Tender Instant Pot Ribs with BBQ Sauce Recipe
Tender and flavorful Instant Pot ribs cooked under pressure to lock in moisture and tenderness, then finished with a rich BBQ sauce for a perfect balance of smoky and sweet flavors. This recipe offers a quick and easy way to enjoy fall-off-the-bone ribs without the long wait of traditional slow cooking or grilling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes (pressure cooking) + 5 minutes (broiling/grilling)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Ribs
- 2 racks pork ribs (about 3 pounds total)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup water or beef broth (for pressure cooking)
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Prepare the ribs: Remove the silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs for better tenderness. Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and rub the seasoning evenly over both sides of the ribs.
- Set up the Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup of water or beef broth into the Instant Pot. Insert the trivet inside and place the ribs on top, curling them around the edge to fit if necessary.
- Pressure cook the ribs: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. After the cooking time finishes, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Apply BBQ sauce: Carefully remove the ribs from the Instant Pot and brush liberally with BBQ sauce on all sides.
- Finish under broiler or grill: Preheat your oven broiler or grill. Place the sauced ribs under the broiler or on the grill for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes and is slightly charred. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Serve: Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before slicing between the bones. Serve with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Removing the membrane from the ribs improves tenderness and allows the seasoning to penetrate better.
- You can substitute water with beef broth or apple juice for enhanced flavor in the pressure cooking liquid.
- If you do not want to use the broiler or grill to finish, you can brush BBQ sauce on the ribs after pressure cooking and serve immediately, though the caramelized finish adds great flavor and texture.
- Adjust cooking time based on the thickness of your ribs; thicker ribs may need a few extra minutes.
- Leftover ribs can be refrigerated and reheated gently or repurposed into sandwiches or tacos.
Keywords: Instant Pot ribs, pressure cooker ribs, BBQ ribs, quick ribs recipe, tender ribs, easy ribs
