Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Baby back ribs should be cooked low and slow until they’re tender without losing any moisture. But when you cook ribs in the slow cooker, truth is, you have to keep checking on them. This Instant Pot method is hands-free! Once you try these Instant Pot ribs, you won’t believe how tender and succulent these are, and they’re made in under an hour! The ribs are rubbed with a delicious dry rub, then pressure cooked until tender. To form an irresistible crust, I slathered the ribs with my favorite BBQ sauce and placed them under the broiler. And then give them another brushing of barbecue sauce right before serving for extra flavor! If you’re looking for a beef ribs version, check out my Instant Pot short ribs recipe!
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these Instant Pot ribs
Dry rub – you can either use your favorite rib rub (if you have one), or make your own. I made my own and used brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, ground mustard, cayenne, salt, and pepper (scroll down to the recipe card for the exact amounts).1 or 2 racks of baby back ribs – or pork loin ribs. Fresh or frozen.Water or apple juice or cider – you can totally use water to pressure cook the ribs, but I like to add apple juice or apple cider along with liquid smoke to get that lovely applewood smoking flavor.Liquid smoke – optional, if using then add just half a teaspoon to the liquid.Barbecue sauce – homemade or store-bought. I like Sweet Baby Rays barbecue sauce because it’s sweet and caramelizes well to create a great crust on the ribs.
How to Prep The Ribs
To prep the ribs, wash and pat dry to remove any excess moisture. Check if the membrane is still there on the boney side, as usually it is already removed. However, if it’s still there, here’s how you remove it: Place the ribs upside down on a cutting board, and using a butter knife slide under the membrane on the back of the bone. It is a thin layer, so you don’t need to go deep. Once you have loosened it, take a paper towel and grab onto it with one hand. Hold the ribs down with the other hand and gently pull on the membrane, It should come off easily.
How to Make The Best Instant Pot Ribs
Rub the entire ribs with the homemade or store-bought rib rub.Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and coil the ribs in a standing position around the sides. Add the apple cider to the bottom of the pot.Secure the lid and set the vent to SEALING. Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL setting and set the cooking time for 23 minutes at high pressure. The Instant Pot will take around 10 minutes to come to pressure and start cooking. When the cooking program ends, allow the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes then quickly release the rest of the steam.Remove from the Instant Pot, brush with barbecue sauce and broil for 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven, cut between the ribs and serve warm.
You can also finish off the ribs in the Air Fryer if you like, just cut the rack in thirds (to fit your air fry basket), brush on barbecue sauce on both sides and air fry for 4-5 minutes at 390°F (200°C).
How to Cook Frozen Ribs in the Instant Pot
You can cook the ribs in the Instant Pot from frozen. However, before freezing, I recommend that you cut the ribs in thirds and rub the dry rib rub before freezing. The reason behind cutting the ribs before freezing is that you won’t be able to coil them when they’re frozen, and a whole rack of ribs if frozen in one piece won’t fit the Instant Pot. And rubbing the dry rub before freezing will help it stay on, as opposed to trying to apply it on frozen ribs (it won’t work!).
Side Dishes for Ribs
Serve the Instant Pot ribs with your favorite sides! Below are a few ideas:
ColeslawAir Fryer corn on the cob or make them in the Instant Pot!Creamy mashed potatoesInstant Pot mac and cheeseCrispy corn frittersInstant Pot Potato salad
© Little Sunny Kitchen
