Instant Pot ribs are surprisingly easy and yield tender, flavorful results. Whether you use baby back ribs or St. Louis spare ribs, the pressure cooker shortens cooking time and produces ribs you’ll want to make again and again.
Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Ribs can now be a last-minute family dinner. The Instant Pot fits more than one rack at a time — two racks fit easily in a 6- or 8-quart model, and larger units may hold three. No matter how many racks you cook, they finish in about 30 minutes in the pressure cooker, and a quick broil or grill after pressure cooking gives them a beautiful glaze and extra texture.
This method is great for entertaining because you can prepare ribs ahead and refrigerate them. Just before serving, finish on the grill, under the broiler or in an air fryer for a few minutes, brush with barbecue sauce, and serve.
Instant Pot Ribs Ingredients
- Rack of ribs (baby back or St. Louis spare ribs)
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic (powder or minced)
- Paprika
- Apple cider vinegar (optional)
- Barbecue sauce (your preferred kind)
- Liquid smoke (optional)
- Water or broth
How to Prepare Baby Back Ribs
Preparing ribs properly makes a big difference. These simple steps work for oven, grill, smoker or Instant Pot ribs.
Remove the membrane – I recommend removing the thin membrane on the bone side. It’s not required, but taking it off lets seasonings penetrate better and improves texture. Slip a butter knife under the membrane to loosen an edge, then use a paper towel to pull it off for a secure grip.
Season the ribs – Coat both sides with salt and pepper or use a dry rub. A simple homemade rub can include brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika and a pinch of chili powder, or use a store-bought blend if you prefer.
How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot
Place the trivet in the Instant Pot so the ribs won’t sit directly in liquid. Add about 1 cup of water or broth to the bottom. For added flavor, stir in 1 tablespoon liquid smoke and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar if desired. Any liquid is fine as long as you have roughly a cup for the pot to build pressure.
Stand a full rack of ribs upright around the inside edge of the pot in a half-moon shape on the trivet. If needed, you can cut racks in half. Two racks fit in most 6- or 8-quart Instant Pots without trouble.
Lock the lid and set the valve to SEAL. Select Pressure Cook (High) and set the timer to 25 minutes for very tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. If you prefer a bit more bite, set 22 minutes. When cooking ends, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then carefully finish with a quick release if needed.
Remove ribs from the pot, brush with your favorite barbecue sauce, and proceed to the finishing step to caramelize the sauce.
How Long to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot?
A typical 2-pound rack cooks well at 22 minutes with a 10-minute natural release if you like some chew. For truly fall-off-the-bone ribs, use 25 minutes with the same natural release. Adjust by a few minutes for larger or smaller racks.
How Long to Cook Spare Ribs in Instant Pot?
St. Louis spare ribs are thicker and need more time. For a 2-pound rack, pressure cook for about 35 minutes and allow a natural release. Increase or decrease time slightly based on rack size and desired tenderness.
Finish Ribs Under the Broiler, Grill or in the Air Fryer
Ribs from the Instant Pot are fully cooked and tasty, but finishing gives them color, texture and caramelized sauce. Place ribs meat-side up on a sheet pan, brush with barbecue sauce, and choose one of these finishing methods:
- Broiler: Place the pan 4–5 inches under a hot broiler and broil 2–3 minutes per side until sauce caramelizes. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Grill: Preheat to medium-high and grill 3–5 minutes per side to caramelize sauce and add char. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
- Air fryer: Cut the rack in half if needed to fit. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes per side, adjusting time to your air fryer’s power and desired crispness.
How Long to Broil Ribs After Instant Pot
Brush the rack with your chosen sauce. Broil about 3 minutes per side at close range (4–5 inches) until the sauce caramelizes—watching constantly so it caramelizes instead of burning.
How to Reheat Ribs
Reheating in an air fryer yields excellent results: it’s fast and restores crispness without drying. Preheating the air fryer isn’t necessary.
Air Fryer Method (Recommended)
Set the air fryer to 350°F. Place ribs in the basket with space for circulation and heat 5–7 minutes until warmed through.
Oven Method
Wrap ribs in aluminum foil, preheat the oven to 350°F, and bake 15–20 minutes until warmed through.
What to Serve With Ribs?
Pair ribs with classic sides like collard greens, roasted Brussels sprouts, french fries, bacon-wrapped asparagus or steamed cabbage. Choose sides that balance the richness of the ribs and match your preferred level of comfort food.
Kitchen Essentials and Items Used
To finish ribs, a broiler, grill or air fryer are handy. Use a trivet for the Instant Pot to keep ribs above the liquid during pressure cooking.
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Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 Rack of baby back ribs
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Garlic
- 1/2 Adobo seasoning (optional)
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Liquid smoke
- 1 Tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 Cup Water
- 1/2 BBQ sauce of choice
Instructions
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Remove the rear membrane from the back of the ribs. Coat ribs with salt, pepper, garlic, adobo (optional) and paprika.
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Place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Add ribs, arranging them around the inner edge in a half circle. Pour in liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar and water around the ribs, taking care not to wash off the seasoning.
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Lock the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes for very tender ribs, or 22 minutes for slightly firmer ribs. When cooking finishes, allow a 10-minute natural release, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
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Place ribs on a sheet pan, coat with barbecue sauce, and broil or grill for about 3 minutes per side until the sauce caramelizes. Avoid more than 5 minutes per side to prevent burning.
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Enjoy.
Nutrition
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