These Instant Pot BBQ Ribs are the perfect recipe to break in your Instant Pot. They’re simple to make and taste like they’ve been slow-roasting for hours — tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection!
There’s something magical about ribs that have been slow-smoked for hours — tender meat, a deep smoky flavor, and that irresistible pull-apart texture. For most of us, though, building a backyard smoke ring or tending a pit for hours isn’t practical every night. That’s where the Instant Pot shines, transforming a time-consuming process into a quick weeknight win without sacrificing texture or flavor.
The beauty of Instant Pot Ribs
An Instant Pot (or any electric pressure cooker) seals in steam and cooks under high pressure, which breaks down collagen and connective tissue quickly. The result is juicy, tender ribs in a fraction of the time. With this method, you can have fall-off-the-bone ribs in about an hour from start to finish — including prep and the quick broil to finish the sauce.
Pressure cooking tenderizes the meat fast while keeping it moist. After the pressure portion, a brief turn under the broiler caramelizes the BBQ sauce so the ribs look and taste like they were finished on a grill.
Cooking tips for these Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- Remove the membrane (silver skin) from the back of the ribs before seasoning. If left on, it can become tough and prevent flavors from penetrating the meat.
- Choose beer or root beer for the cooking liquid depending on your flavor preference — both work well. Beer gives a savory depth; root beer adds a subtle sweetness and caramel notes.
- The dry rub below is simple and flavorful, but you can substitute your favorite homemade or store-bought rub. The cooking method remains the same.
Cooking the ribs in beer or root beer adds an extra layer of flavor. After pressure cooking, transfer the ribs to a baking sheet, brush generously with BBQ sauce, and broil just until the sauce bubbles and caramelizes. This quick finish gives the ribs a sticky, slightly charred exterior like they came off the grill.
Pin This Recipe For Later
Pin This Recipe For Later
Want more easy BBQ recipes?
- Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
- BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
- Slow Cooker Blackberry BBQ Pulled Pork
Tools Used in making Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- The Instant Pot — an electric pressure cooker that speeds up long braises and yields tender results in far less time.
- Sturdy tongs — useful for handling ribs when transferring them to a baking sheet and brushing on sauce.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork baby back ribs
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 11 ounces beer or root beer
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Remove ribs from packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into sections of about 3 ribs and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the smoked paprika, sugar, garlic salt, and onion powder. Sprinkle the seasoning over the ribs and rub it in with your fingertips.
- Place the ribs into the Instant Pot and pour the beer or root beer over them. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to Broil on high while the ribs cook.
- When the cook time ends, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for about 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
- Remove the ribs and place them on a baking sheet. Brush each piece with BBQ sauce and broil until the sauce is bubbly and starting to brown and caramelize, about 3–5 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot.
Video
Chef’s Notes:
- Baby Back, St. Louis style, and pork spare ribs all work with this method. Baby back ribs were used for the photos and video.
- Beer and root beer both add great flavor; choose based on the profile you prefer. Beer is more savory; root beer adds sweetness and caramel notes.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition and Food Safety Disclosure
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