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.
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I don’t have a Pressure Cooker of any kind and was wondering if this receipt can be used in a Slow Cooker. I usually boil my ribs first and then season them heavily. I then let them rest with the seasoning for an hour or two and next into the broiler on both sides. Everyone loves my ribs but I usually do 5 or 6 racks and it takes me hours to boil the ribs til their just about ready to fall off the bone. Help..
I love the idea of making ribs in a slow cooker! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
Can’t wait to try! What did you use for bbq sauce?
I personally love Stubb’s BBQ!
Looks Great going to try this PM
The “Ground red pepper” ingredient, is that cayenne?
Yes, that is correct!
This sounds delish! I’ve tried to do ribs at different times and none were as perfect as my son in laws. THIS I can do!
I would like to see some IP recipes slightly altered for the Intant Pot Ultra, which does not have a “Manual” setting. Do I just press “slow cooker”? If you have any insight on this, it would help me better learn to use my new IP. Thanks.
Shirley, you can press “PRESSURE COOK” and use the dial to select your cooking time.
Can I cook with frozen ribs too? Will it still taste just the same?
I recommend thawing the ribs.
Is there that much difference between the prep for a Instant Pot and a stove top Pressure cooker? I see all your pressure cooker recipes are for Instant Pot Cookers.
Hi Rick! All of my Instant Pot recipes have only been tested in said Instant Pot so I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when using a standard non-IP pressure cooker.
I just rec’d my IP so I’m not that familiar cooking with it. I don’t see the trivet (that you reference in yr BBQ ribs recipe) placement in the picture. How do I use it for the ribs? Perhaps another picture showing that? Love your website!
Hi Maureen! Congrats on the new Instant Pot! The trivet should have been included with your purchase.
You don’t understand her question. She’s asking where it should be placed since you can’t see it in the picture of your ribs in the IP. I mean, it’s a pretty silly question considering the only place a trivet ever goes is on the bottom but whatever lol.
On the bottom of the IP. There is nowhere else you can put it. Just open the pot. Put the trivet inside and put your ribs on it. Easy peasy.