How long it takes: 15 minutes to prep, just over an hour to cook Equipment you’ll need: Instant pot pressure cooker, baking sheet to broil Servings: 4 Enter: the Instant Pot. Deliciously tender ribs in an “instant”! The first time I made Instant Pot ribs, I honestly expected them to be alright, but not outrageously good. However, these ribs are really delicious! They fall off the bone and have great flavor. And they’re ready to eat in just an hour and a half.
Easy Instant Pot Ribs
Pressure cooked ribs. The magic of Instant Pot ribs is that you don’t have to slow cook the ribs for hours and hours to get that tender fall-off-the-bone quality that everyone wants. Thanks to pressure cooking, you can have tender ribs in about an hour and a half. You’ll love that it’s completely hands-off once you get the ribs into the Instant Pot. This cooking technique is also perfect for short ribs, which also usually take hours in the oven. Smoky flavor. I won’t pretend that they’re the same as slow-smoked ribs. Nothing is better than that! However, with a bit of liquid smoke, your ribs will have that same smoky flavor without all the hassle. You don’t need a smoker, wood chips, and hours of time standing outside. Plenty of BBQ goodness. The ribs get a lot of their great flavor from a homemade rub that slowly permeates and seasons the ribs as they cook. It’s easy to make with pantry ingredients. After you cook the ribs, slather on your favorite BBQ sauce (I love this homemade BBQ sauce). The ribs are briefly broiled to caramelize the sauce and give the ribs the perfect barbecued exterior.
Ingredient Notes
Baby Back Pork Ribs: You should be able to fit one rack of ribs (3 to 5 pounds) in a 6 quart Instant Pot. This can be four servings, depending on how many ribs you want to serve to each person. The recipe card also has instructions for St. Louis-style ribs, if you prefer those. Yellow Mustard: I find that smearing the ribs with yellow mustard helps the BBQ rub adhere. You won’t taste the flavor of the mustard but it serves an important purpose. BBQ Rub: The ribs are seasoned with a mixture of brown sugar and spices. Look in your pantry for chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seeds, salt and pepper. The rub mixture can be made ahead. This is basically my recipe for homemade BBQ rub that you can use on ribs, chicken, or pretty much anything. If you already have a BBQ rub that you like, feel free to substitute it. Broth: The purpose of the broth is to steam the ribs in the pressure cooker and is poured into the bottom of the Instant Pot. You can use beef broth, chicken broth, water, or beer, if you prefer. Apple Cider Vinegar: The cider adds a tangy and slightly sweet element to the ribs. Liquid Smoke: This ingredient is optional but I highly recommend it. There’s nothing quite like the flavor of ribs that have been smoked all day. Liquid smoke is a much easier and faster way to add that flavor. It’s actually made by burning wood; the steam is collected and condensed to make liquid smoke. BBQ Sauce: There are so many types of barbecue sauce to choose from; simply choose the one you like best. I often make my own BBQ sauce; it’s easy and has great flavor.
How To Make Instant Pot Ribs
Make the BBQ rub. In a small bowl, combine the rub ingredients: brown sugar, salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and celery seeds. Set it aside for now. Get the Instant Pot ready. Position the metal steamer rack in the bottom of your Instant Pot. Pour in a cup of broth, apple cider vinegar, and the liquid smoke (if you decide to use it). Prep the ribs. The trick to really tender ribs is to remove the silvery membrane from the back side of the ribs. Using a knife or fork, carefully loosen the membrane on one end of the ribs, grab onto it with a paper towel (which helps you grip it), and peel it off. Add seasoning. Rub the yellow mustard over the surface of the meat. I usually use my hands but you can use a brush if you’re squeamish. Once the ribs are coated with mustard, liberally sprinkle the BBQ rub mixture on the meat and lightly rub it in. The mustard will help it adhere. Position the ribs in the Instant Pot. Since the rack of ribs won’t fit flat, set the ribs on their side and curl it around the inside of the pot with the meat facing outward. The photos illustrate how to do this. Put the lid on the pressure cooker and seal it. Pressure cook the ribs. Set the Instant Pot for Pressure Cook, 30 minutes (or Manual, High Pressure, depending on the model you have). It will take roughly 15 minutes to come to pressure. When the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. I usually set a timer so I know when 15 minutes has passed. Carefully release any remaining pressure and remove the lid. Broil the ribs. While the pressure is releasing from the Instant Pot, preheat the broiler. Line a heavy sheet pan with foil and set the ribs on it, meat side up. Brush the surface of the ribs with the BBQ sauce. Broil them until the sauce is bubbling and has lightly caramelized. Be sure to keep an eye on the ribs because you don’t want the sauce to scorch or the ribs to dry out. This final step of broiling really takes the ribs to the next level. They look and taste like you’ve spent all day in front of the grill.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Instant Pot ribs with homemade healthy coleslaw and crispy roasted potatoes, and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal. This broccoli salad or baked macaroni and cheese would be so good, too. If you have an air fryer, try homemade air fryer tater tots. End the meal with a delicious icebox dessert like Kool-Aid pie or chocolate delight.
Recipe Variations
Substitute St. Louis ribs. We tested this recipe a few different ways to make sure it works for other types of ribs, such as spare ribs. St. Louis-style ribs (spare ribs) come from the belly instead of the back. They’re meatier and contain a bit more fat. You can use the same cooking method but they do take a bit longer to cook. The recipe card has instructions. Choose your own BBQ rub. Instead of making your own, feel free to use any rub that you like. Make ribs in your crockpot. If you prefer to cook the ribs all day, try my slow cooker ribs. The cooking process is quite similar. They can be cooked on High for four to five hours, or on Low for eight to ten hours.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate/Freeze: Leftover ribs should be wrapped well or put in a covered container. They can be refrigerated for three to four days or frozen for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Reheat: You can use your microwave to reheat small portions but I recommend reheating ribs in the the oven. Wrap the ribs in foil and place them in a pan or dish. Add a little water or extra sauce, if desired. Bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 30 minutes or until heated through. Interested in a weekly meal plan that includes this recipe? Take a look at Meal Plan #90. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. We add a new meal plan weekly. in your Instant Pot!
