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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Made these tonight. Followed the recipe to the letter. Loved them and wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you so much. Definitely a keeper!
Delicious! I used riblets and put the rub on the night before. I used one cup of cider vinegar and a little liquid smoke, but I think the next time I might go with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 broth. Cooked for 25 minutes and natural release for 10 minutes.
These ribs were delicious, tender, flavorful. My 6 year old begged for more. I should have cooked 2 racks but will definitely be saving this recipe. I am new to IP cooking. Thank you for sharing this recipe and method. For newbies, be sure to remove as much fat as possible. Some of mine expelled during the broiling process, but I will remove more next time.
Great recipe, the most tender ribs I ever had. Peels right off the bone!
Made for my family who were desperate for something grilled but my bbq is broken. Found this recipe on line already had many of the spices to make the rub. Drop off the bone delicious and if you are looking to make something in the summer and not overheat your kitchen this is the ticket.
Have tried this recipe several times and it always turns out delicious, fall-off the bone tender ribs. I added a little bit of Cabernet Sauvignon wine I use specially for cooking. Also added a few small potatoes. Excellent!!!
I’ve made this recipe several times. I’ve found That adding an extra 3-5 minutes of IP cook time helps make the ribs more tender. The ribs have always been delicious and they’re done super fast compared to using my smoker.
Absolutely delicious! Made ribs in my instant-pot before but this recipe is by far the best. I only cooked one rack so I think maybe I should have cut down on the time, but other than that, PERFECTO!
Excellent and so easy, I have passed along receipe to my sister who was also impressed on how moist yet delicious in no matter of time. Thank you.
Simply delicious. I’ve smoked, bbq, oven roasted ribs every which way. Never delivered this tender. These are the BEST.
Smoke the ribs on a pellet smoker for 1-2 hours. Pull, follow this recipe (take a few mins off, starting at a higher ambient meat temp) finish at max heat on the grill w/sauce…Wow… Tender. Smoky. Delish af.
Tried them… Damn delicious !!!A
If I am only doing 1 rack of ribs, do I half the liquid going in the instant pot, or should I leave it the same?
Looking forward to making these later this week!
Thanks!
I had 3lbs of pre-dryrubbed babyback ribs. I have an 8 qt instapot. I put 2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup vinegar as they state but didn’t have anymore broth so just added a 1/2 cup water. Pressure cooked for 35 min and 5 under the broiler with bbq sauce. FANTASTIC! THANK YOU.
Thank you for this info. I am a newbie to Instant Pot, as of yesterday. I bought an 8qt.
This was by far the best rub I’ve come across to make at home. I used a Kansas city bbq sauce & the ribs all disappeared!!
Great recipe! First time everything wonderful… second and third times the meat wouldn’t come off the bone!! Did anyone have varying success depending on how lucky they got with the baby back ribs?
Great receipe, use it over and over. Best ribs
This is a great recipe. We usually smoke ribs but I wanted them as a weeknight meal and we didn’t have the time. This was a great alternative to the smoke and you really don’t sacrifice flavor. I had mine under pressure for 23 minutes but they were a fairly thick slab of St Louis ribs. I think I’ll add 4-5 minutes the next time I cook since 23 minutes were still a little tougher than I like. All in all, a fantastic recipe and the apple cider vinegar and chicken stock were perfect for adding flavor. I’ll definitely use this recipe again!
Just amazing – ribs have always intimidated me, and I decided to try out this recipe. These ribs are amazing! So amazing, in fact, that they never made it to the table…we didn’t move them from the counter as my kids and husband ate them standing up:-) Thank you!
These were absolutely excellent, fall-off the bone tender. We made our own barbecue sauce, using the recipe you have on this site for barbecue chicken. And that was exceptional too.
I made these but put them in the oven instead they were delicious!!
These are the best ribs I have ever tried and I have tried some amazing ribs in my lifetime. I just wanted to say the the person who said to slow release them…. given I have used this recipe 3 times with a quick release…. you do not need to do a natural release. I agree…. typically it is better but I accidentally did that on my third time around and the meat was falling apart too much….
I highly recommend a fast release so the meat stays on the bone but it is SUPER TENDER AND DELICIOUSLY DELICATE
I Add liquid smoke to the broth and I use less cumin and less bbq but other then that… this recipe is perfect straight to the measurements, I just don’t fancy cumin.