Best Damn Instant Pot Ribs

Introduction

If you crave fall-off-the-bone, flavor-packed ribs with minimal effort, these Best Damn Instant Pot Ribs are your dinner game-changer. By harnessing the magic of pressure cooking, you can enjoy smoky, tender ribs in under an hour—no grill or smoker required. Whether it’s a casual weeknight or a backyard gathering, this recipe delivers unbeatable taste and juicy ribs, every time.

Why These Are the Best Damn Instant Pot Ribs

These ribs are a guaranteed crowd pleaser thanks to a savory dry rub followed by the pressure cooker’s quick, even cooking. Each bite bursts with a smoky-sweet flavor, and finishing under the broiler ensures crispy edges and caramelized perfection — all with a fraction of the time and labor traditional ribs demand.

Choosing and Preparing the Ribs

You’ll want to start with either baby back ribs or St. Louis style spare ribs. Remove the silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs to ensure tenderness. Generously season with a balanced homemade rub—think brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and a hint of cayenne for gentle heat. Roll the rack into a coil for a pressure cooker fit or cut it in half if needed.

Effortless Cooking in the Instant Pot

Place a trivet or rack in your Instant Pot, pour in a cup of liquid (apple juice, broth, or water work well), and load up the ribs. The high pressure setting locks in flavor and ensures meltingly tender meat in about 25-35 minutes. A quick natural release keeps the juices in, and a final slather of BBQ sauce with a broiler finish creates finger-licking caramelization.

Serving Suggestions for Show-Stopping Ribs

Pair these Instant Pot ribs with classic sides like coleslaw, roasted corn, or warm potato salad. Sprinkle with fresh herbs or green onions for a pop of color, and serve with extra sauce on the side. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or feeding a hungry crowd, these ribs always earn rave reviews.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4–6 hearty portions, depending on appetite and sides. Each serving (without sauce) provides roughly 360–420 calories, protein from pork, and moderate fat. With homemade rub and sauce, you control sweetness and sodium for a meal that fits your dietary needs.

Best Damn Instant Pot Ribs (Recap)

If you want amazing, restaurant-quality ribs in a fraction of the time, the Instant Pot is unbeatable. This recipe offers tender, flavorful meat every time—no grill, no hassle, maximum wow factor.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a streamlined, organized shopping list. Every ingredient gets sorted by store section, so you never forget a thing—perfect for efficient meal planning and stress-free grocery shopping!

Instructions

1. Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs and pat them dry with paper towels.
2. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne.
3. Rub the seasoning blend all over both sides of the ribs.
4. Place a trivet or rack in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Pour in the apple juice (or substitute liquid).
5. Arrange the ribs (in a coil or halves) on top of the trivet. Secure the lid and ensure the valve is set to “Sealing.”
6. Pressure cook on High for 28 minutes (baby back ribs) or 33 minutes (spare ribs). Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining steam.
7. Carefully transfer ribs to a baking sheet. Brush generously with BBQ sauce.
8. Broil in the oven for 4–6 minutes, watching closely, until sauce is bubbly and caramelized.
9. Let ribs rest a few minutes, then slice and serve with additional sauce if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

Include these Instant Pot ribs in your weekly menu for effortless, delicious dinners. Save and schedule this recipe to seamlessly plan when to make it and automatically generate a fully optimized shopping list that tracks every ingredient—across all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

– Combines ingredient quantities across recipes for accurate shopping
– Sorts your list by store section for faster, smoother grocery trips
– Helps avoid missing or duplicate purchases
– Keeps your week’s meal prep perfectly organized

Pro Tip: If you’re planning multiple recipes using pork, BBQ sauce, or other shared ingredients, schedule your lineup and let CookifyAI keep your total ingredient needs efficient and waste-free.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 28–33 minutes (plus 10-minute natural release and broiling)
Total Time: 1 hour (including broiling and resting)