving the meat on a platter without the bones. I used my own rub. The meat was tasty, so I rated the recipe 3 stars, but not the spare rib outcome I was hoping for. Perhaps I needed to cook them less time, or quick release the pressure after the cooking time, rather than wait an additional 15 mins., or just use another pressure cooker recipe.
Just made these ribs on a cold wintry Vermont day. I didn’t have chili powder so just used paprika and cayenne pepper along with the other spices for the rub. Unfortunately, I ended up buying what must have been the worlds toughest ribs. The meat was so tough! But, trust me – this is no fault of the recipe or the IP – but rather the pork itself. The meat did in fact fall off the bone and I have no doubt that they would have been wonderful…if only. I will definitely make these again when it’s too cold outside to be grilling!
Did 2 racks of spare ribs for 40min for my parents, Amazing! Going to do one rack today for myself! This recipe is sooo amazingly fast and will be added to my “cook book”
I followed the recipe with the exception of the liquid smoke (none on hand, missed it on the ingredients list). Just as the timer went off that the pressure release had completed its cycle (about 8 minutes) a timer went off telling me it was burning. I opened the pot and sure enough, the apple juice/water mixture had scorched on the bottom. The ribs themselves were great, added sauce, put them under the broiler and my son devoured them. Guess I’ll add a bit more liquid next time.
My first time making ribs and we loved them! My husband said they were better than any restaurant ribs! I’m making them again, this time for family and just wanted to clarify a few things…if I’m doing two racks of ribs, I don’t need to increase the cooking time or the amount of liquid? I’ve read though a lot of the comments and from the sounds of it, the time and liquid amount stay the time. Excited to make these yummy ribs again!
That’s right, the liquid and cooking time would stay the same! So happy you enjoyed them 🙂
Can you start with frozen ribs? How much more time
Would you need to add?
Oh my. Bones just pull out. Threw them on the grill for a few minutes. Really great. I impressed myself!
These ribs were easy to make and delicious. My family enjoyed it and request the same recipe next time I make them again.
These ribs were delicious, however I do prefer them to literally fall off the bone. Next time I will add an additional 15-20 minutes. As far as the flavor, they are fantastic. I use a Durkee dry rub prior to cooking, then whatever BBQ sauce you prefer. Can’t go wrong really!
My first time using a pressure cooker and these ribs came out amazing! I just bought an Instant Pot and wanted to make something for the football game. These were done within an hour and the meat fell off the bones as I was taking them out. Definitely use the liquid smoke!
The ribs was a hit with my family . I love the ease at getting my ribs nice tender , at such a short time frame . This is the only way I make my ribs . I put them in the oven to base with my favorite BBC sauce . Thank you for recipe .
This recipe was so easy and such a hit. My husband loved it! I didn’t have a trivet rack but it tasted great anyway.
The ribs are excellent! I was doubtful, but the reviews were so good that I had to try it. I’m knew to the instant pot. Between working and kids sports and activities I don’t have much time to cook so we have been eating a lot of fast food. My family loved this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Can you caramelize the bbq sauce in an air fryer?
I have never experimented with air fryers so I couldn’t say. Sorry!
I always finish off the ribs in my air fryer. They turn out good and crispy.
Ribs in the instant pot are AWESOME. Will no longer cook them any other way.
Baby Back and St. Louis style both work fine (if you do St. Louis, you may need to use the 8Qt instant pot).
I always cook under high pressure for 30 minutes, and let sit under natural release for 30 minutes. Fall off bone tender.
I regularly do these for groups, using multiple instant pots. Which raises on issue: how to caramelize the BBQ sauce after you take them out of the pot, and before you serve? I have two ovens, but if I am doing six racks there is not enough time/ space to use the broiler.
So, I take the cooked ribs out of the pot. Put them on cookie sheets and let them cool a bit. Then I ladle on the BBQ sauce, and caramelize with a hand held butane torch (not the baby torch, but one of the ones you can buy at Home Depot or Amazon, with the 14oz propane cylinder and Bernzomatic head).
The advantage of this is that they caramelize FAST. And, so fast that you do not further cook the meat. Once this step is done, I just put the sheets of ribs in oven on very low to warm them back up.
Can you substitute chicken broth for water?
Yes, that would be fine 🙂
Made this last night for the first time. Cooked for 30 min. then npr for about 20 when I released pressure. They were so, so tender and delicious. I used everything except the chili powder.
AMMAZING RIBS!! Our family loves these ribs, tender, fall-off-the-bon. We no longer make ribs any other way. Just so good and quickly made. I just love my IP and your recipe for ribs sells everyone I know on cooking with the IP.
Thank-you so much.
Thank you Allyson! Ribs have never been easier, and I’m so happy you love this recipe! Thanks for following <3
Not a huge fan of ribs, but I made this tonight in my Pampered Chef Quick Cooker (beef/pork setting, 10 minute natural release) and it was really tasty! We opted to let people put BBQ sauce on their own portions and I skipped it entirely, but my meat was still really flavorful. I’m going to try the seasoning blend with chicken thighs next time!
