Instant Pot Ribs Recipe (VIDEO)
Instant Pot Ribs is the easiest way to achieve tender, juicy ribs. Whether you’re using baby back ribs or pork loin ribs, pressure cooking tenderizes the meat in a fraction of the time so you can enjoy homemade ribs even on busy weeknights.
Our Smoked Ribs take about 7 hours from start to finish and Baked BBQ Ribs take more than 2 1/2 hours, cooked low and slow in the oven. This recipe requires no marinating time and is done in around 45 minutes. P.S. you can even use frozen ribs!
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Instant Pot Ribs Recipe:
The ingredients here are simple: ribs (baby back ribs or pork loin ribs), apple juice, cider vinegar, seasoning salt, dry rub and of course bbq sauce. If you’re feeling adventurous, add half a teaspoon of liquid smoke to add that smoked element to your ribs. The instant pot makes the magic happen – amazingly fast with excellent results.
Instant Pots save time and have consistent results for corn on the cob, instant pot boiled eggs and dulce de leche. This Instant Pot Ribs recipe is sure to become a new favorite for you.
What is the Best BBQ Sauce for Ribs?
We love sweet bbq sauce for ribs because it caramelizes on the ribs when they are finished off. If you have a favorite bbq sauce you would recommend, I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. A couple of our family favorites include:
- Stubbs (Sweet and Sticky) – this has good ingredients, is inexpensive and I feel good about consuming it. We keep a steady supply on hand of Stubbs BBQ Sauce.
- Sweet Baby Rays – the flavor is excellent but it does contain high fructose corn syrup.
How to Prepare Baby Back Ribs:
Start by prepping your ribs. Baby Back Ribs and Pork Loin ribs typically already have the silver skin on the meat side trimmed and the membrane on the boney side removed. If they are present, use a small knife to loosen it at the corner and a paper towel to help grip and pull it off of the ribs. You want to remove that so the flavors can penetrate the ribs. If you want a visual, check out this photo tutorial from Weber.
How to Make Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs:
The process for making instant pot ribs is truly easy:
- Rub the ribs with seasoning salt and BBQ Dry Rub.
- Combine apple juice, vinegar, 1/3 cup bbq sauce and liquid smoke (if using) in the instant pot.
- Coil the ribs inside the pot, cover and cook on high pressure 25 minutes followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Remove ribs, brush with BBQ sauce and broil or grill 5 minutes
To Finish Ribs on the Grill:
Preheat the grill to 350-400˚F. Place the bbq sauce smothered ribs directly on preheated grill, cover, and grill 5 minutes.
To Finish Ribs in the Air Fryer:
Cut rack in half, smother with bbq sauce as usual and place both halves side by side in the air fryer basket for 4 min on high.
What to Serve with Ribs:
These saucy bbq ribs are perfect with just about any side dish. Some of our favorites include:
- Mashed Potatoes – so creamy, they don’t need gravy
- Coleslaw – super easy salad with creamy dressing
- Egg Salad – simple and satisfying
- Avocado Corn Salad – always gets rave reviews
- Soft Dinner Rolls – use leftover rolls and pork to make sliders the next day.
Can I Use Frozen Ribs?
Frozen ribs can be used following the same recipe. Before freezing ribs, cut them into thirds (so they fit into the instant pot later since they won’t be able to coil) and add the dry rub before freezing. Dry rub won’t adhere if you try to put it over frozen ribs.
More (Top Rated) Easy Dinner Recipes:
These easy dinner ideas are perfect for busy weeknights and are so much better (and usually healthier) than going out to eat.
- Chicken Fried Rice – use leftover rib meat to make it!
- Chicken Parmesan – an easy crowd-pleaser
- Philly Cheesesteaks (the real way)
- Beef and Broccoli – better than takeout
- Salisbury Steak – with mushroom gravy
Watch Natasha Make Instant Pot Ribs:
This really is the fastest and easiest way to make ribs that we have discovered and the results are mouthwatering good!
