My Instant Pot Ribs recipe is the easiest way to achieve tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone 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.
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Cooking ribs in the instant pot is crazy fast! For reference, my 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 in the pressure cooker. P.S. You can even use frozen pork ribs!
Instant Pot Ribs Video Tutorial
It’s so easy to get finger-licking good Instant Pot Ribs any night of the week. I’ll show you how quickly the instant pot tenderizes the meat, and then she finishes the meat with a caramelized crust.
Easy Instant Pot Ribs Recipe
We love ribs–no matter what way they are cooked. They are the ultimate comfort food for my family paired with Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, and Baked Mac and Cheese–YUM. In this version, the instant pot makes the magic happen – amazingly fast with excellent results, only using a few ingredients, and without babysitting the meat as it cooks. Can you imagine a more perfect recipe?
Ingredients for Instant Pot Ribs
The ingredients here are simple. If you’re feeling adventurous, add half a teaspoon of liquid smoke to add that smoked element to your Instant Pot Ribs.
- 3lbs Ribs – baby back ribs or pork loin ribs will work here. I have a 6qt Instant Pot, so this amount fits perfectly. You may be able to fit more, especially if you have a larger pot.
- Apple juice – we use 6 cups to halfway submerge the ribs while cooking. If you don’t have apple juice, swap with apple cider, orange juice, pineapple juice, or even water for less sweetness.
- Apple cider vinegar – this helps to tenderize the meat and adds a tangy flavor
- Seasoning salt – more tenderizing, but also adds so much flavor
- BBQ Dry Rub – Here’s one of our favorite Dry Rubs, but you can also use the spice rub from our Smoked Ribs recipe. If you’re gluten-free, check the labels of your seasonings and BBQ sauce to ensure they are GF.
- Sweet BBQ Sauce – See our favorites linked below.
Tips for Doubling the Recipe
If you want to cook more ribs in the Instant Pot at once, readers have reported having luck coiling a second rack of ribs inside the pot (or using a larger pot). Be sure to increase the BBQ sauce. If you add more liquid, don’t pass the fill line. You may need to increase the cooking time depending on how many ribs you add.
What is the Best BBQ Sauce for Ribs?
We love sweet BBQ sauce for Instant Pot Ribs because it caramelizes on the ribs in the final step of the recipe. You can make our favorite Homemade BBQ sauce or use storebought such as Stubbs (Sweet and Sticky) or Sweet Baby Rays. I’d love to hear any BBQ sauce recommendations in a comment below.
How to Prepare Baby Back Ribs for Cooking
Baby Back Ribs and Pork Loin ribs typically already have the silver skin on the meat side trimmed and the membrane on the bony side removed.
To Remove the Membrane from Ribs: 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.
How to Make Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs:
The process of making instant pot ribs is truly easy. Once the meat is cooked, we finish it off in the oven or on the grill for that caramelized crust.
- 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 for 25 minutes followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Remove the ribs to a rimmed cookie sheet with a rack on top. Brush with BBQ sauce, and then broil or grill for 5 minutes (scroll down for directions). Lip-smacking good in under 1 hour!
How to Caramelize and Finish the Ribs
This next step is optional (and takes less than 5 minutes), but I love to finish the ribs under high heat, which gives them a delicious caramelized crust. Here’s how to finish the Instant Pot Ribs:
- On the Grill – Preheat the grill to 350-400˚F. Place the BBQ sauce-smothered ribs directly on the preheated grill, cover, and grill for 5 minutes.
- In 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.
- In the Oven – Broil for 3-4 minutes or until the BBQ sauce bubbles – Be careful with this method, the sugar in the sauce can easily burn if left even 1 minute too long.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Ribs
These saucy BBQ ribs in the instant pot are perfect with just about any side dish. Some of our favorites include:
Make-Ahead
If you have any leftovers, cooked ribs keep well and can be reheated on the bone.
- To Refrigerate: once cooled, cover in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: cool and wrap in plastic wrap and foil and then store in a freezer ziptop bag for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight. Then brush the ribs with more BBQ sauce, wrap in foil, and reheat in a 250°F oven for half an hour. Then remove foil and follow the directions above for finishing the ribs.
Can I Use Frozen Ribs in the Instant Pot?
Frozen ribs can be used following the same recipe. Before freezing the 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.
This Instant Pot Ribs Recipe really is the fastest and easiest way to make mouthwatering ribs. It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal but tastes like they’ve been cooked for hours. Instant Pot Win!
More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes
These easy dinner ideas are perfect for busy weeknights:
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 lb baby back ribs , or pork loin ribs*
- 6 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, or apple cider
- ½ tsp liquid smoke, optional
- 1 tbsp seasoning salt, (Johnny's or Lawry's)
- 2 Tbsp BBQ dry rub
- 2/3 cup BBQ sauce, Use a sweet BBQ sauce, or homemade, 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.
- 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.
Notes
- On the Grill: Preheat the grill to 350-400˚F. Place ribs directly on preheated grill, cover, and grill 5 min.
- 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.
- In the Oven: Place pan under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until the BBQ sauce just begins to bubble. Be sure to watch closely since the sugar in the sauce can burn quickly under the broiler.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Can I use pineapple juice instead? thank you.
Hi Michelle, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. You might need to do an experiment, if you try it, please share with us how it goes.
Why is a o much liquid needed?
Hi Rosa, the Instant Pot has a minimum requirement for liquid.