I used this recipe but added 1 tsp. smoked paprika and 1/2 tsp. turmeric to the rub. I have a power pressure cooker xl, not the instant pot brand, so I don’t have the wire rack for the bottom. I used 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in the bottom of the pot. I also cut up an onion, placed it in the middle between the ribs that were standing up. I poured some sweet baby rays over the onions. I had a 2.5 lb rack of back ribs cut in thirds so it only took 30 minutes in my cooker (I went off the recommendations my cooker came with). I brushed some bbq sauce on the top and baked for 5 minutes on 400 instead of broiling like the recipe says. They were delicious.
Will the 3 quart instant pot work with this recipe?
I would cut the rib rack into sections instead of wrapping a whole rack around the inner pot.
Stack the sections layered on top of each other on top of the trivet. Enjoy.
Ribs were overcooked (like they were boiled). St. Louis spare ribs. 25 minutes plus natural release. Then basted and charred on gas grill. Not great.
If I use 2 racks of ribs, do I double the liquid to the pot?
No, you don’t need to add more liquid and the cook time is the same.
Just filled your receipt for baby back and cooked for 25 mind. Just one rack. They were very tender and get if the bone, big they had very little flavor and a ton of fast. Almost not edible. What did I do wrong? Clearly it’s not the recipe because everyone raves about it. Could I have gotten a poor quality rack of ribs, maybe? It just wasn’t good and neither my son nor I liked it. I did not finish on the grill or broil because the meat wouldn’t stay on the bone and I was in a hurry. Is that the key to this recipe?
Hi Katie, yes it sounds like it wasn’t a high quality rack of ribs. Hope you get to try it again soon. I always buy baby back ribs from Costco (st. louis style are often fattier and less flavorful, in my opinion).
Could be old spices too. Try buying a rib rub that you can find in the site. I LOVE the applewood bbq rub in bulk at Winco if you have those sites in your area.
For 2 or more ribs, how much extra time, if any, is added? Thanks!
Same cooking time 🙂 Enjoy!
Wow! Those were amazing! Thank you for the help. They fell off the bone. So juicy, I put bar-b-que sauce on them at the end on the broiler. Instant hero!
Made these today and they were delicious. Did them for about 6 minutes on the bbq…falling off the bone.
This recipe was amazing and the timing worked out perfectly for 3 whole racks of ribs. I cut each rack in half and ended up with two full circles of ribs (an inner and and outer layer) around the pot.
I didn’t have any liquid smoke and they still tasted amazing!
Has anyone cooked the ribs in the IP a few hours earlier then heated them on the grill or broiler with sauce right before serving. Also can I put several racks in at the same time overlapping each other standing up?
I put 2 racks of St Louis ribs in my 6qt for 35 min. Will update with results.
Laura,
I’m getting ready to do two racks of St. Louis ribs in my 6qt. How did your two racks turn out? Was 35 min enough?
We LOVE this recipe and have made them several times, fitting two racks in the IP for leftovers. I have found that no change is needed for my cook times – once the IP comes to pressure, everything cooks pretty evenly. Because we don’t have a grill available, I add a tsp of liquid smoke to my cup of water, and they taste more authentic.
I loved these ribs! First time, I brushed them with BBQ sauce and put them in a high oven (450) for 10 minutes after removing them from the Instant Pot. I did this the second time but kind of lost my appetite so after 10 minutes I turned the oven off and let them lay in there to keep warm. Over an hour later I had the most delicious ribs with a chewy caramelized exterior and fall off the bone tenderness.
I never used to eat ribs until I purchased my Instant Pot but now I’m a big fan.
I did two racks, overlapping each other standing up, for 30 minutes, and they were fall off the bone perfect.
I’ll smoke on the grill for 2 hours, then pressure cook for 30 min, fall off the bone smoked ribs in 2.5 hrs anybody?!
Wow!.. never cooked ribs before… Hubby & I are always looking for good ribs at restaurants. . Just cooked this recipe for the 1st time and I think the search is OVER! Hubby says he doesn’t think he’ll order ribs at a restaurant again he likes them so much!
Good directions.. I just used a rib rub and store bbq… can’t wait to start tinkering with my own spices…
Didn’t have my pressure cookers trivet so just put them in the pot without it… still worked great.
Thanks for the awsome recipe!!
No trivet? Just ball up a couple of LONG pieces of aluminum foil and make a round circle of it to put around the perimeter of the bottom of the pressure cooker. It keeps the ribs out of the liquid the same as a trivet would. I just did this five minutes ago. LOL
I was just wondering how I could make this work since I left my trivet at home. THANKS SO MUCH!
Are spare ribs the same as “St Louis” ribs?
Yes, St Louis ribs are spare ribs 🙂 Enjoy!
What about single “country” style ribs? I suppose that would work as well, probably need to extend the cooking time.
St. Louis ribs are just the baby back ribs. Spare ribs have the back ribs plus a fair amount of additional meat such as a boneless tail and a bone piece cutting across the top of the ribs. Note that the recipe calls for additional cooking time if you purchased spare ribs.
St. Louis ribs are not baby back ribs.
https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-baby-back-ribs-and-st-louis-ribs-meat-basics-219386