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Dinner Instant Pot Pork
4.7 from 120 votes

Instant Pot BBQ Ribs

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •8/29/22 160 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for instant pot bbq ribs.

These Instant Pot BBQ Ribs are fall off the bone tender, delicious, and super sticky from a delicious Whiskey BBQ sauce. But most importantly they will be on your dinner table in under an hour!

bbq ribs on a baking sheet.
Table of Contents Open
  • The Best Instant Pot BBQ Ribs Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love These BBQ Ribs
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Ribs
    • Dry Rub
    • Whiskey BBQ Sauce
  • How To Make BBQ Ribs In The Instant Pot
    • Cook The Ribs
    • Make The Barbecue Sauce
    • Brush Ribs With BBQ Sauce And Broil
  • How To Remove Membrane From Baby Back Ribs
  • Other Ways To Cook BBQ Pork Ribs
    • Slow cooker
    • Oven
  • How To Serve BBQ Ribs
    • Mexican Street Corn Salad
    • Classic Potato Salad
    • KFC Coleslaw Recipe
    • Air Fryer French Fries
  • Storing Leftover BBQ Ribs
  • Craving More BBQ? Try These Delicious Recipes
  • Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

The Best Instant Pot BBQ Ribs Recipe

I spend all day today fantasizing about fall off the bone tender pork ribs, slathered in a tangy whiskey BBQ sauce, paired alongside some creamy coleslaw. As you all know, my dreams (when they involve food) are always attainable. I decided to pop these pork ribs in my Instant Pot to speed the process along and I’m glad I did because I didn’t have to wait long at all before digging in.

I usually hold off on making ribs at home, they just take too long after a full day of work. But not anymore! Your trusty Instant Pot will develop so much flavor and cut your cooking time in half. I slathered these meaty treats in a homemade whiskey BBQ sauce that had just the right amount of kick after rubbing them all over with a gorgeous rub. Enough chatting, lets get BBQing!

Why You’ll Love These BBQ Ribs

  • Fall Off The Bone Tender! It’s amazing what 20 minutes in the pressure cooker can do to some baby back ribs.
  • Quick And Easy! Make a quick and delicious rub for the ribs, pop them in the Instant Pot with some apple juice and let our favorite appliance do all the work for us.
  • Perfect For Picnics, BBQs and Get Togethers!

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients needed to make ribs in the instant pot.

Ribs

  • Ribs – Baby back pork ribs are what we’re using today. About 2 racks worth.
  • Apple Juice – We need some liquid in our pressure cooker to ensure it actually works. Don’t worry about the juice washing off your dry rub!
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – We need some tang and apple cider vinegar is the best thing for it. It will also chemically tenderize your meat while it cooks. If white vinegar is all you have that is more than fine as a substitute.
  • Liquid smoke – This ingredient is optional if you can’t find any at your supermarket, but I definitely recommend it in terms of achieving that smokey flavor that all good BBQs have.
ingredients needed to make dry rub for bbq ribs.

Dry Rub

  • Sugar – We want to be sure our rub has a bit of sweetness, and that complex molasses flavor that we get from brown sugar is what we want most of all.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper! Savory and rubbed in well.
  • Spices – Dry mustard, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper all mixed up well. These ingredients are key to achieving our scrumptious flavor so do your best to hunt them down!
ingredients needed to make bbq sauce.

Whiskey BBQ Sauce

  • BBQ sauce – We’re using some store bought sauce as our base, any kind will do as we’re going to improve upon it!
  • Ketchup – Some sweetness, some acidity, plain old ketchup is perfect for a pork rib BBQ sauce.
  • Whiskey – The star of this sauce will offer some beautiful depth and vanilla notes. Any kind will do so don’t worry about picking up anything that’s too fancy.
  • Brown sugar – We want to carry that sweet molasses flavor through our entire BBQ Pork Rib recipe.
  • Worcestershire sauce – This will give our ribs some savory umami flavor.
  • Liquid smoke – Since we aren’t actually smoking these ribs, we want to ensure that faux smoke flavor is incorporated in every step.

How To Make BBQ Ribs In The Instant Pot

process shots showing how to make instant pot bbq ribs.

Cook The Ribs

Before starting anything, you want to prep the ribs first by removing the rib membrane. Next, you’ll want to combine all the dry rub ingredients together and generously rub this into the baby back ribs.

Place the seasoned ribs in the Instant Pot, standing up and wrapping around the inside of the pot. Pour in the apple juice, apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke, then close the Instant Pot. You’ll want to pressure cook these on the Meat/Stew setting for 20 minutes. If your IP doesn’t have this setting, just use the Manual setting for the same amount of time. Once complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 15 minutes. 

process shots showing how to make bbq sauce.

