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These Instant Pot ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, easy to make, and loaded with flavor! Enjoy them straight out of the pressure cooker, slathered with your favorite BBQ sauce!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Once you make ribs in your Instant Pot, you won’t want to make them any other way. The Instant Pot makes these ribs incredibly tender in record time!
- Customizable: Feel free to mix up the rub ingredients, add a little more spice if you like, or get a little crazy and improvise. You can also use different liquids to cook your ribs.
- Versatile: Make these ribs for a family gathering, potluck, or a busy weeknight. Serve them with my baked beans, corn on the cob and 1-hour rolls and dinner is served.
Ingredients You Need for Instant Pot Ribs
This ingredient list is simple and easy! Grab some ribs at your local store and cook these up. They are going to fly off the table! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
- Pork Ribs: Provide a tender, meaty texture and flavor.
- Apple Juice: You can use any kind of clear liquid as the base! Try chicken broth or even soda!
- Brown Sugar: Provides a depth of sweet flavor.
- Chili Powder: Adds a little kick and flavor but not too much heat.
- Paprika: Gives the ribs a sweet and unique taste that goes so well with meat.
- Garlic and Onion Powder: These add amazing savory flavor to the rub.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
- BBQ Sauce: You can use store-bought or Homemade BBQ Sauce!
How to Cook Ribs in an Instant Pot
The most amazing part about these ribs is that they are done in less than 30 minutes! And you would never know that they cooked so fast because they are tender and fall off the bone. You will love how convenient and delicious this recipe is.
- Add: Pour the apple juice in the bottom of the instant pot. Place the trivet in the instant pot on top of the liquid.
- Combine: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Prepare Ribs: To prepare the ribs, remove the membrane on the back of ribs. Simply grab ahold of the membrane and pull it off. Once the membrane is removed, pat the ribs dry using a paper towel.
- Rub: Rub the prepared seasonings generously on both sides of the ribs.
- Add: Place the rack of ribs inside the instant pot. Curl the ribs on top of the trivet.
- Cook: Plug in the instant pot. Put the lid on, turn the valve to seal, and select Manual or Pressure Cook for 25 minutes.
- Natural Release: Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10-15 minutes. Open the valve and carefully remove the ribs.
- Slather: Generously brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and broil for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve: Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side if you desire.
What Kind of Ribs Should I Use?
This Instant Pot Ribs recipe is for pork ribs, but you can use either side ribs or back ribs in this recipe.
- Side Ribs: Side ribs are generally less tender (i.e., less desirable) and, therefore, less expensive. I often buy side ribs on sale because, with the right cooking techniques, you can transform them into something amazing! With the Instant Pot, these ribs are going to fall off the bone, so I wouldn’t worry at all about using side ribs for this recipe.
- Back ribs (baby back ribs): These are more tender and have more meat on them, but they are also more expensive. You will cook both exactly the same, so choose whichever you like.
Maybe you enjoy side ribs for everyday meals but want to treat yourself to baby back ribs for a special occasion—or when they’re on sale. Or perhaps ribs are your ultimate favorite, and baby back ribs are your go-to every time. The choice is all yours!
How to Store Leftovers
Instant pot ribs make the best leftovers! You can have them for lunch or dinner the next day, or you can take the meat off of the bone and use it in a BBQ Salad!
- In the Fridge: Let your ribs cool completely, then wrap them tightly in foil or plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. Store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: Take the ribs out of the fridge and let them rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 225°F. Place the ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet, brush on extra BBQ sauce, and wrap them tightly in foil to seal in the moisture. Warm them in the oven for about 30 minutes or until heated through. (You’re reheating, not cooking, which is why the temperature is kept low.)
Make it a Meal!
These ribs are so mouthwatering and delicious and make the perfect main dish! You can put just about any side that you want with them but I can resist some potatoes, bread and veggies. Oh, and maybe a salad or two. Plus a dessert! Your friends will be lucky to be invited over to this meal and will be begging you for all of the recipes when they are done eating!
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Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds pork baby back ribs (about 1 large rack)
- 2 cups apple juice
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup store-bought or Homemade BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Pour the apple juice into the bottom of the instant pot. Place the trivet in the instant pot on top of the liquid.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- To prepare the ribs, remove the membrane on the back of the ribs. Simply grab ahold of the membrane and pull it off. Once the membrane is removed, pat the ribs dry using a paper towel.
- Rub the prepared seasonings generously on both sides of the ribs.
- Place the rack of ribs inside the instant pot. Curl the ribs on top of the trivet.
- Plugin the instant pot. Put the lid on, turn the valve to seal, and select Manual or Pressure Cook for 25 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10-15 minutes. Open the valve and carefully remove the ribs.
- Generously brush the ribs with barbecue sauce, and broil for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side if you desire.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you think I could double this? Would it fit in a 6 qt?
You can definitely double it but I think you will need a larger instant pot to do so, like an 8 qt. If you try it in the 6 and it works, please let me know!
Alyssa,
It worked to double it in my 6 qt! I just cut each slab into three. It turned out so tender and delicious for our Father’s Day dinner. Thanks!
Yay! Thanks so much for letting me know!
I would put the total time for this at 60 mins, estimate doesn’t include pressure build up, release or broil time. for a basic guide this was fine I did add a few drops of liquid smoke ribs came our great lots of variations when it comes to the size of rib racks, meatyness, preferred doneness etc. but this is a great starting point.
MS