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Instant Pot Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 lb baby back ribs or pork loin ribs
- 6 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp liquid smoke optional
- 1 tbsp. seasoning salt (Johnny's or Lawry's)
- 2 Tbsp BBQ dry rub
- 2/3 cup sweet BBQ sauce divided
Instructions
-
Pat dry the rack of ribs with a paper towel and rub on your dry ingredients on both sides.
-
In the Instant Pot, combine apple juice, vinegar, liquid smoke and 1/3 cup of bbq sauce.
-
Coil the rack of ribs inside the with the bone-side facing the center. Ribs should all be partially submerged. Cook on high pressure for 25 min followed by a 10 min natural pressure release before manually releasing remaining pressure.
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Using two sets of tongs, carefully transfer ribs to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a wire rack with the meat side up. Brush the top and sides with the remaining 1/3 cup bbq sauce. Broil in the center of the oven on high for 4-5 min*. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 min before serving. Serve with more bbq sauce if desired.
Recipe Notes
*To Finish Ribs on the Grill: Preheat the grill to 350-400˚F. Place ribs directly on preheated grill, cover, and grill 5 min.
*To Finish Ribs in the Air Fryer: Cut rack in half and place both halves side by side in the air fryer basket for 4 min on high.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
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Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Thank you Natasha!!
I used your recipe tonight with a few changes. I did two racks. I added 10 minutes to the cooking time and 3 minutes to NPR and broiled for 6 minutes after slathering with Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue sauce.
Five stars from the guests!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Tasha! Thank you for the wonderful review!
What size instant pot do you make your ribs in?
Hi Dayna, we use this 6 Qt instant pot.
Looks delicious, we will definitely have to try. I was wondering what kind of baking sheet do you use? All the ones I ever purchase bend.
Hi Jennifer, you can find some of our favorites in our blog Shop here.
I am a one person house hold. I have the 3 QT. Can the ribs be done in the IP by cutting the ingredients by 1/2?
Hi Pete, I haven’t tested anything in an instant pot that small but I think that should work fine. I don’t see why not. I hope you love the ribs.
Made this today! The ribs were “off the chain” delicious! I may add a whole Vidalia onion next time. Thanks for the recipe. Will definitely make again!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Terry!
This mine and my husbands first instant pot meal and it was amazing! We decided to go with this one because of all the great reviews left on your page & I see why you have so many. Thank you for sharing your recipes! We’re trying your chicken and rice one next!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Mandy!
Made ribs yesterday and wow, they were amazing! Thank you so much!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Tatyana!
I’ve never made ribs before because I never thought I could compete with my brother-in-law’s ribs. This was THE BEST recipe ever and it was SO EASY! To make it even easier, I just bought the ribs at Costco and they were pre-seasoned, so I only needed the apple juice, cider vinegar, and BBQ sauce. Everyone loved them (even my brother-in-law). Thank you!!!
That’s just awesome! I’m so glad you found a favorite, Zochil!
Can I make these in the morning and finish them off later at night in the oven for a party I want to make a couple of racks for 30 people but only have one instant pot
Hi April, I imagine that should work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
I made these ribs last night and they turned out GREAT! It sure is easy to do. That silver skin was a little bit to deal with but that will be easier next time. lol
I’m so glad you gave this recipe a try, Dave!! Thank you for the great feedback!
We made these for Thanksgiving and they turned out fabulous! Very delicious and easy! We usually do ribs in the crockpot but this is just as good and much faster.
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Alicia!
Hey I just made this and it was amazing thank you for a great recipe!
Do you think I can reuse the liquid to make one more rib? I have more baby back ribs right now but don’t have any more extra apple juice to start over.
Hi Olga, I honestly have not tested that to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Can I broil it in the conventional oven? If so for how many minutes?
Hi Aleksandr, I haven’t tested that advise. If you experiment, please let me know how you like that.
What ingredients are in the dry rub for the InstantbPotbspare Ribs?
Hi Heather, I would recommend following the recipe link for the ingredients.
