I am of a certain belief that in any healthy relationship, it’s best not to keep score. Unless you are making Instant Pot Ribs, in which case MEGA PARTNER POINTS.
Fall off the bone tender, mega meaty, and destined to elicit serious finger licking, these savory Instant Pot Ribs will make you a fast favorite with whoever is lucky enough to share them with you.
In my case, the lucky recipient was Ben, who often requests my Crockpot Ribs. I plan to cash in the wife points I earned making this Instant Pot version for his help assembling our new patio table.
I can already envision myself serving a batch of Instant Pot Ribs (slathered in homemade barbecue sauce) to friends at a future summer party!
(Remind me to mention the ribs plan to Ben if the table’s assembly “directions” are an Ikea-style sheet of paper with only pictures and no words. Baby backs are my favorite form of bribery.)
How to Make the Best Instant Pot Ribs
Unlike other rib cooking methods, which take hours and require active tending, making ribs in the Instant Pot is hands free and comparably fast.
The Instant Pot locks in moisture and makes the ribs tender in a fraction of the time.
In addition to the use of the Instant Pot itself, I have a few key tips to ensure your Instant Pot rib efforts are richly rewarded.
Use a Dry Rub
To start your ribs on a delicious note, cover them generously with a delicious dry rub.
The rib rub recipe I’ve included here uses basic pantry staples you probably already have, like chili powder, garlic powder, and cayenne, to give the ribs loads of flavor.
- If you’d like to make the ribs spicier, feel free to bump up the amount of cayenne.
- To balance the spice, I also add brown sugar to my Instant Pot Ribs’ rub. I grew up loving the brown sugar/molasses flavor of Kansas City BBQ, and the brown sugar reminds me of some of my favorite KC BBQ joints.
- The amount of brown sugar isn’t overly sweet by any means. You’ll love it here.
Liquid Smoke
- It might sound fancy, but liquid smoke is widely available at most grocery stores (once you look for it, you’ll find it). You can also buy it online.
- Please don’t skip the liquid smoke. Because we are cooking the ribs quickly (thank you Instant Pot!), the liquid smoke provides flavor that you’d typically only get via longer cooking methods (like, ahem, actual smoking).
Choose Your Favorite Ribs
- You can make any kind of ribs you like in the Instant Pot, so pick your favorite!
- The amount of time needed to cook Instant Pot ribs will vary based on the type of ribs you choose, but the way you add the rub and place them in the Instant Pot is the same.
The two more common types of ribs are baby back ribs and spare ribs.
- Baby back ribs are the smallest and most tender. They are my favorite and the ones you’ll see in the photos.
- Spare ribs are larger, meatier, and fattier. Ben adores them.
How Long to Cook Ribs in the Instant Pot
- Baby Back Ribs: 23 minutes on high pressure + 5 minutes natural release.
- Spare Ribs: 35 minutes on high pressure + complete natural release. Do not vent the spare ribs immediately. Because the meat is tougher, it needs the full natural release to become tender.
Broil for Bonus Flavor
- After the ribs are finished cooking, I like to brush them with BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for a few minutes. Broiling lightly crisps the top, and the sauce becomes extra sweet and thick.
Serving Instant Pot Ribs
- Instant Pot Ribs, 2 Racks: For a crowd, you can cook two racks of Instant Pot ribs at the same time. Simply place two racks on the trivet, overlapping one inside the other if needed. The pressure cook time does not change (though it will take the Instant Pot longer to come to pressure initially).
- Sauce It Up: While you don’t *need* extra barbecue sauce on the side, my personal favorite way to eat ribs is good and slathered. Look for sauce without high fructose corn syrup…though I admit that unless I’m making the barbecue sauce from scratch, ribs with Sweet Baby Ray’s do always seem to be a hit.
- Side Dish Ideas: Instant Pot ribs and potatoes is a classic combo. Try these easy Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, make-ahead Crockpot Breakfast Potatoes (not just for breakfast!) crispy Baked Fries, or keep it simple with potato chips.
More Meat Made Easy
- I also love using my pressure cooker to make Instant Pot Chicken. Like these Instant Pot Ribs, it comes out perfectly moist every time.
- I also have this whole lineup of healthy Instant Pot recipes for you to explore.
For a less-fuss approach to rib cooking and easy entertaining, Instant Pot Ribs are hard to beat. If you decide to try them, I’d love to hear what you think!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to make the ribs spicier, add more cayenne pepper to the rub.
If your ribs are tough, they likely haven’t been cooked long enough. Try adding a little extra time to help them tenderize.
Yes, ribs can be overcooked in the Instant Pot. That’s why it’s important to follow the recommended cook times in this Instant Pot ribs recipe and perform a natural release at the end.
Instant Pot Ribs
Ingredients
For the Ribs:
- 1 rack baby back ribs or spare ribs about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds*
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/4 cup Homemade Barbecue Sauce or swap your favorite store-bought sauce, plus additional for serving
For the Rub:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the ribs and pat them dry. If your ribs still have the thin, shiny membrane on the back, remove it. (This is easy, don’t worry!) Flip the ribs over, meat-side down. Wiggle a dull knife (such as a butter knife) between the membrane and the ribs to loosen it. With a paper towel, grip the membrane and pull it away, then discard.
