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Instant Pot Ribs Recipe – fall-off-the-bone tender!

Instant Pot Ribs are one of the best things to make in an Instant Pot or a Pressure Cooker. These bbq ribs cook at a fraction of the time while still keeping the meat fall-off-the-bone tender. Make Pork Ribs this way once and you’ll never do them any other way.

Looking for more recipes to use your Instant Pot with? You will love this Instant Pot Korean Beef and Rice, IP Beef Rice Pilaf, or this yummy Beef Stroganoff cooked in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot ribs piled with a bbq sauce and a salad in the background.

Instant Pot Pork Ribs

One of the first recipes that I tried in a pressure cooker was this Instant Pot pork ribs recipe, and it has since become a favorite way to enjoy BBQ. Surprisingly, I prefer to cook with pork over beef ribs for several reasons. I find the meat to be more tender, it’s readily available, and it’s more affordable.

These Instant Pot pork ribs are created so that every slab of meat is covered 360 degrees in flavor with juicy, flavorful meat and a zingy homemade bbq sauce.

Fair warning – these are messy, but the best ribs always are! 🙂

Instant Pot pork ribs with bbq sauce showing meat texture.

Ribs in the Instant Pot

At first, it may seem like cooking ribs in the Instant Pot is a stretch, but it’s actually pretty clever. Here’s why:

  • Ribs in the Instant Pot cook faster. If cooking in the oven, ribs take 2 – 3 hours, or longer! In the Instant Pot, on the other hand, ribs cook in well under an hour.
  • They come out super juicy. Cooking ribs in the Instant Pot has the unique benefit of retaining all the moisture during cooking, in fact, they are more moist and juicy when you make them this way then if you were to do just the traditional oven method.
  • They cook on their own. Like any IP meal, the pressure cooker does the work safely for you while you go about your business.
  • Easy cleanup. Once your ribs are done cooking, simply skim off any fat at the top of the liquid, then dump the liquid and put the IP pot in the dishwasher.

Ribs in the instant pot just after being cooked with texture of meat showing.

BBQ Ribs

BBQ ribs are among my favorite foods. This version has the perfect tension of smokey spices and a tangy-sweet sauce.

You can use whatever sauce you would like to coat your BBQ ribs in. You can also make your own BBQ sauce following my favorite BBQ recipe HERE.

Substitute BBQ Ribs for Dry Rub

I prefer to eat bbq ribs, rather than a dry rib with a rub. However, if you have a strong preference for a dry rub, this recipe will still work.

Make the bbq ribs exactly as directed below, except skip the step where you brush with bbq before placing in the oven. Easy!

BBQ ribs with lime slices and fresh herbs.

Tips for this BBQ Ribs Recipe

  • Prep ahead of time. One easy way to prep is to pre-mix the seasoning for the rub. You can even make a batch and keep it in an airtight container for several days, or possibly longer if you wait to add the mayo and mustard.
  • Cut the ribs between each bone. This optional step may seem like a bit of extra work up front, but it’s worth it. This will get you 100% more flavor as the ribs are wrapped in the sauce and spices 360 degrees.
  • Use a ziplock bag. Rather than make the bbq ribs recipe by tossing ribs in a bowl with the rub, save a dish and dump everything into a ziplock storage bag. Shake the bag to make sure the pieces are all coated, then massage the spices into the meat through the bag.
  • Use the steam rack. You don’t the ribs to sit in the liquid inside the instant pot. This bbq ribs recipe retains all the flavor of the pork by steaming the meat, rather than boiling it.
  • Cut your time. I recommend this bbq ribs recipe be cooked for 45 minutes on high pressure. However, if you are really in a hurry, you can cut the time to just 30 minutes. The ribs will still be very soft and tender, but if you reeeeallly want them fall-off-the-bone-tender, the extra 15 minutes is worth it.
  • Finish in the oven or on the grill. The final step of this bbq ribs recipe is to put the ribs in the oven or on a grill for 10-15 minutes until the sauce is caramelized. This is the step that gives the ribs that charred, perfect texture—don’t skip it!
  • Brush with sauce before serving. To make sure this bbq ribs recipe is literally dripping in flavor, give the ribs one more brush with sauce after pulling them out of the oven.

