Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

Introduction

Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs are the ultimate answer to quick, tender, and flavor-packed ribs—without the long hours of slow cooking or firing up the grill. The Instant Pot streamlines the cooking process, delivering fall-off-the-bone perfection in a fraction of the time. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue or craving a hearty weeknight dinner, these ribs will satisfy every appetite.

Why Make Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs?

This recipe is a crowd pleaser because it packs maximum smoky-sweet, tangy flavor into every bite while requiring minimal effort. The Instant Pot locks in juices and infuses the ribs with seasoning, making them unbelievably tender. Perfect for busy home cooks, these ribs deliver bold barbecue flavor, and you likely already have everything you need!

Perfecting the BBQ Flavor in Your Instant Pot

The secret to exceptional Instant Pot baby back ribs? A robust dry rub and your favorite barbecue sauce. Season the ribs generously, pressure cook with broth for extra moisture, then finish under the broiler for a caramelized, sticky finish. This technique seals in flavor and gives you that classic BBQ crust, all with minimal prep.

Assembling and Cooking Your Baby Back Ribs

Start by removing the membrane from the ribs for ultimate tenderness. Rub both sides with a flavorful spice mixture, then curl the ribs into the Instant Pot with a bit of broth or apple juice to steam and soften. Pressure cook for 23-25 minutes, brush with sauce, and give the ribs a blast under the broiler. The result: perfectly cooked, juicy ribs with a sticky, caramelized coating.

Serving Suggestions for the Best Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

Serve these ribs with classic BBQ sides like coleslaw, potato salad, or cornbread. For extra flair, garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onions. Pair your meal with grilled corn on the cob or a crisp green salad for a balanced, crowd-friendly dinner.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes about 4 servings, depending on appetite and side dishes. One serving (about half a rack) contains approximately 400–450 calories, not including BBQ sauce. Nutritional values may vary based on the sauce and rub ingredients used.

Easy, Flavorful Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs (Recap)

Leverage the power of the Instant Pot to enjoy tender, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs any night of the week. The recipe’s simple prep, flavorful rub, and quick finish under the broiler provide all the smoky sweetness of slow-cooked ribs—without the hassle.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Remove the thin membrane from the back of each rib rack. Pat the ribs dry using paper towels.
2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper, chili powder, and (optional) cayenne.
3. Rub spice mixture generously onto both sides of the ribs.
4. Pour apple juice or broth into the Instant Pot. Place the rack/trivet in the pot and arrange the ribs in a standing “coil” on the trivet.
5. Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 23 minutes (small racks) or 25 minutes (larger racks). Allow for a 5-minute natural release, then quick-release remaining pressure.
6. Carefully remove ribs and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with half the barbecue sauce.
7. Broil ribs in the oven for 2–3 minutes, just until sauce is bubbling and caramelized. Optionally repeat with an additional sauce layer if desired.
8. Slice between the bones and serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs recipe is an excellent addition to your weekly meal lineup. Save and schedule this recipe to your CookifyAI plan to automatically generate consolidated ingredient lists for the week—making shopping and meal prep hassle free.

Planning Benefits:

• Instantly calculates total ingredient amounts across multiple recipes
• Organizes your grocery shopping list by store section
• Prevents overbuying and missed staples
• Makes consistent meal prep easy and efficient

Pro tip: Combine this recipe with other weekly favorites in CookifyAI and the shopping list will merge all ingredient quantities—no more last-minute trips or forgotten items.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes (including broiling)