- In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Rub it all over the ribs, generously coating all of the sides.
- Place the trivet (or rack) in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger Instant Pot. Pour in the water, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke. Place the ribs inside the pot, standing them on the trivet on their side and wrapping the rack around the inside of the pot like a circle.
- Cover and seal the Instant Pot. For baby back ribs: Cook on high (manual) pressure for 23 minutes (if you are making multiple racks and your ribs are super meaty, increase to 25 minutes). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then vent to release the remaining pressure. For spare ribs: Cook on high for 35 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release completely (about 15 minutes). You will know it is released when the pin drops.
- Towards the end of the ribs’ cook time, place a rack in the upper third of your oven and set it to broil. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Transfer the cooked ribs to the foil, then brush liberally with barbecue sauce. Place under the broiler just until the sauce begins to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Do not walk away to make sure the ribs don’t burn.
Video
Notes
- *Choose a rack that is less than 2 pounds for the most tender results. One rack will serve about 2 people. If you’d like to cook a larger amount, you can fit 2 to 3 racks into your Instant Pot. Simply stand the ribs all the way around the outside in one big circle first, then place additional rack(s) in a second circle on the inside. You can cut the slabs into smaller pieces if it helps them to fit more easily. Multiply the spice mixture for each additional rack (double for 2 racks, triple for 3, etc.).
- TO STORE: Refrigerate ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. Slather the ribs with additional barbecue sauce before reheating if desired.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze ribs in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
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It was delicious. I am making for 2nd time.
Hi Wanda! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These ribs are absolutely delish! I’m making them for the 3rd time tonight! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Marlene! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made exactly as written. Was delicious. Everyone enjoyed!
Hi Linda! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Yum! I’ve been using your recipe for awhile now, and these these ribs always turn out great. I do have a question though- are you originally making pork or beef ribs? I’ve been using it on both, and it seems to work fine; but I’m curious what it’s SUPPOSED to be.
Thanks!
Hi Naterie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! We use pork ribs.
Thanks for this recipe! When doing multiple racks, do you increase the time?
Hi Marji! You’ll double the spices, but no need to add more water, extra liquid or time. Enjoy!
Question: if I’m cooking two baby back slabs! Do I need additional liquid?
Hi Sharon! Double the spices, but no need to add more water or extra liquid. Enjoy!
This will be my third time making this recipe easy and fast. And the most tender ribs I’ve ever eaten. And the spice Goes very well with the ribs, and the family loves it. Will be makeing it again and again.
Hi Lucy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Make these now! It’s July and hot so I didn’t want to turn on the oven. I followed the recipe exactly and these were the best ribs I’ve ever made. Possibly the easiest as well. Hard to believe coming from the Instant Pot. :). 10 out of 5 stars!
Hi Kathy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made ribs for the first time they were fantastic. I’m still learning the ins and outs of my instant pot but I found 35 min to long as I had trouble getting them out without falling apart. Next time I will reduce the time by five minutes and see what happens. Everybody want next time to be tomorrow. Love this will be looking at more of your recipes.
Hi Peter! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Trying to read recipes on this website with a phone SUCKS. I can’t understand what’s an ad and what’s related to the recipe!! CHEESUS! No bueno
I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience the ads caused you! I will certainly keep paying close attention to the number of ads and how they load, as I never want them to hinder your ability to view the recipe or the blog post. I do truly appreciate your feedback and apologize again for the inconvenience! Also, there is a quick and convenient “jump to recipe” button that will help you get to the recipe faster and a print button to have the recipe quickly at your fingertips. Hope this helps!
Second time making these ribs and just as delicious as ever. The first time I bought pre-seasoned ribs and this time I used the dry rub recipe from this post. It was great, so simple, and I like knowing just what ingredients are in the foods we eat.
I’m going on an RV road trip in the fall and may just bring along the instant pot so I can make these ribs and a few other recipes for a hearty fall dinners.
Hi NorCal Ellen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Almost perfect! We were using up some ribs we had in the freezer for a while, so no fault of the recipe. Next time: fresher ribs and maybe a few direct minutes on the grill instead of in the broiler. But, during a Minnesota winter we will follow the recipe exactly as written.
Hi Barbara! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I loved the rub. I followed the recipe 100%, but they came out a bit dry for my taste. Would it help to dispense of the rack and put them in the liquid?
Hi Julz! Glad you enjoyed the rub. Not sure why they would of turned out dry. Was there any air venting while the instant pot was coming to pressure?
I will admit my husband and I were skeptical when trying new things in the instapot. However, this is a recipe that we have had several times. I brag about being about being able to make delicious ribs in the instapot. It’s super easy to follow and you will be wishing you made more ribs!!
Hi Paige! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
The first time I made this Instant Pot recipe it called for apple juice instead of apple vinegar. It was just wonderful. Right now, am trying the apple vinegar. Stay tuned…..It was great!
Hi Lydia! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
The recipe is a. A+,I can’t count how many times I’ve made them,so tender,throw them on the grill after they finish in the instant pot.Fool proof they’ve never failed.
Hi Meme! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!