How to Make Instant Pot Ribs

  • Gather the ingredients for the Instant Pot ribs

Shot of ingredients for Instant Pot ribs

  • Combine the dry rub ingredients and set aside

Visual of how to make rub for Instant Pot Ribs

  • Remove skin from underneath the ribs
  • Cut the ribs in between each bone

Removing skin and trimming pieces for Instant Pot ribs

  • Add the rib pieces and rub to a ziplock bag or bowl
  • Toss everything together to coat the Instant Pot ribs evenly

Ziplock bag filled with Instant Pot ribs and rub ingredients.

  • Combine together liquid for the IP, set aside.
  • Set the Instant Pot ribs on top of the steam rack insert within the IP
  • Pour in the prepared liquid.
  • Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.

Visual step by step of how to make Instant Pot ribs

  • Once the Instant Pot ribs are done cooking, release the pressure.
  • Place ribs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and brush with BBQ sauce.

Visual step by step directions for Instant Pot ribs

  • Bake the Instant Pot ribs in the oven until the sauce is well caramelized.
  • Brush with BBQ sauce once more right before serving.

Finished Instant Pot ribs on a baking sheet

More Pork Recipes to Try:

Instant Pot Ribs Recipe

5 from 2 votes

These tender Instant Pot ribs are slathered in a delicious rub, then topped with a tangy bbq sauce.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pork, ribs
Calories: 560 kcal
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Dry Rub

Steaming Liquid

Instructions

How to make Instant Pot Ribs

  1. Make the rub by combining 2 tbsp unsalted dry ranch seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp black ground pepper, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tbsp mayonnaise or oil, and 1 tbsp grain mustard or Dijon mustard, set aside.

  2. Remove membrane: Flip the ribs meat side down, then insert a butter knife under the shiny thin, shiny membrane and wiggle it to loosen. With a paper towel grip the membrane and pull it off to remove. Cut ribs between each bone.

  3. Massage the spices in: Add the ribs and the spice mixture and massage the spices into the meat. Set aside.

  4. Make the steaming liquid by combining 1/2 cup of red wine and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar.

  5. Fill the pot: Place the steam rack insert inside the Instant Pot insert, and pour in the prepared liquid, then place the ribs on top of the rack.

  6. Cook: Set the pressure cooker to high pressure at 45 minutes. Once the time expires, preheat your oven to 350°Fdegrees with the baking rack in the middle. Alternatively, you can also use a grill heated to 425°F degrees.

  7. Turn the steam valve on the Instant Pot to vent, and release the pressure.

  8. Brush with BBQ sauce: Remove the ribs to a lined with parchment paper or foil baking sheet and brush the ribs with 1/4 cup of homemade bbq, or your favorite store brand of bbq sauce.

  9. Bake: Bake the ribs in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce is well caramelized. Brush with BBQ sauce once more right before serving

Recipe Notes

An 8 qt instant pot will fit with up to 2 racks. Increase the amount of servings to instantly scale up the recipe ingredients list, if using 2 racks.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Ribs Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 560 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 192mg64%
Sodium 911mg40%
Potassium 885mg25%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 50g100%
Vitamin A 500IU10%
Calcium 62mg6%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Karina von Byern

    Can this recipe be adapted to a convection, regular oven or even a crockpot?

    · Reply
  • Ang

    What could I substitute for red wine? Beef broth?

    · Reply
  • MoneyFiver - Freelance Services

    I relish, lead to I discovered exactly what I used to be looking for.
    You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you
    man. Have a great day. Bye

    · Reply

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