Make The Barbecue Sauce

While the ribs are cooking, you can get started on the BBQ sauce. All you have to do is add all the BBQ sauce ingredients to a small saucepan, stir to combine and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes. The sauce should reduce a bit.

instant pot bbq ribs before and after broiling pictures.

Brush Ribs With BBQ Sauce And Broil

Carefully remove the ribs from the Instant Pot and place them onto a baking sheet. Brush them generously with the prepared BBQ sauce on both sides and place under the broiler for about 5 minutes. Keep the door to your oven open while broiling the ribs and keep an eye on them, because they could burn quickly. Serve with additional BBQ sauce and enjoy!

How To Remove Membrane From Baby Back Ribs

  1. Slide a dinner knife under the membrane and over a bone starting at one end of the rack.
  2. Lift and loosen the membrane until it tears.
  3. Grab the edge of the membrane with a paper towel and pull it off.
  4. The membrane should come off in one whole piece.
cut up bbq ribs on a white serving platter.

Other Ways To Cook BBQ Pork Ribs

Slow cooker

Follow all the above instructions just the same, but instead set the slow cooker to LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4. Follow it up with a good broil session and enjoy with additional BBQ sauce.

Oven

Combine the apple juice with apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke and marinate the ribs in this mixture for an hour to overnight. Preheat your oven to 325°F degrees. Remove the ribs from the marinade and rub well with our dry rub mix. Wrap your dry rub encrusted ribs in some heavy duty foil. Bake for about 2 hours or until tender. Remove and slather in your homemade whiskey BBQ sauce before broiling as instructed above.

bbq ribs on a plate with coleslaw.

How To Serve BBQ Ribs

side view shot of a bowl full of mexican street corn salad
20 mins

Mexican Street Corn Salad

close up of potato salad in a white bowl.
30 mins

Classic Potato Salad

side view shot of a bowl of kfc coleslaw
15 mins

KFC Coleslaw Recipe

french fries in a basket with a small bowl with ketchup.
30 mins

Air Fryer French Fries

Storing Leftover BBQ Ribs

If stored properly in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, these ribs will last 3 – 4 days in the fridge. You can also freeze this recipe, for 2 – 3 months wrapped tightly in foil before thawing in the microwave or in cold water. Reheat in the oven and slather in sauce.

bbq ribs on a plate with french fries and bbq sauce.

Craving More BBQ? Try These Delicious Recipes

  • Korean BBQ Ribs
  • Greek Pork Loin Ribs and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner
  • Beer And Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers
  • Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
  • Maple BBQ Glazed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
  • Baked Honey Glazed Pork Ribs
  • BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

bbq ribs on a baking sheet.
Print
4.71 from 120 votes

Instant Pot BBQ Ribs

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 55 minutes
Rate Recipe
These Instant Pot BBQ Ribs are fall off the bone tender, delicious, and super sticky from a delicious Whiskey BBQ sauce. But most importantly they will be on your dinner table in under an hour!
8

Ingredients

For Dry Rub

  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1½ tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
  • 2 teaspoon salt

For Ribs

  • 2 racks baby back pork ribs ((about 3 to 4 lbs))
  • 4 cups apple juice
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon liquid smoke

For BBQ Sauce

  • ½ cup bbq sauce (store bought)
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup whiskey
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prepare the dry rub by combining all the dry rub ingredients together in a small bowl.
    bbq dry rub in a bowl.
  • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs with a paper towel. Season the baby back ribs with the dry rub generously on both sides. 
  • Place the ribs inside the Instant Pot, standing up and wrapping around the Instant Pot. 
  • Pour the apple juice, apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke inside the Instant pot, no need to stir. Close the lid (follow the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to close the instant pot lid). Set the Instant Pot to the Meat/Stew setting and set the timer to 20 minutes.
  • Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 15 minutes. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release, if in a rush. Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the instant pot.
  • While the ribs are cooking prepare the BBQ sauce. In a small saucepan add all the BBQ sauce ingredients and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat for about 20 to 25 minutes, the sauce should reduce a bit. 
    process shots showing how to make bbq sauce.
  • Carefully remove the ribs from the Instant Pot and place them onto a baking sheet. Brush them generously with the prepared BBQ sauce on both sides and place under the broiler for about 5 minutes. Keep the door to your oven open while broiling the ribs and keep an eye on them, because they could burn quickly.
    instant pot bbq ribs before and after broiling pictures.
  • Serve with leftover BBQ sauce.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot – 6 Quart

Video

Notes

  1. I strongly recommend reading the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to use your Instant Pot before attempting this recipe.  
  2. If stored properly in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, these ribs will last 3 – 4 days in the fridge. You can also freeze this recipe, for 2 – 3 months wrapped tightly in foil before thawing in the microwave or in cold water. Reheat in the oven and slather in sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 491kcal (25%)Carbohydrates: 36g (12%)Protein: 33g (66%)Fat: 20g (31%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 125mg (42%)Sodium: 1072mg (47%)Potassium: 850mg (24%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 29g (32%)Vitamin A: 825IU (17%)Vitamin C: 2.6mg (3%)Calcium: 75mg (8%)Iron: 2.5mg (14%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

bbq ribs on a baking sheet.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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160 Comments
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Debi
Debi
Posted: 10 months ago

OMG this was so good! I didn’t have whiskey so replaced with rum; but followed all other ingredients exactly. The ribs were fall apart tender and so flavorful. I am still discovering great recipes like this one which can be made in the instant pot with less time and work involved.

