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.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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.
Hello Natasha,
I have smoked ribs in my Pellett smoker and loved them for many years. I used your IP recipe and now my smoker will not see another rack of ribs. Thank you for this IP recipe and your many other recipes. I read through the many great comments and had all my questions answered. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your wonderful review, Tucson!
These ribs were amazing. It took less than an hour to have tender fall off the bone ribs, so good. I was very impressed. My first time using the pressure feature on my instant pot, I usually use sous vide to cook my steaks.
These ribs are delicious! I served for friends and they loved them. Will definitely make again and again!
Natasha I ❤️ ALL your recipes!! Your quick, simple instructions making cooking not only a breeze but enjoyable!! AND… Because you’ve taught me how to cook my boyfriend is probably going to propose now!! 😘🙏🏻THANKS! You’re truly a breath of fresh air! 💛🥂
Thank you so much, Tammy! I’m very happy to hear that.
Hi Natasha, I’ve made these and they are fantastic!! (as all your recipes are) I want to make them but I dont have any apple juice, what is your suggestion?
Hi Debbie! Some of my readers have used water in its place successfully.
Delicious! Can we do two racks of ribs without adjusting the time?
Hi Kathy, two racks will work, although I haven’t tried it, here’s what one of my readers wrote: “I doubled the amount of ribs in my 6qt instant pot tonight as an experiment. (I used my BIG stove top presto last time I cooked two racks and that thing is a pain to wash) I curled the ribs so one went to the inside of the other and cooked for the recommended time of 25min. I used a little less liquid to avoid going over the max fill line but I doubled the BBQ sauce and obviously I dry rubbed both racks. They came out perfect.” I hope that helps.
I so happen to have some Apple cider. Can I use that instead of Apple juice?
Hi Jenny! I think that would be fine.
I Don’t have an Instant Pot. Can I bake or broil rib in the oven?
Hi LoriAnn. I recommend my other recipe Fall off the bone ribs for that.
This is the BEST recipe ever for ribs. I’ve always had problems with ribs coming out tough or dry, not with this recipe. The ribs fall of the bone as I remove them from the instant pot and are so tender. Thank you for sharing this recipe
Do you have one for pulled chicken using the instant pot?
Hi Susan! I’m so glad you loved this recipe. I do not have a recipe for pulled chicken in an instant pot.
ok….first time I’ll be making ribs in IP. Following only uour recipe/directions. Gonna be my christmas holiday treat formyself.
Hi John! I hope you love the recipe! Let us know how it turns out.
Natasha I love every one of your recipes that I have tried. I tried the rib recipe tonight and it was delicious. Just wondering if next time, I could use maybe half of the apple juice. It seemed like a lot of juice. I also love all of your fun videos. So fun to watch.
Hi Shawna, great to hear that you’ve been enjoying our recipes. I have not tested that to advise but feel free to experiment. We’d love to know how it goes!
What happened to your original recipe? I made your rub from scratch and loved it.
Hi Amie, are you referring to my Smoked Ribs with the Best Glaze recipe possibly?
Hi Nat ! Well I decided on the instant pot ribs. They sound delish and I have never tried making them in the IP so should be interesting because I am not very brave when it comes to using it …..but , I guess if I never use it I won’t get used to it. Anyway , sounds delish..thankyou !!
Hi Lydia! I hope you love this recipe!
I LOVE this recipe!! It was better than the rib restaurant. Than you.
Hi Christine! That’s great to hear.
My family LOVES this recipe and its awesome for weeknights! Add some baked beans, macaroni salad (or potato salad) and cornbread and ready to eat in less than an hour!
That all sounds delicious! I’m so glad you love this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
ok, now that was a great recipe! I have only done ribs once in the InstaPot. The totally fell apart! it was awesome! Another Great Recipe Natasha! Thank you!
Hi Debbie! That’s great. So glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Hi Natasha, love your recipes. I want to try this rib recipe and I didn’t see this mentioned in the reviews. Are these fall off the bone tender? My husband has missing teeth and can only eat ribs if they are almost tender to the point they are easy to shred. I was wondering if I could increase the cooking time to achieve this result. Thank you
Hi Jackie! This recipe makes for tender ribs, but yes, you may increase the cook time if you would like to. I had a few readers mention they cooked them a bit longer by preference.
Love the flavor, but personally like more resistance between the meat and the bone, can I steam the ribs 15 minutes or less to get the same results?
Hi Guy, You are welcome to test that out! If you do, please let me know how you like it!
Hi Natasha. Love your recipes and all the video. You and your husband are very creative. I travel a lot and have to prep meal for the family. What would be the freezing and defrost instructions for this recipe. Is it possible to include freezing instructions for other recipes as well?
Hi Ludmila! Thank you for sharing that. I’m so glad you are loving my recipes. If I have tested freezing a recipe, I will include instructions in the blog post. Some of my recipes have this note, if not, then likely I have not tested it to advise.
For this recipe specific, see my note in the blog above under “Can I Use Frozen Ribs?” This would be helpful for meal prep.
Also- be sure to check the comment section on my recipe. Many of my readers will share their experiment with the recipe if they freeze, defrost, etc. I hope that helps.
I’m never sure whether to leave the rack in the bottom of the pot or not. Can I assume if you do not say to put the rack I don’t put it in ? I’m just starting with using recipes so it isn’t obvious to me. This recipe was delicious.
Hi Angelica! The rack is often times used to elevate food above the liquid. If it has handles, it also serves as a way to help lift your food out of the instant pot. For this recipe, the ribs should all be partially submerged.
I’m glad you loved the recipe! 🙂
I always make applesauce right before I make the ribs and then use the liquid that I drain out of the applesauce to make my ribs. So good and I am using all of the great tasting juice to make one more dish.