Instant Pot Ribs

Introduction

Few dishes can rival the mouthwatering appeal of fall-off-the-bone ribs, and with this Instant Pot Ribs recipe, you’re only a fraction of the time away from tender, flavorful barbecue perfection. Using your Instant Pot streamlines the entire process—no need to fire up the grill or wait hours for slow-cooking. This recipe delivers juicy, succulent ribs slathered in your favorite sauce, making it a guaranteed hit for family dinners, game days, or when you just crave next-level comfort food.

Why Instant Pot Ribs Are a Game Changer

What sets this recipe apart is how the Instant Pot locks in moisture and infuses every bite with incredible flavor in under an hour. The pressure cooking method ensures the ribs become irresistibly tender, while a quick broil adds that crave-worthy caramelized finish you’d expect from hours at the barbecue. Simplicity, speed, and unbeatable results—these ribs will quickly become your go-to way to enjoy this classic dish, whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week.

Easy Barbecue Flavor Every Time

Start with a spicy-sweet dry rub you can customize to your taste. After a short pressure cook, finish the ribs under your oven’s broiler for a sticky-glazed exterior that rivals the best slow-smoked barbecue joints. This method ensures even beginner cooks can achieve show-stopping results with minimal effort.

Choosing and Preparing Ribs for the Instant Pot

Baby back ribs are the most popular cut for this method, but St. Louis–style ribs also work well. Simply remove the thin membrane on the bone side for the most tender results. The Instant Pot accommodates about two racks when halved—enough to satisfy a hungry group.

The Perfect Finish: Broiling for Extra Flavor

Pressure cooking delivers maximum tenderness, but the secret to deep barbecue flavor is a final broil with your favorite BBQ sauce. Brushing on the sauce and caramelizing it under high heat creates those signature sticky, crispy edges everyone loves.

Serving Suggestions for Crowd-Pleasing Instant Pot Ribs

Serve these Instant Pot Ribs with classic sides like coleslaw, baked beans, or cornbread. For a lighter touch, add a crisp green salad or roasted veggies. If you’re meal prepping, portion the ribs and sides into containers for quick, delicious lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 hearty servings. Each serving—depending on sauce and rub—has roughly 450-600 calories. It’s a satisfying entrée packed with protein and flavor, perfect for an occasional treat or special family dinner.

Instant Pot Ribs (Recap)

With melt-in-your-mouth texture, bold barbecue flavor, and lightning-fast cook time, these Instant Pot Ribs deliver all the satisfaction of slow-cooked ribs in a fraction of the time. It’s the perfect recipe for busy weeknights, family gatherings, or impressing friends at your next get-together.

💡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. Pat ribs dry and remove the thin membrane from the bone side for best tenderness.
2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne (if using).
3. Rub the spice mixture liberally over both sides of the ribs.
4. Pour water (or apple juice) and apple cider vinegar in the Instant Pot. Place the metal trivet in the bottom.
5. Arrange the ribs standing upright on the trivet, curling them as needed to fit.
6. Seal the Instant Pot lid and cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes (Manual/Pressure Cook setting).
7. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
8. Preheat your oven’s broiler to high. Carefully transfer ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet.
9. Brush both sides generously with barbecue sauce. Broil for 3–5 minutes per side until sauce is bubbly and caramelized. Watch closely to prevent burning.
10. Slice between the bones and serve with extra sauce.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe makes an excellent foundation for weekly meal planning. Save and schedule this recipe to efficiently plan your week’s dinners and generate a smart shopping list that consolidates ingredients across all your meals.

Planning Benefits:

– Instantly tallies ingredients needed for all planned recipes
– Categorizes your shopping list by grocery section—no more backtracking in the store
– Helps prevent duplicate purchases and forgotten items
– Makes your whole week of cooking smoother and more stress-free

Pro tip: By scheduling this and other recipes in CookifyAI, you’ll see which items overlap—like spices or sauces—so you buy just enough and reduce waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour (including broil and pressure release)