0
Reply
Ther
Ther
Posted: 1 year ago

Can I skip the whiskey? Will it make a big difference? Any alternative?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Ther
Posted: 1 year ago

You can use rum, brandy or cognac, or if you don’t want any alcohol you can skip it.

0
Reply
Lauren
Lauren
Posted: 2 years ago

Can you sub something else for the Apple juice? I’m all out!

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Lauren
Posted: 2 years ago

You just need some liquid in the pressure cooker for it to work, so you could use a broth, water or whatever you think will work, get creative! If you’re using a substitute the ribs just might not have as much apple flavor.

0
Reply
Lauren
Lauren
Reply to  Jo Cooks Team
Posted: 2 years ago

Thank you so much! Looking forward to the results for dinner tonight 🙂

0
Reply
Len Baker
Len Baker
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
This recipe was easy to follow and the ribs came out fantastic. Dinner was on the table in under a hour. This is a must try = you will not be disappointed!

0
Reply
Jacqueline Dufrain
Jacqueline Dufrain
Posted: 2 years ago

This was awesome. Instead of broiling them in the end, I BBQ’d them on the gas grill. Only problem I had was the bones was falling out on some. Cooked them for Mother’s Day. With roasted corn on the cob on the grill, french fries and fresh pineapple for side dish.

0
Reply
Philip McMahon
Philip McMahon
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Works every time 🙂 Thanks Jo. Wonderful rib recipe especially for newbies to Instant Pot. Cheers!!!!

0
Reply
Alice
Alice
Posted: 2 years ago

Hi Jo! Would love to try ribs in the Instant pot but I need to use country ribs. Any advice?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team 2
Jo Cooks Team 2
Reply to  Alice
Posted: 2 years ago

It would be the same!! Go for it 🙂

0
Reply
Kira
Kira
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
This was a last minute idea fior dinner and it was a hit with the entire family! This will definitely be our new go to rib recipe!

0
Reply
Marissa Calma
Marissa Calma
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
I keep on making this so many times and it never fails. My family and guests live this so much that I received compliment all the times. I feel the best bbq cook in town! I prepare this a day ahead and the next day ,
Slather bbq sauce and broil in the oven Highly recommended.

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Marissa Calma
Posted: 3 years ago

The broil is a must! We’re so glad you love the recipe 🙂

0
Reply
Cheryl D’Souza
Cheryl D’Souza
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
My first time making pork spare ribs & my hubby was blown away said it was succulent, flavourful and tasted better than the restaurant ones. I had all the ingredients and the instructions were easy to follow. I made it in a pressure cooker and finished under a grill basting it with the sauce.

0
Reply
Fredda
Fredda
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Love this recipe. Question can you use the apple juice mixture to make another rack of ribs.? Also I suggest 25-30 minutes to get them very soft fall off the bone.

0
Reply
Corina
Corina
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Tasted really good; everyone loved it. Thank you.

0
Reply
Tina
Tina
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
The whole family loved these ribs! This is one of our favourite recipes now 🙂 thank you!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Tina
Posted: 3 years ago

My pleasure, glad to hear it!

0
Reply
DANGIT
DANGIT
Posted: 3 years ago

If I am making two racks of ribs, can I just add the ribs with rub to the liquids remainging in the pot from the first rack; or, do I need to redo the liquid? If reusing the liquid, how many times could I reuse; or, would the remaining solids burn?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  DANGIT
Posted: 3 years ago

You can reuse the liquid as many times as you like! The solids shouldn’t burn but take a peek between racks to make sure the liquid still looks good.

0
Reply
KATHY COAKLEY
KATHY COAKLEY
Reply to  DANGIT
Posted: 3 years ago

4 stars
I would like to know, do I put my Instant Pot on Pressure cook or meat and stew. When I press meat and stew it only has keep warm capability.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  KATHY COAKLEY
Posted: 3 years ago

I used the Meat/Stew setting but it’s the same as high pressure, so it really doesn’t matter which you use.

0
Reply
DANGIT
DANGIT
Posted: 3 years ago

Can I use Saint Louis (meatier) ribs with this recipe?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  DANGIT
Posted: 3 years ago

For sure! You can increase the cooking time to 25-30 minutes if they’re a lot meatier than the ones shown here.

0
Reply

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