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
These look amazing! Can they be finished in the oven on bake instead of broil? I want to make them for Valentine’s day
Hi Missy, we found it best with a broil. If you try the bak method, I’d love to know how you like that!
made these last night, they were delicious, my only problem was when I took them out of the instapot, all the bones fell off the meat! I followed the recipe, it took 25mins to natural release. Any idea of what I did wrong?
Hi Dorothy, you should only be doing a natural pressure release for 10 minutes then manually releasing the remaining pressure. It sounds like it was in the instant pot for too long.
Like usual I do not get leftovers from your recipe’s that I cook and hope to see more instapot ones in the future. The ribs were fantastic!
I’m so glad these were a hit, Jordan! I appreciate the feedback!
Suas receitas são excelentes, fiz algumas e recebi só elogios. Obrigada por sua generosidade em nos ensinar a cozinhar. Parabéns pelo seu trabalho, simpatia e bom humor, é um prazer ver os seus vídeos!
Sua fã do Brasil.
Thank you for your great comments and feedback, Andrea. I’m happy to know that you’ve been receiving compliments using my recipe.
Hi Natasha! Every time I am searching for a recipe, your site is the first place I look. My daughter and I made your chocolate chip cookies one night and we sent you a video. We love you and love to try all your recipes. I want to cook the ribs tonight but would it be OK to cook them in a crockpot for several hours? Sorry if you have already answered this question but I looked through the comments and on the website page and couldn’t find the answer. Thank you for all you do and all your hard work. It does not go unnoticed!
Hi Holly! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I haven’t tried this recipe in a crockpot to advise on the outcome. But you can check out our other ribs recipes here.
I’m gonna try the crock pot on this recipe tonight. I’ll let you know how it goes! Didn’t get a chance to cook it last night. Thank you!
How did the ribs turn out in your Croc Pot? I don’t have an Instant Pot so would like to try.
Hi Natasha… I’m Cherry from the Philippines… i want to try your instant pot ribs but my problem is that some of the ingredients are not available here…like the bbq dry hub and johnny’s seasoning salt..any alternative ingredients i can use.. thanks
Hello Cherry, that’s the same issue that others are experiencing. I recommend checking out the comments below the recipe because others usually share some substitute ingredients that they use.
Substitute for the apple juice?
Hi Cyndi, I haven’t tried a substitute to advise, the apple juice and cider vinegar tenderize and add great flavor.
I didn’t have apple juice so I used water and everyone said it was yummy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Navie!
I had an orange mango juice on hand so used it diluted with half water, added the acv and these ribs were amazing. The mango flavour stood out pleasantly
Paprika! I like how you say that on your videos.
Great flavor, wonderful recipe, thank you! I made one rack first, put the liquid in the fridge, removed the fat and cooked two more racks the next day in the same liquid plus a bit of extra juice and vinegar (after I put in the ribs in the pot to make sure there was room). The racks were on the large side and I cooked them for 28 min with 10 minutes of natural release. Tender & flavorful, my 7 yo asked for the recipe for when he grows up 😀
Wow, he so adorable! I’m glad this recipe was a hit, thank you for your great comments and review, Cristina!
How much longer should I cook them if there around 4lbs??
Hi Jessica, you can increase the time by a few minutes. One of our readers wrote in saying, “I used 4lb pork spare ribs and it came out of the instant pot perfectly tender and the flavor…. yum yum yum! We had my neighbor and her husband over, and it was a hit.” I hope that helps
Thank you very much for this recipe Natasha. It was delish. I have an 8 quart, I wrapped 2 racks of ribs, and put a small pork loin in the center. It was falling off the bone as others have stated. Had to dip it out with spoons… and the pork loin cooked as well.
Hi Teresa, you are so welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Can you add 2 rack of ribs at once?
Hi Teresa, 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.
Hi Natasha,
Made these ribs last night. The meat just fell off the bones, so tender and full of flavor.
Jim
The best! I’m so glad you enjoeyd this recipe, Jim!
I made this tonight and it was delicious! My little boy, Zack, loves watching your videos with me, and enjoys helping me cook. After eating his ribs, he said “finger licking good!”. He says, “Hi Natasha!”.
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great, Jessica! Please say hi back to Zack from me & my family!! I’m so glad he’s enjoying our recipes and videos!
After 25 minutes in the Instant Pot, it was no longer meat. It was mush. The flavor was good, though,
Hi Carol, I haven’t had that experience. I wonder if you left it in to depressurize longer than recommended.
i took it out immediately when the ten minutes were up. The bones fell out of the meat. It’s possible that the ribs were smaller than yours, and required less cooking time. I will try this recipe again. As I mentioned. The flavor was good!
Love these ribs but one rack never seems like enough. Can you do two racks at once?
Hi Judy, 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.
I love this recipe, but it’s never enough. Can you cook more than one rack in the one pot?
Hi Judy, 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 if you find a way to fit them there. I imagine you will need to increase the time by a bit also.
Natasha Can these be cooked in a crock pot?
Hi Elaine, I haven’t tried this recipe in a crockpot to advise on the outcome. But you can check out our other ribs recipes here.
I love instant pot recipes – would love to see more – thank you for the video
So do we! Thank you so much for sharing that recommendation with me, Jocelyne! I have it down on my to-do list.
Down here we use Sweet Baby Rays. YUMMM.
Yes! Sweet Baby Ray’s is the best!