These Instant Pot BBQ ribs are juicy, tender, and packed with smoky-sweet flavor, but they’re so much easier than traditional ribs. The pressure cooker does the hard work, then a quick trip under the broiler caramelizes the barbecue sauce and gives the ribs that sticky, glossy finish everyone loves. Plus, you can make this dish in 1 hour from start to finish!
If you want a crowd-pleasing dinner without spending all day tending the grill, this recipe is a great one to keep on repeat. It’s fast enough for a weekend dinner, easy enough for game day, and perfect when you want fall-apart ribs with much less effort. If you love easy pressure cooker dinners like Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots, Instant Pot Lamb Shanks, or Instant Pot Boneless Short Ribs, this is another recipe worth adding to the list.
Quick Look: Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- ⏳️ Ready in: 1 hour.
- 🧑Serves: 4 people.
- 🍽 Calories: ~478 calories per serving.
- ♥️ Why you will love it: 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!
- 🥣 Flavor profile: The dry rub gives the ribs a deep savory flavor with a little warmth from the spices, while the barbecue sauce adds sweetness and that classic sticky, caramelized finish. The apple cider vinegar brings a subtle tang that balances the richness, so overall the ribs taste bold, comforting, and full of classic barbecue flavor.
- 🎯 Best paired with: These Instant Pot BBQ ribs are delicious with Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan, Green Bean Almondine, or for a classic barbecue-style dinner.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For anybody that’s not familiar with how to get juicy fall apart ribs….. this is your recipe! I had never cooked ribs in my life and now this is in our monthly rotation. My whole family loves them and they turn out consistently every time!
I usually don’t write reviews, but this recipe is just that awesome! I’ve made 10 times and counting!
– Jess
Why This Recipe Works
These Instant Pot BBQ ribs work because the pressure cooker makes the meat tender in a fraction of the time, while the broiler gives the sauce that classic caramelized finish.
- The dry rub adds smoky, savory flavor before the ribs even start cooking.
- Apple cider vinegar helps create a flavorful steaming liquid and balances the richness.
- Pressure cooking makes the ribs tender quickly.
- Broiling at the end gives you sticky, glossy barbecue sauce without firing up the grill.
Like my Instant Pot Chicken Wings, this is also one of my favorite ways to make ribs when the weather isn’t great or when I don’t want to spend hours cooking outside.
Key Ingredients
- Baby back ribs. I like to use baby back ribs for this recipe because they’re smaller, tender, and fit well in the Instant Pot. They also cook more quickly than larger ribs, which makes them ideal for this method.
- Dry rub. The spice rub gives the ribs a deep savory flavor with a little sweetness and gentle heat. Smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, brown sugar, and cayenne help create that classic barbecue-style flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar. A little apple cider vinegar adds brightness and helps balance the sweet barbecue sauce. It also adds extra flavor to the cooking liquid.
- BBQ sauce. Use your favorite barbecue sauce here since it becomes a major part of the final flavor. Brushing it on before broiling helps it thicken and caramelize beautifully. I use a similar trick in my Oven Baked BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs.
Substitutions and Variations
These Instant Pot BBQ ribs are easy to adjust depending on what you have or what flavor profile you want.
- Use spare ribs instead of baby back ribs, but increase the cook time.
- Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke for a stronger barbecue flavor.
- Use a sweeter or spicier barbecue sauce depending on your preference.
- Reduce the cayenne if you want a milder rub.
- Add a little extra brown sugar if you prefer sweeter ribs.
How to Make Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- Step 1: 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.
- Step 2: 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.
- Step 3: Season the meet with dry rub from both sides and rub it in.
- Step 4: 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.
- Step 5: 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.
Expert Tips
- Remove the membrane if it hasn’t already been removed. This helps the seasoning penetrate better and improves the final texture.
- Choose ribs that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t skip the broiler step. It makes a huge difference in texture and flavor.
- Use enough sauce to coat the top well, but don’t drench the ribs so heavily that the sauce slides off.
- Let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes so the ribs stay juicy and tender.
What to serve with it
These Instant Pot BBQ ribs pair well with classic barbecue sides, easy vegetables, and fresh salads.
For potatoes, try Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Oven Baked French Fries, or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
For vegetables, I love serving them with Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan or Green Beans Amandine.
If you want a salad on the side, try Red Potato Salad with Dill, Potato Salad with Bacon and Egg, BLT Pasta Salad, Farro and Arugula Salad, or Olivier Salad Recipe.
For a full party-style spread, add Instant Pot Chicken Wings, Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings, Oven Baked BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs, or Easy Guacamole Recipe for more game-day food ideas.
Instant Pot BBQ Ribs FAQs
If your Instant Pot ribs turn out tough, they usually need a little more cooking time. Ribs become tender when the connective tissue has enough time to break down under pressure, so if they are still chewy, they were likely undercooked. The type and size of the ribs also matter, since larger or meatier racks can need a few extra minutes. Letting the pressure release naturally also helps keep the meat tender and juicy.
Yes. Spare ribs work well in the Instant Pot too, but they are larger and meatier, so they need more time. Cook for 35 minutes on manual high pressure + complete natural release.
Yes. You can pressure cook the ribs ahead of time, then refrigerate them and broil with barbecue sauce just before serving. This makes them a great option for parties and game-day meals.
Yes, if it is still attached. Removing the membrane helps the seasoning stick better and gives the ribs a more tender bite. Some grocery stores already remove it, so check before you start.
More Party Recipes to Try
If you make these Instant Pot BBQ ribs, I’d love for you to leave a rating and comment below. Your feedback helps other readers and gives them helpful tips before they try the recipe themselves.
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.
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!