These are the best fall off the bone tender baby back ribs! Made with delicious dry rub seasoning, they are cooked in an Instant Pot, then finished with caramelized BBQ sauce in the broiler. Such an easy recipe to please the crowd!
One of my favorite ways to cook meat is in an Instant Pot. It takes a fraction of time to prep the whole meal than if you would cook it on the stove or in the oven, like Instant Pot Pot Roast, Instant Pot Lamb Shanks, and Instant Pot Boneless Short Ribs. And if you want more recipes made in a pressure cooker, check out my post for Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners.
I just made these delicious Baby Back Ribs in my pressure cooker which turned out so juicy and tender, the meat falls off the bones! And it took me less than an hour from start to finish!
So, next time, when you have a crowd over for a Super Bowl game or BBQ cookout, surprise them with these delicious ribs!
They are generously seasoned with aromatic dry rub, cooked in a pressure cooker until tender, then brushed with your favorite BBQ Sauce and finished off under the broiler. I bet it will become your new favorite recipe to make over the weekends!
How to make it
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for dry rub (1 tbsp light brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp chili powder, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ cayenne, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp dried oregano). Set aside.
Rinse and pat dry the racks of meet, then remove the membrane.
NOTE: Some stores remove the membrane ahead of time. If yours is not removed, just slide a butter knife in between of the membrane and the bones, then pull the membrane off.
Season the meet with dry rub from both sides and rub it in.
Add 1 cup water and ½ cup apple cider vinegar to the pot and place the trivet in. Place the racks on the trivet, wrapping in a circle.
Close the lid and cook on manual high pressure for 23 minutes (make sure that the venting knob is sealed). When done, do natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to broil.
Place the ribs, meat side up, on a baking sheet, lined with aluminum foil. Brush with your favorite BBQ Sauce. Broil for about 5 minutes or until the barbecue sauce is caramelized.
Tips for best results
- When buying the ribs, try to choose the same size for even cooking. I prefer to use 1 ½ pound Baby Back Ribs.
- Don’t forget to remove the membrane before cooking the meat.
- I always like to broil the ribs after cooking in a pressure cooker. This finishing step helps to crisp up the top and caramelize the BBQ sauce.
- To bring this meal to a whole new level, you can add a teaspoon of liquid smoke. Just add it together with water and apple cider vinegar.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this recipe, I prefer to use Baby Back Ribs. They are small and the most tender. If you can’t find them in the store, you can also use Spare Ribs. They are a bit larger in size, and have more meat and fat.
Because these two types of ribs are different in size, thickness, and the amount of meat they have, the cooking time will be different.
Baby Back Ribs. Cook for 23 minutes on manual high pressure + 10 minutes natural release.
Spare Ribs. Cook for 35 minutes on manual high pressure + complete natural release.
There are so many side dished you can serve it with! Here are a few ideas:
Potatoes (Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Oven Baked Fries, or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes)
Greens (Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan, Green Beans Amandine)
Salads (Olivie, Farro Salad Recipe, Potato Salad with Bacon and Egg, or BLT Pasta Salad)
Hungry for more Party Meals?
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings with Dry Rub
- Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Easy Guacamole Recipe
- Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Easy Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
Ingredients for Dry Rub:
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Ingredients for BBQ Ribs:
- 2 baby back pork ribs about 1 ½ pounds each
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for dry rub (1 tbsp light brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp chili powder, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ cayenne, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp dried oregano). Set aside.
- Rinse and pat dry the ribs, then remove the membrane.
- NOTE: Some stores remove the membrane ahead of time. If yours is not removed, just slide a butter knife in between of the membrane and the bones, then pull the membrane off.
- Season the ribs with dry rub from both sides and rub it in.
- Add 1 cup water and ½ cup apple cider vinegar to the pot and place the trivet in. Place the ribs on the trivet, wrapping in a circle.
- Close the lid and cook the ribs on manual high pressure for 23 minutes (make sure that the venting knob is sealed). When done, do natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to broil.
- Place the ribs, meat side up, on a baking sheet, lined with aluminum foil. Brush with your favorite BBQ Sauce. Broil for about 5 minutes or until the barbecue sauce is caramelized.
Video
Notes
- When buying the ribs, try to choose the same size for even cooking. I prefer to use 1 ½ pound Baby Back Ribs.
- Don’t forget to remove the membrane before cooking the meat.
- I always like to broil the ribs after cooking in a pressure cooker. This finishing step helps to crisp up the top and caramelize the BBQ sauce.
- To bring these ribs to a whole new level, you can add a teaspoon of liquid smoke. Just add it together with water and apple cider vinegar.
