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Get ready to satisfy your cravings with these fall-off-the-bone tender Instant Pot Ribs!

Made with just a few simple ingredients, these ribs are delicious, easy to prepare, fast to make, and extra tender.

Sauce these up with your favorite BBQ sauce, or even just salt & pepper.

cooked Instant Pot Ribs in foil

How to Choose Ribs

Making pork ribs in an Instant Pot is both quick and easy. There are two kinds of ribs that can be used in this recipe.

  • Baby back ribs or back ribs are typically the most tender and flavorful option, but they can be pricier. If possible, I recommend choosing these ribs.
  • Side ribs or spareribs are more budget-friendly and still yield tender and delicious results in the Instant Pot. They are a bit more meaty and have great flavor.

Cook from Fresh or Frozen

Much like Instant Pot pulled pork, the pressure cooker makes ribs tender in a fraction of the time compared to other methods. Best of all, no need to thaw them first. Instant Pot baby back ribs can be cooked right from frozen. 

Be sure to add the rub and cut them to fit in the Instant Pot prior to freezing. Follow the recipe as directed adding 5 to 7 minutes extra when cooking from frozen.

Raw Instant Pot Ribs in the instant pot

How to Make Instant Pot Ribs

My family dubs these the best Instant Pot ribs, they’re so tender.

  1. Prep the Ribs: Remove the membrane if present and cut the racks of ribs into two or three pieces so they will fit in the Instant Pot. Rub with the spice rub.
  2. Cook in the Instant Pot: Place the ribs on a trivet in the Instant Pot and add some broth, onion and garlic. Cook per the recipe below.
  3. Finish the Ribs: Add salt & pepper and either homemade or prepared bbq sauce. Broil or grill for a few minutes to crisp up a bit if you’d like.

Prep Tip

Ribs have a very thin membrane located on the back of the ribs. It’s ok to cook with the membrane on, but I personally prefer to remove it.

To remove the membrane, simply slide a knife under it to get ahold of it, grip it with a paper towel if needed, and pull it off. If you can’t seem to find it, ribs sometimes come with the membrane already removed.

Instant Pot Ribs with sauce on foil

How to Natural Release on an Instant Pot

When using an Instant Pot, the pressure needs to be released before opening the lid. You can do this using Quick Release or Natural Release.

This recipe uses a 5-minute natural release, to allow the pressure to gradually come down. After cooking the timer will start to count up and once it reaches 5 minutes, carefully open the valve to release the remaining pressure.

Instant Pot Ribs on foil

Serve these easy Instant Pot Ribs with Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, some garlic bread, and corn on the cob for the perfect meal!

How long to cook ribs in an Instant Pot

Pressure cooker ribs need about 23 to 26 minutes (26 if they’re extra meaty, like side ribs) and about 32 minutes from frozen.

How to make ribs tender

Start by choosing the right ribs (back ribs are the most tender). To make ribs tender, cook them in a pressure cooker per the recipe below. You can also make tender ribs in the oven or slow cooker.

Why are my ribs tough?

If you open the pressure cooker and the ribs are not tender, it means they need more time. To make ribs more tender, close the pressure cooker and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

Do I need to put liquid in with the ribs?

Yes, Instant Pot ribs require liquid so it can build steam and create pressure.

Can I stack more ribs in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you can add additional racks of ribs to the Instant Pot as long as they aren’t packed in tight. The cooking time will not need to be changed.

Best BBQ Sides

Did you love these Instant Pot Ribs? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

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cooked Instant Pot Ribs in foil
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Instant Pot Ribs

These easy Instant Pot ribs are tender fall-off-the-bone deliciousness! They're quick and easy to make too.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 1 rack baby back ribs about 1 ½ to 2 pounds
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke optional
  • 4 cloves garlic sliced
  • 1 onion sliced
  • 6 tablespoons dry rub below
  • barbecue sauce optional

Dry Rub

  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

Instructions 

  • Rinse and pat dry the rack of ribs. Use a knife to lift the edge of the thin membrane from the back of the ribs and remove it.
  • Cut the slab into 2-3 pieces that are small enough to fit into the Instant Pot. Coat each piece generously with the dry rub mixture, and massage it into the meat.
  • Add a trivet or rack to the bottom of your Instant Pot and pour in broth or water, along with liquid smoke if using.
  • Stand the ribs upright on the trivet, so they are not stacked on top of one another. Sprinkle sliced onion and garlic over the ribs.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and select manual high pressure. Set the timer for 22 minutes (25 minutes for extra meaty or side ribs).
  • Once the timer goes off, allow the Instant Pot to natural-release for 5 minutes. Open the valve to release any remaining pressure.

