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+ servings
bbq ribs on a cutting board with a large knife

Instant Pot BBQ Ribs

Tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone, finger-licking ribs in less than 20 minutes made in a pressure cooker. 
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Course: dinner, hearty lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: BBQ sauce, Instant pot, pressure cooker
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Pressure Release Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Laura Franco

Ingredients 

Dry Rub

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Other Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • bottled BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Remove ribs from packaging and pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Loosen and remove the membrane on the back of the ribs but lifting it with a knife and then tearing it off with your hands.
  • Mix dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Rub the dry mix on both sides of the ribs.
  • Place the water and the vinegar into the pressure cooker.
  • Place the ribs in the pressure cooker standing up with the meaty side facing inward.
  • Cook the ribs for 25 minutes with self-release or natural release for 15 minutes.
  • Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and when the ribs are finished in the pressure cooker, transfer them to the cookie sheet.
  • Set the oven to broil.
  • Brush both sides of the ribs with bottled BBQ sauce or homemade BBQ sauce and broil them for 5 minutes. Watch the ribs carefully and don't walk away because they will begin to brown quickly. If the ribs are cooking faster than 5 minutes, remove them and if they appear to need another minute or two cook them a bit longer.
  • Cut the ribs into individual rib pieces or serve them as a slab.

Notes

Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
  • When removing the membrane, use a paper towel in your hands to get a good grip because the meat is slippery. Even better, have the butcher at your market remove the membrane for you.
  • Rib cooking times are important. For this recipe, I used pork spare ribs which take 25-30 minutes while baby back ribs will take 20-25 minutes.
  • If you like ribs with a smokey outdoor flavor, use a few drops of liquid smoke in the water to infuse the smoky flavor.
  • It's best to broil the ribs before cutting them. Let them cool for a few minutes after broiling before cutting.
  • Use a good store-bought BBQ sauce. Sweet Baby Rays is my go-to sauce. You can also make homemade BBQ sauce. My Peach BBQ Sauce goes perfectly on these ribs.