Easy Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
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The easiest and quickest BBQ ribs made right in your pressure cooker! So saucy, sticky, and tender, it just falls off-the-bone!
I’ll be completely honest with you.
We had to recipe test these ribs a minimum of 3 times to completely perfect them. So I came home with 2 racks of baby back ribs on 3 separate occasions. In a span of 2 weeks, of course.
That being said, we can really thank Ben for this recipe. He was an avid recipe tester here, thoroughly eating through all the ribs each and every time.
So, thank you, babe. You’ve helped us create the most perfect tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs each and every time in less than one hour.
I’m serious, guys. This is truly the only way to prepare baby back ribs. The IP cuts down the time by more than half, and the quick broil at the very end helps caramelize the sauce so it’s super sticky, and well, just perfect.
Easy Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 2-pound racks baby back pork ribs, trimmed of excess fat, rinsed, and patted dry
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, onion powder, chili powder, mustard, paprika, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, cumin and cayenne pepper.
- Remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs, pulling it down the entire length. Season ribs with brown sugar mixture, rubbing in thoroughly on both sides.
- Add chicken stock and apple cider vinegar to a 6-qt Instant Pot®. Place metal trivet into the pot. Place ribs upright on top of the trivet, wrapping in a circle.
- Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 20-25 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Preheat oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Place ribs, meat side up, in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet; brush with barbecue sauce.
- Place into oven and broil until barbecue sauce is caramelized and browned, about 4-6 minutes.
- Serve immediately with remaining barbecue sauce.
Did you make this recipe?
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By far the best ribs we have ever eaten. We’ve cooked ribs in smoker, on grill, and in oven…and they were all good.
But THESE ribs LITERALLY fell off the bone! We wondered about the vinegar (I HATE the taste and smell)…but there was NO taste of it, and it must have had a purpose, because these ribs were perfect!
We are in the process of cooking them for tonight again! Thanks souch for sharing this with all of us!
Made these for my hubby . His reaction was priceless. Said best ribs he had ever eaten. Must say I agreed with him. So tomorrow I’m making more. I make the rub and put in on the ribs the night before I make them.. ..thank you for a great IP recipe…
My wife just love them she said they were the best ribs she has ever ate and I love them too. I have threw away all of my recipes for ribs except this one
I used my IP duo evo plus with only one rack of baby back ribs. I loved the flavors of the rub and they were tender but not all falling off the bones. I think next time I will decrease the liquid. or could you use the liquid after taking the ribs out by reducing it to make a sauce? I will make again soon. Thank you for a delicious easy IP rib recipe.
The dry rub was great, didn’t even need bbq sauce. Eliminate brown sugar to make keto-friendly. I cooked at high-pressure for 25 minutes and let natural release for 20 minutes. The 3 racks were cooked perfectly (yes, “falling off the bone” perfectly). Thanks for sharing this method/recipe, my son loved it, as did I.
My husband said these were my best. Quite a compliment as I’ve been making him ribs for 52 years!
I made 1/2 with barbecue. We enjoyed them with just the delicious rub.
Can’t. Wait to make these for my kids and their families.
Awesome receipe!
Made these Ribs, they were so good!
This recipe is a keeper! Followed the recipe to a tee!!!
Great flavored rub. I cooked 1 rack for 22 minutes, just right time for meat to fall off bone but not all in the pot as I removed the ribs to a foil lined pan. They were dryer than I like. Will try natural release for 10 or so miutes next time as I understand that will draw some of the moisture back into the meat.
Made these tonight and will never make ribs any other way. Gave me a reason to keep my instapot. Get glavor a good instructions. Thank you
I made baby back ribs in my new instant pot duo nova pressure cooker following this recipe. But, I only cooked one slab, not two, since only me and my husband are home for dinner tonight. I wasn’t sure whether I should modify the liquid amount or the cooking time – so I used a little less stock and vinegar and cooked for only 20 minutes. The ribs were cooked, but they were not “falling off the bone” as other reviews have stated. So, lesson learned for next time, will cook one slab for 25 or 30 minutes and will not modify the liquid. Otherwise, the ribs tasted great!
Realized this rub is a clone of a north Carolina rub W/more stuff .great taste !!
This is only the second time I’ve used the instant pot. This recipe is the best!! Ribs were delicious and moist. Great dinner!
These ribs are fantastic! My husband loves them and this recipe compares to his favorite rib place
Come here from your Italian baked eggs post, you help me prepare not only breakfast but also dinner lol
Thank you for your sharing, Chungah!!
Such a great recipe! Our ribs fell right off the bone! Delicious flavor!
I made this tonight for the first time, and it was great! I mean, really great! Especially the rub. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing the Ribs was a hit thanks again for making me look like a super star ⭐️
The ribs were the best I have ever made, thank you for perfecting it. I would like to experiment with different BBQ sauces, any suggestions?
We LOVE this recipe!! We’re hoping to cook 6 racks in an 8 qt. Any suggestions on liquid amounts and cooking time?
Excellent! Better than what most restaurants serve. So good! We didn’t change a thing and you don’t need to.