If you’re on this recipe, I’m guessing you’re on the hunt for the very best Baby back ribs instant pot recipe that you can get your hands on.
Well, you’re in luck, because this is it! My baby back ribs Instant Pot recipe makes four pounds of mouthwatering pork ribs that are going to make every member of your family happy.
And, mama will be happy, too because no one will complain about dinner, either!
The BEST Instant Pot Ribs
OK, it’s no secret that I have dragged my feet on loving my Instant Pot. Like, in a big way (I know, I know!)
If you are still dragging your feet, here are my favorite Instant Pots and Instant Pot accessories to have for your own home.
The Instant Pot is definitely a game changer! There is no doubt that my ribs take about an hour less and are just as … if not even better than my normal way of cooking them in the oven.
And, done in a substantial amount of time less than when I make Crock Pot ribs, no doubt!
So, that’s a huge plus to these pressure cooker pork ribs!
Here’s how I whip these delicious Instant Pot ribs up.
Gather ingredients for the Instant Pot ribs recipe:
1 rack baby back ribs (about 4 pounds)
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke optional
4 cloves garlic minced
6 tablespoons dry rub (below)
barbecue sauce optional
Baby Back Ribs dry rub ingredients:
2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instant Pot Rib directions:
Rinse ribs and pat dry. Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs.
Cut slab into 4-6 pieces (enough so they fit into the Instant Pot on their sides) and coat with dry rub massaging the rub mixture into the meat.
Place trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
Add water and liquid smoke.
Set ribs upright on the trivet (so they are not stacked on top of one another, rather next to eachother.
Secure the Instant Pot lid, select manual pressure and set the timer for 25 minutes.
Once done, allow the Instant Pot to natural release for 5 minutes.
Carefully open sealing valve to release remaining pressure.
Brush with barbecue sauce (or olive oil/salt/pepper for dry ribs) and broil or grill until slightly charred.
Enjoy!
That is it!
Here is the Instant Pot rib recipe timeline for those that are looking to see exactly how long these should take from prep to finish:
5-7 minutes: gather ingredients
20-25 minutes: prep, dry rub, cut and place ribs in the Instant Pot
20-25 minutes: Instant Pot comes to pressure
23-25 minutes: Ribs cook on high pressure
5 minutes: Natural release
5-7 minutes: Quick release
5-7 minutes: Take out of Instant Pot, brush with barbecue sauce
5-7 minutes: Broil in oven
Enjoy!
So as you can see, there are a few steps and a little bit of a time commitment, from 88 to 108 minutes.
However, it’s a lot of hands off time.
Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 rack baby back ribs about 4 pounds
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke optional
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 6 tablespoons dry rub
- barbecue sauce optional
Dry Rub Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Rinse ribs and pat dry. Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs.
- Cut slab into 4-6 pieces (enough so they fit into the Instant Pot on their sides) and coat with dry rub massaging the rub mixture into the meat.
- Place trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Add water and liquid smoke.
- Set ribs upright on the trivet (so they are not stacked on top of one another, rather next to eachother.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, select manual pressure and set the timer for 25 minutes.
- Once done, allow the Instant Pot to natural release for 5 minutes.
- Carefully open sealing valve to release remaining pressure.
- Brush with barbecue sauce (or olive oil/salt/pepper for dry ribs) and broil or grill until slightly charred.
Nutrition
More Instant Pot recipes that we love:
What is the best baby back ribs instant pot time?
The secret cooking time for baby back ribs in the pressure cooker is 23-25 minutes, with a 5 minute natural release.
After the quick release, it’s up to you how long you broil the ribs for but my best advice is to broil
Can you do baby back ribs in instant pot then grill?
Baby Back Ribs + Instant Pot and grill is totally fine! So, instead of broiling, put the cooked and barbecued ribs on a low heat grill. This will give the ribs a charcoal flavor and make them a little sturdier as well.
Is the time the same for crockpot barbecue ribs?
Whoa nelly, no! Crockpot baby back ribs vs Instant Pot ribs are way different. When I do my ribs in the Crock Pot I need about 8 hours on low.
Alternatively, when I cook my ribs without the Instant Pot or the slow cooker, just on the stovetop and oven, I need a minimum of three hours. And, since an hour of that is the ribs boiling on the stovetop, I need to be present, which is just not always possible.
This is why the Instant Pot is my favorite way to make baby back ribs for my family.
Is this the same as the baby back ribs instant pot apple juice recipe?
It’s almost the same. Of course, if you add apple juice instead of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot, you’re going to have a little bit of that sweeter apple flavor in your ribs.
Should I use liquid smoke in my Instant Pot baby back ribs?
Yes! The liquid smoke is what gives the ribs that “smoked” flavor, so don’t skip it!
Whats the difference between Baby Back Ribs and Spare Ribs?
Thanks to eater.com, I have the perfectly worded explanation: Baby back ribs come from the parts of the ribs that are connected to the backbone, beneath the loin muscle, and are curved where the meet the spine. Spare ribs are cut from the ends of baby back ribs and run along to the pig’s breast bone.
In my experience, spare ribs are meatier.
How do you cook very tender and delicious baby back ribs?
Low and slow, or in the case of Instant Pot baby back ribs, high and fast! Weird, right??
It’s a whole new way of making fall off the bone tender ribs in a quicker way that makes the end product just as good.
How do you prepare baby back ribs?
Sound off! Are you going to try baby back ribs in your Instant Pot??
What side dishes go well with homemade baby back ribs?
When I am making my menu and there are pressure cooker ribs on it, I always take myself (mentally of course!) to our favorite local BBQ joint and list their side options in my head.
Therefore, with a good pork rib recipe there’s usually going to be: baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, creamy corn, you know, the usual suspects.
On the table, however, you’ll always find my most popular go-to for every meal: cheesy potatoes. YUM!
I sure hope you make these this week – they’re delicious!