Fast N’ Easy Instant Pot Ribs
I decided to test ribs in the Instant Pot because I’m obsessed with ribs. So obsessed, in fact, that I look forward to attending Rib Fest in the Chicagoland area every year around the Fourth of July. They have a lineup of the number one award-winning BBQ rib joints in the country.
I always end up at the same stands that I went to in previous years because they give me the ribs I’m looking for: juicy, tangy, sweet, meaty, and smokey. That’s the perfect combination for me, at least.
These Instant Pot ribs are the closest thing I can get to Rib Fest. I don’t own a smoker (yay rental life) so I don’t have the opportunity to cook them that way. Plus, even if I did, I don’t want to go outside to check on meat every hour.
Instant Pot BBQ ribs are totally easy and don’t take as long. Though, you’ll get similar results of smokey, tender, and juicy ribs as you would have to have ribs cook all day in a smoker. Give me all the BBQ sauce, because I am craving Instant Pot ribs just by writing this.
How to Make Easy Instant Pot Ribs
As I said, you’re saving time just by not using a grill or a smoker with Instant Pot BBQ ribs. Through the Instant Pot, you will be reaping the benefits much, MUCH quicker than the alternative.
For these Instant Pot Ribs, you’re going to want to choose your perfect rib choice. Now, to you, that maybe baby back ribs or spare ribs. I’m going to stick with baby back ribs in my recipe.
I always look for the meatiest ribs when I’m at the butcher or grocery store, so go ahead and choose the kind you like. Remember, if they’re thicker, they deserve a little more cooking time. Leaner ribs do not.
You’re going to start by cleaning one or two racks of ribs (you can fit both racks in the Instant Pot and you’ll cook them for the same time) and removing the membrane (if yours comes with one) and patting your ribs dry.
Using the dry rub with a combination of sweet and spicy flavors including brown sugar, paprika, and cayenne pepper, you already probably have in your pantry, (see more below) you’ll be covering your ribs generously. Of course, if you like yours on the spicy side, be more generous with the spices, and vice versa.
Ribs in the Instant Pot
You can place your Instant Pot BBQ ribs overnight in the fridge, covering in a big enough dish with plastic wrap. This is going to be optional, but will definitely seal in the flavors if you decide to do this. Or at least, let it sit a few hours in your fridge before making them.
When you are ready to get going, it will be important to keep the liquid smoke in the recipe due to the fact that we’re not getting the smokiness from a grill or smoker.
The liquid smoke also provides a great bit of flavor, especially since we’re cooking our Instant Pot ribs rather quickly.
You’ll also add in your other ingredients including either homemade or your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. I have a homemade BBQ sauce you can use. Or see below for the full homemade recipe.
Instant Pot Ribs Cook Time
For baby back ribs, you will cook them for about 23 minutes with high pressure and then add on five minutes for a natural release.
The spare ribs I’m going to make will go in the Instant Pot for 35 minutes on high pressure, with a natural release that is full, about 15 minutes. Spare rib meat tends to be a tougher cut, which means it needs more time to be tender.
Instant Pot Ribs Finishing Touches
When I’m done cooking my ribs, I brush my ribs and either put them under a broiler or under the Instant Pot DuoCrisp lid for a few minutes to crisp the top and thicken my BBQ sauce.
Serve Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
My favorite side with ribs is my Instant Pot three-cheese mac n cheese and a veggie like creamed spinach. I love to enjoy these Instant Pot ribs year round so I can feel like I’m at Rib Fest in July, even when it’s January.
Finding the Right Instant Pot
For Instant Pot ribs, I used my six-quart Instant Pot Duo with Instant Pot Duo Crisp lid. For more Instant Pot and pressure cooker reviews, check out my previous posts – there’s no wrong answer!
Fast N’ Easy Instant Pot Ribs
Ingredients
- Rub:
- 1 tbsp of paprika
- 1 tsp of ground black pepper
- 1 tsp of chili powder
- 1 tsp of kosher salt
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
- 1 tsp of onion powder
- ¼ (more or less) of cayenne pepper depending on preference
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, plus more if you like them sweeter
- Ribs:
- 1 rack or 1 & ½ to 2 pounds or 2 racks of baby back or spare ribs (no more than two pounds for more tender cooking)
- 3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp of liquid smoke
- ¼ cup of homemade or store-bought bbq sauce, plus more desired sauce for serving
- Homemade BBQ sauce:
- 1 cup of ketchup
- 1 tbsp of brown sugar
- 2 tbs of dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup of low sodium chicken stock or water
- 1 tbsp of maple syrup
- 1 tbsp of honey
Instructions
- Rinse ribs, patting them dry, removing the thin and shiny membrane from the back if it is still on, by ripping and pulling the membrane off the back (meat-side down).
- Mix rub ingredients together in a small bowl: paprika, black pepper, chili powder, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar.
- Rub the rub mixture generously all over your ribs on both sides.
- Place ribs in a glass container and cover with plastic wrap to marinate either overnight or for a few hours. If short on time, skip this step and go straight to the Instant Pot.
- Put your trivet/rack on the bottom of your six quarts or eight quart Instant Pot. Pour the remaining ingredients: apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and bbq sauce (pre-mix before adding if homemade) into the instant pot.
- Put your ribs inside the Instant Pot on their side, standing on top of the trivet/rack, wrapped around the inside of the Instant Pot in a circle.
- Close your Instant Pot lid and get ready to press start. Baby back ribs you will push manual/pressure on high for 23-25 minutes (meatier ribs will be on the longer side).
- Once the timer goes off, wait 5 minutes to do a natural release of the remaining pressure.
- For spare ribs: you’ll cook these on manual/pressure on high for 35 minutes, waiting 15 minutes once the timer goes off before doing a full, natural release of the remaining pressure.
- Once the pin drops, open your lid and take out your ribs. Place on top of a foil-lined baking sheet, brush on more bbq sauce and put them under your broiler for two to three minutes.
- If you have the air fryer/Instant Pot Duo Crisp lid, keep them in the Instant Pot, brush on more BBQ sauce, and turn on the air fryer/broil mode for a few minutes to crisp up.
