Instant Pot Delicious Barbecue Ribs | Tested by Amy + Jacky (2023)

Prime rib was one of the first dishes we made in our Instant Pot! Back then, we were amazed at how tender, juicy and aromatic they were. That was the moment we became!

This easy Instant Pot Ribs recipe is designed to be a great beginner recipe to start with your Instant Pot. Remember to use a good barbecue sauce and you're good to go. 😉

If you're short on time or ingredients, this easy prime rib recipe is for you. But if you're ready to step up your game, you've got to try this gift.Ribs recipe with homemade marinade and barbecue sauce.

Ingredients for Cooking Instant Pot BBQ Ribs

Ribs:Try to use back ribs of even thickness across the grill. It's also important to try to find ribs with a lot of marbling.

Grillsoße:Best of all, make your own barbecue sauce! But to keep it simple, grab your favorite bottle of barbecue sauce. We useSalsa Barbacoa Sweet Baby Ray'sto get to this easy prime rib recipe.

Apple vinegar:If you want, you can use apple cider vinegar instead of water.

Optional – liquid smoke:If you want to add a little smoky "outdoor" flavor to your ribs, add a few drops of thisliquid smoke. Try to find a natural liquid smoke. Since there are different flavors of liquid smoke, try to find one that you like.

Tools needed to prepare instant ribs

• Instant Pot pressure cooker
• vegetable steamer
• silicone brush

Tips for Cooking Ribs in the Instant Pot

1. How long do baby back ribs cook in the Instant Pot?

We had a little fun with some baby back ribs and tried different cooking times to find what works best for us. Choose your preferred cooking time here:rib cooking timeto make these instant ribs!

2. Do you cook the ribs directly in liquid or on a grill in the Instant Pot?

When cooking ribs in the Instant Pot, some of the meat's flavors will migrate into the cooking liquid. Adding the ribs directly to the cooking liquid is great if you're making the rib sauce in the Instant Pot at the same time. That way, any flavor that made its way into the liquid will make its way back into the ribs.

However, if you discard the cooking liquid afterward or use a store-bought or pre-made barbecue sauce, you can place the ribs on a rack in the Instant Pot to retain the meaty flavors.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Instant Pot Ribs

Step 1

Prepare and season the ribs

First, remove the membrane from the back of the ribs with a paper towel.

To remove the membrane from the baby's back ribs:

• Position the membrane at one end of the rack (at the back of the ribs).
• Slide a butter knife between the membrane and the bone (see image below).
• Remove the membrane and tear with a paper towel (for better adhesion).

Then season the baby back ribs with a generous amount of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

step 2

Ribs in the pressure cooker

Optional:Add 2-3 drops of Liquid Smoke to the Instant Pot.

Add 1 cup (250 ml) of cold water (or apple cider vinegar) and a plate to the Instant Pot.

Then place the baby back ribs in the cup holder (as shown in the photo below).

With the vent knob in the vent position, close the lid and turn the vent knob to the locked position.

• Quick cooking method:Pressure cook at high pressure for 16 minutes to 25 minutes then release completely naturally

* Cooking time pro tip:Be sure to adjust the cooking time to your liking: 16 minutes (soft crunching a little) to 25 minutes (bone falling soft).

Once the float valve drops, turn the bleed knob to the bleed position.

Open the lid carefully.

step 3

Spread the sauce and put it in the oven/airfryer

*Tip for the oven:While the baby back ribs are cooking in the Instant Pot, preheat the oven to 450°F.

First, carefully place the baby back ribs on a baking sheet or cutting board, then generously coat all sides, including the bones, with your favorite barbecue sauce.

*To use:You can use an oven, a toaster,Instant Pot Duo Crunchy"Air fry" functionInstant fryer lidfor the final caramelization step.

*Pro tip:If you have a large oven, you can bake the ribs in one go. If using the Duo-Crisp or Air-Fryer lid, you will need to cut the ribs in half and finish cooking in two passes.

*Pro tip:It's best to grill the ribs before slicing to retain more moisture.

Option 1 - Oven/Toaster

Place the grilled ribs in a roasting pan on the broiler setting (or the highest temperature) for a few minutes until the barbecue sauce caramelizes.

Option 2: Air Fryer Lid

Place the Airfryer basket with tray on the center rail of the Instant Pot (as shown in the demo photo below).

Now place the ribs in the Instant Pot on the fryer pan.

Then put thefryer lidin the instant pot.

• Air frying method:tightenSabor "Air Fry", set the temperature to400 °Fand cooking time15 minutes.

*Pro tip:It will takeapproximately 9 - 11 minutes + warm-up time. You can open the lid to check the progress.

Now cook the second batch of barbecue ribs in the Instant Pot outdoors.

stage 4

Serve Instant Barbecue Ribs

Shred the Instant Barbecue Ribs into finger-licking portions.

Serve these delicious barbecue ribs right away!

Accompaniments to serve with ribs

Deluxe Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Sweet'n Smokey Baked Beans

Instant corn on the cob

Enjoy their finger-licking delicious Instant Pot Ribs!

Some useful tips and resources

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