How long do I cook these if I used a slow cooker? I love your recipes, I have already tried a bunch of them for dinner
Hi Therese, I haven’t tested that to advise on time, but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
I don’t have an instant pot, would a slow cooker, work? I know it would take longer, but would the results be similar?
I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe, Elizabeth!
Do you think beef ribs would work?
Can I use St. Louis style ribs for this recipe?
Hi Joann, I imagine that should work.
A frozen whole rack of ribs won’t fit in the IP, so unwrap, cut into thirds before freezing.
Great recipe! It seemed though that it called for an excessive amount of liquid. What is the reason for that?
Hi Kathy, the liquid proportions are correct – it’s just a different method. We prefer this method and always get great results. The apple juice and cider vinegar tenderize and add great flavor.
Hi Natasha, how about a great curry recipe please please!!
Thank you for that suggestion, Jen!
What if I want to make double portion. Can I wrap 2 at same time ?
HI Tammy, I haven’t tested with 2 racks. I think that should work fine but you will need less liquid or it may go above the max fill level with two racks displacing the liquid. It would work better in a larger instant pot.
Hello Natasha!! I love ribs!! This looks fantastic! I looked at the ingredients and I clicked on the dry rub link but it leads me to three bbq sauce for some reason. Could you tell me what exactly is in the dry rub?
Thank you!!
Thank you so much for pointing that out. Sorry about that. I have fixed the link. Here is the dry rub that we used.
I found this rib rub at my local Fred Meyer for $4.99
Natasha, where do you buy your ribs? Thank you!
Hi Missy, most often we buy them from our local grocery store or Costco.
Hi Natasha! Can this be done but with country style ribs?
Hi Marina, I haven’t tested this method with country style ribs, but it should work fine. I’m seeing several recipes that call for a longer cook time though when making country style instant pot ribs: cook on high pressure, for 45 min, followed by a 15-20 min natural pressure release before releasing remaining pressure. Country style ribs are bigger, meatier and fattier so they would need more time. If you test that out, please let me know how it goes!
I bought an Instant Pot just for this recipe. It was delicious!! Will definitely be making this again. Such a simple meal.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
These were so easy to make with your recipe, and they came out so tender! I am stoked I can make these myself now.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Emma! Thank you for that awesome review!
How much liquid smoke would you add? Can’t wait to try looks delicious!!!!
Hi Diane, I would add 1/2 tsp (I listed it in the recipe card towards the bottom as optional).
Hi Natasha, is there anything I can use instead of the apple juice?
Hi Alina, I haven’t tried a substitute to advise, the apple juice and cider vinegar tenderize and add great flavor.
Thank you so much for your Instant Pot recipes. Please do more? How about a dessert?
That’s a great idea! Thank you for that suggestion, Audrey!
This is absolutely finger-licking delicious and the sauce is spot on!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Kimberly!
I love this recipe! Being able to cook the delicious ribs in the Instant Pot is so easy!
Isn’t that the best! Who knew that was possible! Thank you for that awesome review.
You’ll definitely be game day ready with these for your guests! Wow!! They look fantastic!!
Thank you so much Demeter!
These ribs are absolutely delicious! I just love how easy they are to make in the instant pot and just how flavorful they are! Thanks for an awesome recipe!
I’m so happy you loved the ribs! That’s quite a compliment coming from you!
Hi Natasha, I’m Whitney from Hong Kong. May I know the size of the Instant Pot that you are using? Thank you!
Hi Whitney, we used this 6qt Instant Pot.
Wow! I can’t believe how easy and fast this is to make! Instant Pots are amazing. These ribs are so tender and flavorful, I can’t believe it took less than an hour to achieve this!
Aren’t they the best! So perfect for a quick dinner that is also “fancy”!
What the IP time for frozen Baby back Ribs or pork loin.
Hi Wayne, thanks for asking! I added a section to the post titled “Can I use Frozen Ribs?” Also, we currently don’t have a pork loin recipe for the instant pot, but if I come up with something great, I’ll be sure to share it.