I like the recipe, but have some thoughts about the concerns some users had related to sugar. I’m also on a low carb/sugar/ keto diet. Most Instant Pot recipes for the six quart pot call for at least 1-2 cups liquid. I bought organic apple juice made from Honey Crisp apples. My ribs had a strong apple juice flavor that seemed to overpower the pork flavor. I’m thinking it may be due to the ribs being more than halfway immersed in the liquid. This had a boiling effect. For those concerned about sugar, perhaps using a trivet would yield tender, juicy ribs with a little less absorption of the juice. I would make sure I have enough liquid, but less juice with sugar. I like your suggestion of using some water. Another option might be to use part chicken broth and apple juice. Do these options make sense?
This recipe was amazing!! I usually don’t right reviews but I was extremely impressed with these. Fell off the bone and delicious flavor!
Thank you so much for your excellent review, we appreciate it!
Natasha, I am so happy I stumbled upon your recipe! I cooked these the other day for my parents and they loved it. My father is huge on smoking ribs and I was afraid he wasn’t going to like these at all. He was so surprised how easy, delicious, and tender they were. We will definitely be making it this way from now on!
I also saw your previous comment on someone’s post about adding another 10 minutes for another rack of ribs. I will definitely be doing this because the one rack of ribs did not last us very long!
Thank you so much
You’re welcome, Samantha! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I read the recipe this morning, made them for lunch for seven family members. Everyone loved them, my mom said “These are the best ribs I’ve ever had”. This is the 2nd thing I have made in my Instant Pot. Twenty-five minutes on pressure cook, then I selected cancel, to allow depressurizing to start right away. Ten minutes later, used minimal BBQ sauce and poured Soy Vey Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce over them, and finished them under the broiler.
I love it! It makes me so glad to read your good comments, thank you so much for sharing Ginny!
My family loves this recipe and I make it often. One thing I would recommend is to use “extra meaty” baby back ribs if you can find them. Otherwise taking them out of the pot in one piece can be difficult. But they still taste awesome! 😉
That’s great info to share, Kim. Thanks for sharing that with us and for your excellent feedback.
Hi natasha. This recipe only for porks can I use same recipe for lamb
Hi Samia, I haven’t tested lamb for this recipe to advise if this same process would work the same way. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Hi Natasha I only have 3 quartz of Instant pot. I know you use the 6 quartz.
Hi Jess, I haven’t tested this in a 3 quart pot.
I cooked it in the 3 qt instant pot and it turn out awesome. I only use half the amount of the liquid ingredients with a full rack of baby ribs.
How long in a crock pot or air fryer? Thanks.
Hi, you can finish the ribs on the grill or air fryer (see instructions in the post), but putting them in the crockpot would be a little different and I don’t have a tutorial for that yet.
Fantastic ribs!! My first cokking them in instant pot .They were falling off the bone trying to get t hem out of the pot :). Will definitely do this again!!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your experience with us, we appreciate it!
I can’t find your recipe for the rub! HELP
Hi Ginger, we use this dry rub (listed in the recipe) HERE. I hope that helps.
Best ever ribs recipe! So quickly and easy way to make the tender and juicy ribs that even my vegetarian-like son likes it. Thanks Natasha!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I tried this recipe for Father’s Day and was really nervous that it wasn’t going to come out great. But it was perfect!! Just some mashed potatoes and lunch was ready!!
Love it! Thanks for sharing that with us and I hope you love every recipe that you try.
Natasha, We LOVE this rib recipe! Making it again today for the fifth time. Thanks for helping me be proficient with the Instant Pot.
Wow sounds like this is going to be one of your favorites!
Our family just spent the time in quarantine cooking your recipes. We love each one we have tried. Hands down your broiled lobster and beef tenderloin are our favorites. I was never taught to cook by my mom and have struggled. Now at 51 years old, I am hearing comments that I am an amazing cook. Thanks to you! We like to joke what is”Natasha” cooking tonight?! Thank you again for changing my life! Family of 7, eating great because of your recipes
That is so awesome, Mendi. Thank you for much for sharing that with us, it helps inspire me to create more recipes and more videos for everyone!
How can I double this recipe?
Hi, I haven’t tested that but you would probably need a larger instant pot. I would double the rub and keep the liquid amount the same.
Hello Natasha!! I made this recipe recently along with your creamy mash potatoes as my husband said they were perfection.
Quick question. I want to double recipe and make two racks for fathers day coming up. Is that possible or do i have to cook them separately? Afraid the one rack would be cold by the time there second one is ready. Do I double liquid in the 6qt instant pot? I know I’ll double the rub for the ribs. What about cook time?
Thank you
Hi Jacquelyn, I looked through the comments and on of our readers posted the following: “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 hope this helps!
Thank you for the response. I have one more question. I noticed looking up other instant pot ribs recipes that others don’t use as much liquid as your recipe and they use a trivet versus submerging in liquid. Have you tested ribs in that cooking method as well? I’m curious why most others use a trivet and less liquid.
Thank you!!
Hi Jacquelyn, we haven’t tested it that way but if you experiment, please let me know how it goes.
Natasha you rule! Made these ribs tonight and had a VERY happy husband! I’ve been very Leary of my Instant Pot after trying a chicken when I first got the pot. (Not So Good)
BUT I saw your Recipe last night and decided to give it a try! The best! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
These were a big hit in my house! Easy and delicious. I’ve been following your recipes for a few months now and everything I’ve made has been amazing!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me, Sarah!
Can I use orange juice instead of apple juice?
Hi Diane, I haven’t tested that with orange juice to advise. If you experiment please let me know how you like that.