Instant Pot Ribs – fall off the bone ready in 30 min!
Instant Pot Ribs – the stuff dreams are made of! Is it really possible to have fall-off-the-bone-tender baby back ribs in about half an hour?? And the answer is…
YES it’s absolutely possible with the Instant Pot. It’s no surprise the Instant Pot Ribs recipe is one of the most requested out there in the blogosphere, and I’m here to show you how it’s done!
Easy peasy! Honestly, one of the easiest recipes EVER! (Exciting news!! My Instant Pot Authorized Cookbook is now available on Amazon! Check it out here!)
Now to be clear, I do love the fabulous aroma that accompanies hours and hours of slow cooking baby back ribs. I even wrote this post on the surprisingly wonderful and tender ribs my fabulous husband made us for the Super Bowl (yes, it was a relationship challenging moment, but we most definitely survived! 😉 )
There are times, though, that I’m SO in the mood for tender, juicy, flavorful baby back ribs, but we simply don’t have hours and hours. And hours. Especially when we’re out RVing. I was ecstatic to learn that I don’t have to forgo my pork craving just because I don’t have time. Yay Instant Pot Ribs!
And be sure to check out my NEW How to Be the Boss of Your Instant Pot Course to get the most out of your pot!
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You all know by now how much I love my Instant Pot for everything from hard-boiled eggs to steel cut oatmeal to carnitas to cake. Well, these Instant Pot Ribs are my new favorite! Perfect for fall. Perfect for football season.
And perfect when you're out camping in your RV and want something a little special. (A lot special!)
Check it out on my YouTube Channel!
Here's How To Make Instant Pot Ribs (don't blink or you'll miss it)
Remove membrane from back of a slab of baby back ribs. Generously coat with salt and pepper. Cut the full slab in half. Add 1 cup apple juice to the Instant Pot, then add the ribs, meaty side down. Drizzle barbeque sauce on top of ribs. Close Instant Pot lid and make sure it is set to "sealing." Turn on timer to manual for 25 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes after timer goes off.
Turn the valve to "venting" to let steam escape. After steam has escaped, remove lid. Place ribs meaty side up on a baking sheet and coat with additional barbeque sauce. Broil in a preheated oven (or toss them on the grill) for 10 minutes until nicely charred on the outside! Dig in! (Have lots of napkins handy for this one!) (Don't forget... My Instant Pot Authorized Cookbook is now available on Amazon! Check it out here!)
The Instant Pot makes the ribs fall off the bone tender, and the boiler or grill finishes them off with a beautifully caramelized crust.
Pick a barbeque sauce you love - whether it's store-bought or homemade, any sauce will do! I use store-bought when we're out camping since we all know it's gotta be tasty, simple, and easy to clean.
And if you need another super easy (and super amazing) Instant Pot meal, try these Instant Pot Chicken Thighs in creamy mushroom gravy! Yum!!
No, it turns out I'm not dreaming. It really is possible to have tender, flavorful, delicious Instant Pot Ribs no matter where you are or how much time you have (well... you do need at least half an hour...).
You can get the Instant Pot through this link. And make sure to use the coupon code THESPICYAPRON to get a discount!
If you're looking for something to pair with the Ribs, try this amazing Caramel Apple Salad!
And if you're still interested in "traditional" ribs, check out this post!
Instant Pot Ribs - Fall off the bone ready in 30 min!
Ingredients
- 1 Slab Baby Back Ribs
- 2 Teaspoons salt
- 2 Teaspoons Pepper
- 1 Cup Apple Juice
- 1 Cup BBQ Sauce, Divided (1/4 cup and 3/4 cup)
Instructions
- Liberally salt and pepper both sides of slab of ribs. Cut slab in half if it's too big for your Instant Pot.
- Pour apple juice into Instant Pot. Place ribs into pot, drizzle with 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce and secure lid. Make sure it's set to "sealing." Set it to Manual timer for 25 minutes. It will take a few minutes to heat up and seal the vent. Once timer counts down, let sit another 5 minutes then release steam by turning valve to "venting." Turn on oven to broil (or heat your grill) while you're waiting for the 5 minute resting time.
- Remove ribs from Instant Pot and place on a baking sheet. Slather on both sides with remaining sauce. Place under broiler (or on grill) for 5-10 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn't burn. Remove and brush with a bit more sauce. Pull apart and dig in!
Is it okay to just cook one 1/2 rack in my Mini? Same time/NPR? I’m cooking just for me and really don’t want to freeze leftovers.
Hi! Recipe looks so easy, I’m making these now.
Do I broil them on Hi or Low?
Thanks!
Hi Monica! You broil on Hi (mine only has one setting… lol!) I hope you like them!! 🙂
I made a ½ rack of these ribs tonight. I kept the ingredients and time the same as the recipe called for. After 25 minutes in the IP, I sauced them up and hubby grilled them for about ten minutes. OMG, they were fall off the bone awesome and the Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce I used pushed them over the top. Hands down the best ribs ever! I have five more half racks in the freezer awaiting their turn.
Thank you for a great recipe!
I can’t wait to try these!! Thank you!
You’ll love them!
I just made your recipe for ribs for the 3rd time. EVERY time they come out perfect. Thank ;you for a great recipe!
That’s great! They’re always perfect for us too!! Yum!!!
I have tried ribs in IP. I use 1 cup water and I put the ribs on the IP rack. Then I set it for Manual High setting for 25 minutes with a 15 min natural release. I too broil them in sauce.
My ribs never come out very tender. Is that because I cook three half racks at a time in my 6qt IP. Am I cooking too many at once?
Also, does the apple juice make them more tender, or just add flavor?
Hey Shawn! I think it’s totally fine to cook 3 racks at once, but I do think you need to cook them longer. If I were doing 3 racks in my 6 quart, I’d do 35 or 40 minutes. I think that with the added cooking time yours will be very tender! I honestly don’t know whether the apple juice also makes them more tender. It does add a hint of flavor that I like.
Yes the apple juice makes a big difference.
The acids in apple juice, lemons, rice or apple cider vinegar or any other acidic baste used, breaks down the fibres in the meat tissue, resulting in more tender meats.
Can this be done with frozen ribs? How long would the cook time be?
Hey Nichole. Yes, it can be done with frozen ribs (as long as they are pliable enough to fit in the pot!) I would increase the time by 5 minutes (30 min pressure cooking time total). Some people say you do not need to increase the time for frozen things, but I like to add just a little bit to be sure!
It was excellent!! Thank you for such an easy way to make ribs.
I’m so glad you made them!! We love em!