These Instant Pot Pork Ribs are succulent and make preparing dinner a breeze! Who would have thought that in less than 45 minutes you could have tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that rival any smokehouse barbecue? Using my spicy dry rub seasoning and spicy BBQ sauce gives the ribs an especially delicious and smokey flavor.
We just love these Instant pot pork ribs! They are great for a last minute dinner idea! You can't go wrong with cooking pork in a pressure cooker. My pulled pork recipe is another good example. The pork always comes out incredibly tender and delicious!
I've included instructions that can be used for an Instant Pot or a Ninja Foodi, which will be what I'm using this time around!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Although you can make pork ribs in an Instant pt, using a Ninja Foodi has the added bonus of being able to crisp the ribs in the same pot, making cleanup even easier!
- Adjusting the cooking time can give you firmer ribs, if that's what you like, or fall off the bone ribs that melt in your mouth.
- If you have leftovers, they're great the next day.
- Cooking ribs in a pressure cooker really speeds up the cooking time.
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Baby Back Ribs: Baby back ribs are fatty and very flavourful. They can fit perfectly in an Instant pot. Removing the membrane is an optional step that you can skip, if you choose.
- Dry Rub: Although you can use your favorite dry rub to season the ribs, I recommend using my spicy dry rub seasoning. One batch should be more than enough to season two racks.
- BBQ Sauce: You can use store-bought barbecue sauce, or try my spicy huckleberry bbq sauce!
🍖 How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs (see FAQ's or video for instructions). Cut into three to four sections or leave whole.
Step 2: Mix liquid smoke and vinegar then brush the top and bottom of the ribs.
Step 3: Sprinkle the dry rub generously on both sides and work into the meat.
Step 4: Place a metal trivet (Instant Pot) or crisper basket (Foodi) into the pot. Pour the remaining vinegar/liquid smoke mixture along with one cup of water into the pot.
Step 5: Place seasoned ribs on top of the trivet or crisper basket in a circle. Select the manual setting, adjust the pressure to high, and set time for 20-30 minutes depending on how you like them.
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Pro Tip: If you leave the rack of ribs in one piece, stand it up in the trivet or the basket, meat-side out.
Step 6: For firm ribs, cook for 20 minutes. Cook for 30 minutes if you prefer tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Allow 10 minutes for pressure to build. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure.
Step 7: Brush ribs with barbecue sauce. Lay meat-side up in the crisper basket (if using a Ninja Foodi). Air fry for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 8 (optional): If using an Instant Pot, place ribs, meat-side up, on a baking sheet. Broil until barbecue sauce is caramelized (or approximately 5 minutes).
🍽 Serving Suggestions
My favorite side to serve with these pressure cooker pork ribs is potato salad. If you haven't already, try my potato salad with dill, it's so good! Another great option is this Mexican Street Corn pasta salad. For a lighter side, try this pear and arugula salad or this zesty quinoa salad.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
The membrane is a thin layer that's found on the bone-side of the rack. To remove the membrane, slide a butter knife or your finger under the membrane and peel the membrane lengthwise across the rack until it is removed.
Removing the membrane allows the seasoning or marinade to penetrate both sides of the ribs. Additionally, it allows the meat to be stripped from the bone with ease.
Most restaurants consider one half of a rack of baby back ribs, or approximately 6 ribs, to be one serving. However, it really depends on who you're serving. Young children may be satisfied with eating two ribs, while the average teenager may eat as much as 4-6 ribs.
Adult males can eat a whole rack. Keeping all this in mind, it's safe to say that a full rack of ribs can serve 2-4 people on the average.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- If you are serving more than 2 individuals, you can add an additional rack of ribs into the pot without having to change the cooking time. The only thing you have to double is the amount of dry rub and barbecue sauce.
- Always serve ribs with more barbecue sauce on the side. If you haven't already, try my huckleberry bbq sauce, it's amazing! I recommend heating it first in a small saucepan. If you like it extra smoky, stir 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke into the sauce.
🥘 Related Recipes
If you enjoy these pressure cooker pork ribs, be sure to try these other recipes!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Pork Ribs
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Foodi (or Instant Pot)
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork baby back ribs
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 4-6 tablespoon dry rub seasoning
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs (see FAQ's or video for instructions). Cut into three to four sections or leave whole.
- Mix liquid smoke and vinegar then brush the top and bottom of the ribs.
- Sprinkle the dry rub generously on both sides and work into the meat.
- Place a metal trivet (Instant Pot) or crisper basket (Foodi) into the pot. Pour the remaining vinegar/liquid smoke mixture along with one cup of water into the pot.
- Place seasoned ribs on top of the trivet or crisper basket meat-side facing out, in a circle. Select the manual setting, adjust the pressure to high, and set time for 20-30 minutes depending on how you like them.
- For firm ribs, cook for 20 minutes. Cook for 30 minutes if you prefer tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Allow 10 minutes for pressure to build.
- Brush ribs with barbecue sauce. Lay meat-side up in the crisper basket (if using a Ninja Foodi). Air fry for 5 to 10 minutes.
- If using an Instant Pot, place ribs, meat-side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil until barbecue sauce is caramelized (or approximately 5 minutes).
Notes
- If you leave the rack of ribs in one piece, stand it up in the trivet or the basket, meat-side out.
- If you are serving more than 2 individuals, you can add an additional rack of ribs into the pot without having to change the cooking time. The only thing you have to double is the amount of dry rub and barbecue sauce.
- Always serve ribs with more barbecue sauce on the side. If you haven't already, try my huckleberry bbq sauce, it's amazing! I recommend heating it first in a small saucepan. If you like it extra smoky, stir 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke into the sauce.
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