I used apple juice instead of water and apple cider vinegar. And did a natural release. So tender. Love them. Thank you
Thank you so much, Michele! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
I never leave comments however Veronika I followed your recipe completely and the final results are absolutely delicious. This was my first time using a pressure cooker for ribs but I can guarantee it will not be my last. Thank you so much this was a great recipe thanks for sharing
Thank you so much, Shaq! I’m so happy you loved the recipe!
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve been grilling all year and looking forward to it again this weekend! Excited to try burgers for my next bbq.
Hi! I followed your recipe and not sure why my pot says burnt. There no liquid left. I did 23 minutes on high pressure. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Tham! 1 cup water and 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar is more than enough liquid to cook in Instant Pot. This is really a puzzle to me how you ended up with no liquid at all……
Your lid didn’t seal most likely.
Hi! I’m making this tonight and I just realized I brought regular ribs instead of babyback ribs. For a rack and a half would it be the cook same time in the IP?
Hi Doris, I have this info above in the recipe.
Baby Back Ribs. Cook for 23 minutes on manual high pressure + 10 minutes natural release.
Spare Ribs. Cook for 35 minutes on manual high pressure + complete natural release.
Hope that helps 😉
I got 2 racks of ribs for 50% off at Aldi the other day. I decided on this recipe and they came out PERFECT! I had a dry rub I made a while ago (probably a very similar recipe, but I can’t remember now) and so I used that. I also got a locally made Maple BBQ sauce today in a weekly farm basket so that was perfect. The meat was falling off the bone, so tender! I can’t stop eating them. Thank you!
Thank you, Barrie! I’m so happy you liked the recipe! I’m sure fresh Maple BBQ sauce was a perfect touch 😉
I don’t have apple cider vinegar / will white vinegar work?
Hi Nancy! I wouldn’t use white vinegar in this recipe. Apple cider vinegar really brings up all the flavor and aroma and it’s hard to substitute it with anything else.
Hi, if you double the ribs like five to six pounds do you double the liquid?
Love these ribs made them several times. Family loves them also. Great recipe.
Thank you so much, Marie! If you double the recipe, you can use 1 1/2 cups water and 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar.
If just half the amount ribs… how much time in IP?
Hi Karen! The cooking time will stay the same.
Just made this tonight… delicious . I didn’t add cayanne not a fan on spicy foods..but it was very good. Hubby loved it!! I had a little trouble with my instant pot as I’m still learning how to use the darn thing but I know what to do AND NOT to do next time LOL
Yaay! Thank you, Trudy! I’m so happy you and your hubby loved these ribs!
I made this tonight for my family if 4. We made 2 racks of ribs. They were delicious! We added the tsp of liquid smoke. Not a rib was left. We will be making this again!
Thank you so much, Sue! I’m so happy you and your family liked them!
Made these yesterday. Very tender and tasty!
Yaay! Thank you, Heidi! So happy you liked them!
I tried these first for the Super Bowl and was very happy. Today, due to some nice weather,I tweaked this method slightly. I did two hours on the smoker, and then finished in the instant pot. I just cut the time down to 15 minutes. Amazing. Best of both worlds.
This is a great idea to use a smoker for this recipe! Thanks you for letting me know 😉
These ribs look delicious and are making my mouth water!! I love the way the instant pot was used for this recipe also.
Those ribs looks absolutely tempting! I love the seasoning on the ribs. Instant pot makes cooking so much convinient! These ribs are just perfect!
I love that these ribs are made in an Instant Pot! They are incredibly tender and flavorful!
Ahh this sounds delicious! What a wonderful meal for the instant pot. It’s been too long since I’ve had ribs! Def need to try this.
Any recipe I can make in my Instant Pot gets right to the top of my list. I appreciate the details about removing the membranes and other details like the broiling at the end – I feel confident that my ribs will turn out this good.
Wow, I am so craving some of these ribs. I can only imagine how tender the ribs are coming out of the instapot. Then you glaze and broil. Yum yummy! Thanks for sharing!
I am so excited to try these ribs! They look even better than ribs make from a BBQ. My husband is going to love this!
I pretty much get excited about anything that I can throw in my instant pot, and ribs are at the top of the list. That rub you’v got goin’ on is just perfect. SO tasty!
My sister introduced me to Instant Pot ribs and I was very skeptical. However, I was pleasantly surprised. They really become so tender and moist. I don’t have a favourite recipe yet, so I’ll have to give yours a try.
My mouth waters just from looking at these ribs. You don’t need a game week to make a big batch of these – so good!
I have made this recipe for my friends and it got raving reviews
Yaay! Thank you, Donna! I’m so happy to hear that!