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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.
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.
How to Make Instant Pot Ribs
My family dubs these the best Instant Pot ribs, they’re so tender.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Serve these easy Instant Pot Ribs with Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, some garlic bread, and corn on the cob for the perfect meal!
Pressure cooker ribs need about 23 to 26 minutes (26 if they’re extra meaty, like side ribs) and about 32 minutes from frozen.
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.
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.
Yes, Instant Pot ribs require liquid so it can build steam and create pressure.
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!
Instant Pot Ribs
Equipment
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
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Pork
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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!!
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.
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 using
Thanks, Terry! So happy we could impress you with our instant pot ribs!
This method is outstanding and easy. I get rave reviews every time. You’ll never do ribs any other way.
Yay! We love to hear that, George.
Very good ribs and easy recipe to follow. Used the leftover onion broth for a next-day soup. Thank you!
Tried to leave 5 stars not 3!!!!
My boyfriend and sister loved it. Fall off the the bone in love
These were wonderful! So delicious; will definitely make again. They came out perfectly. Thank you, Holly!
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!!!!
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!
So glad you love the ribs so much Lori! We just had these ourselves – so good!
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!
I have not done anything with the broth Susan, although I’ll admit that I’ve contemplated making rice (or scalloped potatoes) with it! Maybe other readers have some ideas!
How long would I cook center cut beef ribs and how would I need to change the recipe?
I haven’t tried this with beef ribs yet so I can’t say for sure.
The meat fell off the bones. I will make this again.
What temp and how long do you broil for?
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.
I do 400° for just a few minutes . You just need the sauce to stick. Convection or air fryer is even faster.
This was amazing!! Thank you, Holly.
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???
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!
My instant pot doesn’t have a manual pressure setting, it has a low and high pressure setting, do I use those?
You can cook these on high pressure.
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.
So delicious! Thank you for the great recipe will definitely be making this time and time again
This Rib recipe is delicious!!
I have made it numerous times and it turns out perfect every time!!!
Thank you so very much!! :))
so where does the whole sliced onion come into play?
It is added in step 4.
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!