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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Hi ….really looking forward to making these ribs….I bought ribs that are very meaty (think) will that change the cooking time. by the way absolutely love all your recipes that I’ve tried so far thank syou!!!
OMG I tried this recipe today and it came out perfect Thank You
Easy and so delicious! The flavor profile was really good and it was super tender and very quick to make! My family loved it! I will have to try doubling it next time…seriously so tasty! Thanks!
I would like to double the amount of ribs. Would I need to increase the cooking time?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without having tried this myself, I cannot answer with certainty. But if you get a chance to try it, please let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Made the instapot barbicue pork ribsttoday! They were damn delicious! Thanks!
Awesome!
My experience is that 2.5 cups liquid is about a 1.5C too much if you don’t want the ribs to be swimming in it. If at all possible, I’d let the rub be on the meat for a few hours (even overnight) if you want to taste the spices later. I marinated the ribs for about 24hrs, and used a cup of apple cider vinegar. 20 min on high pressure/QR and the meat was already pulling off the bones. Don’t get too crazy trimming fat, it’ll mostly render off and it adds flavor. Pulled the ribs out of the pot, painted with Stubbs original and put in a 425 oven for about 12 min which allowed the sauce to reduce and thicken on the ribs. Some call for using the broiler, but mine doesn’t cover that evenly.
This was the first thing I made in my Instant Pot. The ribs were perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. I have the Instant Pot Ultra and needed a little help figuring out what buttons to press but the end result was delicious.
Awesome!
Tried the recipe, a couple weeks ago… It was delicious. Fall-off-the bone ribs and a taste that called for more. Yeah, I still cook for one, but there’s nothing wrong with left-overs.. LOL
I think the most important thing was your recipe for the ‘rub.’ Never understood how important that was, but am up to speed now… Thanks to you, I’m beginning to understand the capabilities of my ‘Instant Pot,’ and how it works alongside my desire for rice with most meals, and how to bring it together… Thanks, -pp
So happy you are enjoying your IP!
Im going to use this recipe with some Fox brothers spicy BBQ sauce for a neighborhood rib cookoff.I had to order the sauce but I have high hopes.Ill keep you posted.
This recipe is amazing, we’ve made it twice in a month and it’s a hit! 🙂
So happy to hear that!
I followed this exactly and my ribs did not fall off the bone I had to put them in the oven for 4 more hours on low and they still didn’t fall off the bone they had a good flavor but I will not be doing this again! It was a waste of time and money.
We, made these today and then finished on the grill. They were incredible!
Love that!
Just made these in an eight quart IP Duo. WOW! So tender and the flavor is fantastic. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s sweet and spicy BBQ sauce to finish them off. Another hit, keep ’em coming!
Thanks, Jeff!
Just got IP duoplus and am using this as my first recipe! I don’t see a manual mode on it …? What other setting do i use ? I LOVE you and all your recipes ! I’ve made Atleast 15 diff ones and they’re always amazing !!!
Elizabeth, you can press “PRESSURE COOK” and use the dial to select your cooking time.
thank u!!! made it last night and it was delish!
Awesome!
1/2 the amount of ribs! any adjustments?
You can halve the recipe. 🙂
Wow! The ribs look impressive with your glossy sauce! I’ve never imagined we can make the bbq ribs by an instant pot! I cannot wait to try this soon!!
– Natalie Ellis
Let us know how you like them!
You probably won’t get this in time, because I’m already half way through my prep, but would you alter the time at all for an 8qt IP?
No, the timing should stay relatively the same. It would just take a little longer for it to come to pressure.
Is it necessary to submerge the ribs totally in the broth ? Or turn the ribs half way in the cooking? I m concerned the ribs not evenly soaked in the chicken cider mixture.
The ribs are actually not soaked in the mixture. They should be standing upright on the trivet.
Do you think short ribs could be used instead of baby back ribs?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
My sister used this recipe with short ribs last night and they were delicious! I will be making them at home this week, really looking forward to it 😀
Would you ever consider including step photos in your posts? For example, perhaps removing the membrane from the ribs? I’ve never cooked ribs before, though I’d like to try this recipe, and it would be nice to see how it’s supposed to be done/what it would look like. Thanks!
I have he same question, please consider using step by step photos in your recipes it would help a lot! There are several of your recipes that I want to try but I am a little confused by the directions. Please consider!
I’ve been wavering on buying an Instapot, mostly waiting for a recipe to convince me to pay 70 – 80 bucks for an one. this one did it. So I went to my WM app and would you believe, the app opens and on the home page scroll, the 6qt Instapot is on sale (30.00 off) for $49.99 – 3 days only. Not sure which day this is or if it’s really just 3 days but I ordered mine. Can’t wait to give your baby backs a try!