Instant Pot Ribs

Instant Pot Ribs are perfectly seasoned with a homemade spice rub and pressure cooked to achieve the most tender ribs ever! This easy recipe for ribs is one of the best recipes out there for ribs!

If you are looking for more Instant Pot Recipes, please check out all Instant Pot Recipes.

I have been sharing my recipe for Instant Pot Ribs for months with friends and those of you who have emailed me asking for a Pressure Cooker Rib Recipe.

Why it has taken me so long to share this recipe online, I am not sure. But I am happy to say this Instant Pot Rib recipe was worth the wait.

Instant Pot Ribs

While we loved smoked or barbecued ribs, I have to say that the Instant Pot makes the MOST tender ribs ever.

These ribs are incredible! Fall off the bone tender meat, seasoned with a slightly sweet dry rub and finished in the broiler with barbecue sauce for a crispy, caramelized exterior–these ribs are delicious!

How To Make Instant Pot Ribs

Step One: Make Dry Rub

• Mix together brown sugar, paprika, and seasoned salt together.

Step Two: Prepare Ribs

• Cut off any excess membrane off back of ribs.
• Generously rub the spice blend over the entire surface of the ribs.

Step Three: Pressure Cook Ribs

• Place trivet in pressure cooker.
• Pour in apple juice into bottom of inner pot.
• Roll ribs in a circle and place on trivet in pressure cooker.

• Place lid on pressure cooker.
• Cook ribs on High Pressure.
  • Baby Back Ribs: 25 minutes
  • Spare Ribs: 35 minutes
• Once cook time has elapsed, allow pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes.

Step Four: Broil Ribs (Optional)

Broiling ribs with BBQ sauce gives the ribs another layer of flavor and caramelized brown bits on rib meat. This step is optional, as the ribs will be perfectly cooked in the Instant Pot, but this step makes these ribs so much more flavorful.

• Place cooked ribs on sheet pan.
• Brush with your favorite barbecue sauce.
• Broil under high heat for 3-4 minutes.
• Flip, brush with more BBQ sauce and broil for 3-4 minutes on other side.

Spare Ribs verses Baby Back Ribs

Spare ribs are bigger, meatier and a little tougher cut of meat and are taken from the bottom of the ribs. Baby back ribs are smaller, more tender and are taken from the top of the rib cage.

Both spare ribs and baby back ribs can be prepared using this method in the Instant Pot. They just need different cook times.

• Baby Back Ribs: 25 minutes on High Pressure
• Spare Ribs: 35 minutes on High Pressure
  • For spare ribs, be sure to let pressure release naturally COMPLETELY, as spare ribs are a much tougher cut of meat and releasing pressure quickly will cause the meat to seize and toughen up.

Notes on Instant Pot Ribs

• Feel free to make 2 racks of ribs. Simply place both racks of ribs on trivet and cook as directed (cook time does not change).
• It is not necessary to add barbecue sauce to the ribs, but does add another layer of flavor to these instant pot ribs.
• Use any barbecue sauce you like, but I like to use one without corn syrup. Mustard sauces are delicious as well.

More Instant Pot Meat Recipes

• Instant Pot Chicken Wings
• Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Mongolian Beef

Instant Pot Ribs

Instant Pot Ribs are perfectly seasoned with a homemade spice rub and pressure cooked to achieve the most tender ribs ever! This easy recipe for ribs in the pressure cooker make the BEST ribs!

4.67 from 21 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Pressure Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Calories: 462kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• 1 rack ribs spare ribs or baby back ribs
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup apple juice

Instructions

• Mix together brown sugar, paprika, and seasoned salt together.
• Cut off any excess membrane off back of ribs and generously rub the spice blend over the entire surface of the ribs.
• Place trivet in pressure cooker. Pour in apple juice into bottom of inner pot. Roll ribs in a circle and place on trivet in pressure cooker. Place lid on pressure cooker.
• Cook ribs on High Pressure.

  Baby Back Ribs: 25 minutes

  Spare Ribs: 35 minutes
• Once cook time has elapsed, allow pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes.
  
• Optional Step: Place cooked ribs on sheet/broiler  pan. Brush with your favorite barbecue sauce. Broil under high heat for 3-4 minutes. Flip, brush with more BBQ sauce and broil for 3-4 minutes on other side.

Notes

• Use 1 1/2 cups apple juice for 8 quart pressure cookers. 
• See Instant Pot High Altitude Conversion if cooking 2500+ feet above sea level.

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Ribs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 462 Calories from Fat 288

% Daily Value*

Fat 32g49%

Saturated Fat 14g88%

Cholesterol 85mg28%

Sodium 2634mg115%

Potassium 356mg10%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Sugar 20g22%

Protein 18g36%

Vitamin A 75IU2%

Vitamin C 0.5mg1%

Calcium 30mg3%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!

To Make Instant Pot Ribs, You May Need

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