Instant Pot Ribs

Instant Pot ribs are juicy, fall-off-the-bone tender, and ready in under 30 minutes. Top them with your favorite barbecue sauce and pop them under the broiler for a few minutes, and they taste like you spent all day preparing them.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure policy for more information. 

I am always looking for a quick, healthy dinner recipe, and these Instant Pot ribs are often my go-to for a last-minute meal. Usually, it takes all day to slow-cook ribs so they are fall-off-the-bone tender. Not this recipe—25 minutes and these Instant Pot ribs are wowza tender and super delicious. Mix up a quick veggie and a salad, and you have a rib dinner from start to finish in under an hour.

How to cook the Instant Pot Ribs

I prefer to use baby back ribs over spare ribs because they are a more tender cut of meat. Plus, they fit better in the Instant Pot. Win!! I did try to cook spare ribs in the Instant Pot once, and I had to cook them longer, and they weren’t nearly as juicy and tender as the baby back ribs.

Before you begin cooking, make sure to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. I ask my butcher to do this for me when I buy my ribs, and he or she is always more than willing.

Cut the ribs so there are three to four bones in each chunk. Salt and pepper each side. Put one cup of chicken broth in the Instant Pot along with the trivet. Place ribs on their side in the pot—don’t stack them. Cook on manual high pressure for 25 minutes with quick release. Voilà!

Adding the sauce TO THE RIBS

I always use The New Primal Barbeque Sauce. This BBQ sauce is my all-time favorite! I buy several bottles at a time to keep them on hand for a last-minute dinner—like these ribs! If I happen to be out of sauce, I make Against All Grain’s Paleo BBQ sauce recipe. I make the sauce after I put the ribs into the Instant Pot, and both are usually ready about the same time.

Once the Instant Pot ribs are done cooking, sometimes I just put on BBQ sauce and serve them. If I have time, I put the sauce on the ribs and place them under the broiler for about 10 minutes to caramelize the sauce. If I’m having a dinner party, I put them in a crock pot on low with the BBQ sauce until it’s time to eat.

Let’s dig in!

No matter what the occasion, these simple Instant Pot ribs are fantastic. I’m not sure they would beat smoked ribs that have been slow-cooked all day, but if you are in the mood for BBQ and limited on time, these Instant Pot Ribs are a winner! I will say that my friends who have tried these ribs can’t believe how amazing they are.

You should also check out my Instant Pot Chicken Legs if you love quick dinner recipes. Happy cooking!

xoxo,
Molly

Instant Pot Ribs

Instant Pot ribs are juicy, fall off the bone tender, and ready in under 30 minutes. Top them with your favorite barbeque sauce and pop them under the broiler for a few minutes, and they taste like you spent all day preparing them.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

• 1 rack of baby back ribs
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Choice of BBQ sauce (I use The New Primal Barbeque Sauce)
• Salt and Pepper

Instructions

 

• Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs, or ask your butcher to do it when you buy them.
• Cut the ribs so there are three to four bones together in each chunk.
• Salt and pepper each side.
• Put chicken broth in the Instant Pot along with the trivet.
• Place ribs on their side in the pot—don’t stack them.
• Cook on manual high pressure for 25 minutes with quick release.
• Add The New Primal Barbeque Sauce, or sauce of your choice. 
• Option–after putting on BBQ sauce, place ribs under broiler for 10 minutes to caramelize sauce.