To Broil or Grill (optional)

  • Turn the broiler on to high heat or the grill on to medium high heat.
  • Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce (or olive oil/salt/pepper for dry ribs).
  • If broiling, line a large baking pan with foil and place the ribs 4 to 6 inches from the broiler. If grilling, place the ribs directly on the grill. Cook until slightly charred, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Video

Notes

If you don’t have a trivet, use balls of foil or thick slices of onion to prop the ribs out of the liquid.
Leftover ribs can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days or up to 2 months in the freezer. 
4.92 from 161 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 244 | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 413mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2285IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 4.2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Pork
Cuisine American
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Instant Pot Ribs in a pot with garlic and a title
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Instant Pot Ribs in the pot and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Thank you for this recipe! I’m not much of a cooker and wanted to try making ribs in my instapot and want to make this for 8 servings instead of 4, will this work for 8 servings and if so, do I need to double all the ingredients? Do you have any tips of transporting these ribs in the car for 30-35 min after I broil them in the oven? Thank you so much!!5 stars

    1. Hi Josh, we have never tried doubling this recipe but if it fits in your Instant Pot then it should work. As for transporting it sounds like that’s a good plan. To precook then reheat and broil when you arrive should work well.

  2. Holly,
    I’m a certified Master BBQ judge, so I’ve judged many competition ribs. Your recipe turned out very good, juicy & delicious. The rub is classic & adds a lot of flavor to the ribs. I would not have believed that IP ribs would be this good if I hadn’t cooked them myself. They may not be the best smoked ribs I’ve sampled, but they are right up there. I didn’t this time, but adding liquid smoke to the BBQ sauce prior to slathering, though some might consider cheating, may enhance the recipe.

    I have to agree with other reviewers; saving the onion/garlic broth for other recipes is a no brainer. Freeze & reboil before using5 stars

  3. These turned out fabulously!!! I used the liquid and onions to make some beans (black eyed peas or navy beans work great) and once they’re cooked I add some shredded leftover ribs…delicious!!!!5 stars

  4. OMG, We have to go out to eat (prior to today) as ribs were always hit or miss, love, Love, LOVE this recipe. Had very meaty ribs, 25 + 10 minutes and popped them under the broiler. I removed the membrane and dry rubbed, put minced onions and garlic, prior to cooking,, used Sweet Baby Ray’s Vidalia onion BBQ sauce for the broiler. We have a different brand IP, cooked on meat/high pressure. We will never eat them any other way, nor have them out to eat…the BOMB, TYTYTYVM!

  5. Just made these tonight and they turned out amazing! My husband is a rib connoisseur and already demanded i make them again. One question: are there any uses for the liquid and onions left in the Instant Pot after they’re done? It feels wasteful to throw away all that flavor!

    1. You can find this information in the recipe along with other details.

      Close lid and select manual pressure and set the timer for 23 minutes (25 minutes if they’re extra meaty). Once done, allow the instant pot to natural release for 5 minutes.

    2. I do 400° for just a few minutes . You just need the sauce to stick. Convection or air fryer is even faster.

  6. Why??? when I ask for insta pot BEEF ribs, all I get is short rib and baby back rib recipes. Doesn’t anyone cook BEEF, like from a steer, ribs???

    1. I don’t have beef ribs but we do love them! I’ll add them to my list of recipes to create and hopefully you’ll be able to find them next time you’re looking!

  7. I bought an Instant Pot this week and this was my first recipe that I tried with it. I was very happy with the results. The meat was fork tender, super delicious. Thank you so much. Will definitely do it again.

  8. This Rib recipe is delicious!!
    I have made it numerous times and it turns out perfect every time!!!
    Thank you so very much!! :))5 stars

  9. Yum!!! I didn’t follow the rub recipe exactly- based on what was in my pantry- basted with Sweet Baby Ray’s then finished on the grill. Delicious! Two racks of ribs fit perfectly in the instant pot. Manual pressure for 25 mins and 5 mins slow release. Thanks for another awesome recipe, my husband was in Father’s Day heaven!5 stars