Instant Pot Ribs
Made with a homemade dry rub and then cooked to tender perfection, Instant Pot ribs are one of the easiest, tastiest ways to enjoy ribs. Use this recipe for baby back ribs or spare ribs.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1½ cups apple juice
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke optional
- 1 rack ribs spare ribs or baby back ribs
- ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or regular paprika
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Place a trivet into the inner pot of the pressure cooker. Pour in 1½ cups apple juice and ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, if using.
- In a small bowl, combine the ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, and 1½ teaspoons kosher salt until well combined. Set this aside.
- Remove the membrane the ribs. At one end of the rack, slide a dinner knife under the membrane and over a bone then lift until the membrane loosens. Grab the edge of the membrane and pull it off--it may come off in several pieces.
- Generously rub the spice blend over the entire surface of the ribs. Roll the ribs in a semicircle and place them on the trivet in the pressure cooker. Place the lid on the pressure cooker and be sure the vent knob is pointed towards sealed or the lid is locked.
- Cook ribs on High Pressure For Baby Back Ribs set the cooking time to 25 minutes. For Spare Ribs set the cooking time to 35 minutes. To set the cooking time, hit manual or pressure cook and use the +/- buttons to adjust the cooking time.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. This means leaving the Instant Pot alone and letting the float valve naturally float down and/or the lid unlock.
- Remove the ribs from the Instant Pot and place them on a broiler pan (or cutting board if not broiling.)
- If desired, brush the top surface of the ribs with barbecue sauce and broil under high heat for 3-4 minutes, watching closely. Remove the ribs from the oven, flip, and brush them with additional BBQ sauce. Return to the broiler for an additional 3-4 minutes on other side.
- Remove the ribs from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Double the Recipe: Feel free to make 2 racks of ribs. Simply place both racks of ribs on the trivet and cook as directed (cook time and amount of liquid do not change, but you will want to double the spice rub.)
Spice Rub: Feel free to simply combine 2 tablespoons of seasoned salt with ¼ cup brown sugar for a simpler rub on the ribs.
Storage: Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat under the broiler for the best results.
No Apple Juice? Water, beer, or stock can be used in place of the apple juice, but the apple juice adds an applewood flavor to the ribs.
See Instant Pot High Altitude Conversion if cooking 2500+ feet above sea level.
Nutrition
Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 2634mg | Potassium: 356mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2.1mg
