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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Why would you recommend a quick release for meat.
Doing a quick release raises the boiling point and dries out the meat. I suggest at least a ten minute natural release.
Ken T,
Not to get too deep into the Physics, but PV=nrT where decreasing the pressure while holding all other variables constant directly decreases the temperature. Water boils at a lower temperature as the pressure decreases, which is why it takes so long to cook oatmeal on mount Everest. Quick release slows the cooking process by decreasing the temperature.
@Andy H – Hahahahaha!!!! Thanks for not getting too deep. 🙂
“Not to get too deep into the Physics, but PV=nrT…”
This is the easiest, tastiest rib recipe I have ever tried! Delicious! You have to try it to believe it. If you have an IP, please give this recipe a try! You wont be sorry!
Delicious! Ribs are an occasional treat around our house because we are staying away from pork and beef but when we feel like it we go off the grid. This recipe is most definitely a keeper. The apple cider vinegar gives it a unique flavor. I prefer to go lo and slo on the Big Green Egg but when it’s cold or raining or when we want a quick fix this recipe makes our day. Thanks.
Can I use this for one rack of ribs? How would that change the recipe?
Scrumptious!
Absolutely delicious!
My family could not stop raving about this dinner! I served it with some sweet corn and homemade Mac n cheese. They said the ribs were the best they ever ate! I made this exactly as written, definitely keeping this one!
I have used this recipe/method for making ribs for awhile now and every single time they come out bangin! Juicy, tender, falling off the bone, with a slightly crispy outside, just the way we like them. Dare I say its better than bbq’d! And much quicker too! Thanks so much for this recipe, on behalf of my whole family 🙂 even my 4 and 6 year old beg me for ribs on the regular.
Even though I accidentally switched the Cheyenne pepper and the paprika it was still amazing. This is my first recipe I’ve tried in my insta pot. It’s amazing I won’t ever by ribs while eating out again.
These Ribs are AMAZING! They taste just like I’ve put hours and hours of work into them! Big big hit in my house, Thank you!!!
I followed the recipe exactly as written. My ribs tasted delicious but they were tough. Any ideas why?? Thank you.
Ours were so tender best ribs ever. Let it slow release by itself. Takes a while but so worth it.
did you take off the back skin off them?
Mine were a little tough as well. I cooked for 23 minutes but next time I’ll probably add 5 minutes to the pressure cook portion.
I made these today! this in amazing BBQ without a BBQ grill. I used small
Instant Pot rice cooker. I surprised my husband, he likes rib BBQ so much. thanks for sharing this easy Instant pot BBQ recipe with us.
I have never left anyone a review until now. Your recipes are beyond words. I got my IP and googled a recipe for pork loin. Followed it and I will never use anything but yours. Tonite I wanted to make riblets. When I googled I looked specifically for you. I followed the recipe (used riblets instead of rack of ribs, no changes otherwise) and words can’t describe how fantastic, fall off the bone and delicious they were. I’ll never cook them in the oven again! Thanks for your detailed and easy recipes. I can’t wait to see what I make next with your help!!
This is my “go to”recipe for ribs. Perfect every time. I make it exactly like the recipe and it’s delicious!
These were beyond fabulous! We finish them off on the grill. Perfect. Just perfect!
My husband is not a fan of ribs but I love them. He said that these ribs were as good or better than any he has ever eaten. I used Apple juice instead of broth. DELICIOUS!
Sweet lord on high these were amazing!
quick – easy – tastes great. This is the second time I have made this and as far as I’m concerned it’s the only way to do ribs.
Finally an IP rib recipe I’m happy with! Hubs and I loved these. Used the side ribs we already had and gave them 35 minutes in the IP (they need more time than baby back) with NPR. They came out totally fall off the bone tender.
Next time I would cut back on the cayenne and do probably no more than 1/4 of the amount stated as I am not a fan of heat. Also, I doubled the brown sugar and garlic powder, cause they are both great.
Lastly, add 1-2 tsp of liquid smoke into IP liquid mix for extra flavour!
This worked just as smoothly as described, and the meat was tender and delicious. My one suggestion would be to apply barbeque sauce to BOTH sides of the ribs before putting them under the broiler (the last step). The spice rub on the ribs stays pretty intact while they’re in the Instant Pot, and it’s a tiny bit dry and gritty. Not bad, but where the sauce is applied, everything kind of melts together wonderfully under the broiler. The recipe says to put the sauce on top of the ribs, but next time I’ll put it on both sides.
I will also heat some barbeque sauce and serve it in small bowls, so more can be applied at the table, or the ribs can be dipped.
The flavor was great, though, and this is a really quick and easy way to make terrific ribs.
Yes to sauce on both sides! My husband and I thought the very same thing as you while eating these tonight.