These Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs are sticky, saucy, savory, sweet, and sooo tender. Fall-off-the-bone tender. They’re done in 30 minutes, with only 6 simple ingredients. The recipe includes a how-to video and lots of tips.
Easy Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs Recipe
Baby back ribs have been my favorite comfort food for years, so I started making them at home. But to be honest, sometimes outdoor grilling isn’t an option, so I decided to try to make them in the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs turned out finger-lickin’ good!
The best part is that they are steamed to perfection in minutes, not hours!!
At first, I was a bit worried that they wouldn’t get nice, crunchy, and brown, but the magic happens after a few minutes under the broiler. They turn into these gorgeous looking, tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection!!
Sooo good; there are not enough words to describe it.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
You’ll need only 6 ingredients:
- Baby back ribs
- Barbecue meat rub (homemade or store-bought)
- Vegetable broth
- Apple juice
- Liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
- Barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
My Favorite Homemade Barbecue Meat Rub
Mix together:
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Best Type Of Ribs To Make Barbecue Ribs
I prefer baby back ribs because they are smaller and more tender. However, you can also use spare ribs if you prefer them to be bigger and meatier.
Process Overview: How To Make Ribs in The Instant Pot Step-by-Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
The beauty of this recipe is that these ribs are done in the Instant Pot. The result is a delicious, succulent, fall-off-the-bone rib meal.
- Remove The Membrane From The Back Of The Ribs
Insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel. Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, repeat step one.
- Season The Ribs
Rub the ribs with the meat rub. Be generous!
- Pressure Cook
Place the ribs into the Instant Pot. Add vegetable broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke (if using). Close the lid and set it to cook on “manual” mode for 20 minutes. When the time is over, turn it off and let the pressure release on its own, this will take about 8-10 minutes. Carefully turn the vent to “Venting,” to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid.
- Crisp On
Preheat oven to broil. Transfer cooked ribs to a large baking sheet. Brush barbecue sauce all over the ribs on all sides, including the bones. Broil for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes.
How To Remove Membrane From The Back Of Ribs
- Insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel.
- Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, repeat step one.
Can I Make Two Racks Of Ribs In The Instant Pot?
Yes, you can make two racks. To do so, double the meat rub and barbecue sauce quantity, but keep the same amount of liquid (broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke) underneath. Increase the cooking time to 30 minutes.
Pressure Cooking Times for Ribs
It will depend on how you like your ribs! Adjust the Instant Pot cooking time according to your preference:
- 15 minutes for tender with a bit of chew,
- 20 minutes for tender but not falling off the bone,
- 25 minutes to fall off the bone ribs.
Broil For Crisp & Caramelized Ribs
After the ribs are finished cooking in the Instant Pot, you only need to smother the ribs with plenty of BBQ sauce and throw ’em on the broil to get that beautiful char and smoky flavor.
Don’t skip this step! So brush them with BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
Recipe Card 📖
Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs
These Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs are sticky, saucy, savory, sweet, and sooo tender. Fall-off-the-bone tender. They are done in 30 minutes, with just 6 simple ingredients.
Instructions
-
Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. To do so, insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel. Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, lift it up again and remove the rest.
-
Rub the ribs with the meat rub on all sides. Be generous!
-
Place the ribs rack into the Instant Pot. Add vegetable broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke (if using). Close the lid and set it to cook on “manual” mode for 20 minutes. When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own, this will take about 8-10 minutes. Carefully turn the vent to “Venting,” just to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid.
-
Preheat oven to broil.
-
Transfer the cooked ribs to a large baking sheet. Brush barbecue sauce all over the ribs, including the bones. Broil for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes. Serve and enjoy!
My Favorite Homemade BBQ Rub
Mix together:
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Liquid smoke can be found next to barbecue sauces in most grocery stores or online.
Make Two Racks: Double the meat rub and barbecue sauce quantity, but keep the same amount of liquid (broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke) underneath. Increase the cooking time to 30 minutes.
How Long Do You Pressure Cook Ribs?
It will depend on how you like your ribs! Adjust the Instant Pot cooking time according to your preference:
- 15 minutes for tender with a bit of chew,
- 20 for tender but not falling off the bone,
- 25 minutes to fall off the bone ribs.
If you’re making this recipe, please read the whole post content to get lots of tips, tricks, variations, and frequently asked questions.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate, and it can vary depending on the products used.
Nutrition
Calories: 708kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 42gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 1535mgPotassium: 868mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 518IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 4mg
This recipe was originally published in June 2017. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in March 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
Oriana Romero
Source link
