Get ready to fall in love with ribs all over again. This recipe brings all the smoky, saucy, melt-in-your-mouth magic of classic barbecue right into your kitchen—no grill required! These are fall-off-the-bone tender. They’re done in about 30 minutes, with only 6 simple ingredients. The recipe includes a how-to video and lots of tips.
Oriana’s Thoughts On The Recipe
Making ribs at home used to feel like an all-day event, but not anymore! These Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs have quickly become one of my go-to comfort meals—tender, juicy, and packed with smoky-sweet flavor. The pressure cooker does all the heavy lifting, giving you ribs that are steamed to perfection in a fraction of the time. And don’t worry about missing that irresistible caramelized finish… a few minutes under the broiler transforms them into fall-off-the-bone, sticky-saucy goodness that rivals any backyard barbecue.
What I Love About This Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need, Substitutions & Notes
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
You’ll need only 6 ingredients:
- Baby back ribs
- Barbecue meat rub (homemade or store-bought)
- Chicken, beef, or vegetable stock
- Apple juice
- Liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
- Barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
My Favorite Homemade Barbecue Meat Rub
Mix together:
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Best Type Of Ribs To Make Barbecue Ribs
I prefer baby back ribs because they are smaller and more tender. However, you can also use spare ribs if you prefer them to be bigger and meatier.
Food Allergy Swaps
- Soy-Free: Instead of store-bought barbecue sauce and meat rub (which may contain soy), use a homemade soy-free barbecue sauce and rub using basic pantry spices and tomato paste. Also, instead of store-bought stock (which may contain soy additives), use homemade chicken, beef, or vegetable stock or a certified soy-free brand.
- Gluten-Free: Instead of store-bought barbecue sauce and meat rub (which may contain gluten), use homemade gluten-free versions. Double-check that liquid smoke is gluten-free, as some brands may include gluten-containing flavoring agents.
Process Overview: How To Make Ribs in The Instant Pot Step-by-Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
The beauty of this recipe is that these ribs are done in the Instant Pot. The result is a delicious, succulent, fall-off-the-bone rib meal.
- Remove The Membrane From The Back Of The Ribs
Insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel. Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, repeat step one.
- Season The Ribs
Rub the ribs with the meat rub. Be generous!
- Pressure Cook
Place the ribs into the Instant Pot. Add stock, apple juice, and liquid smoke (if using). Close the lid and set it to cook on “manual” mode for 20 minutes. When the time is over, turn it off and let the pressure release on its own, this will take about 8-10 minutes. Carefully turn the vent to “Venting,” to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid.
- Crisp On
Preheat oven to broil. Transfer cooked ribs to a large baking sheet. Brush barbecue sauce all over the ribs on all sides, including the bones. Broil for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes.
Extra Recipe Tips For Success
- Remove the membrane: Don’t skip this step! Taking off the thin membrane from the back of the ribs helps the seasonings soak in and gives you that tender, fall-apart texture.
- Season generously: Be sure to coat the ribs well with your dry rub. The Instant Pot does a great job of locking in flavor, so don’t be shy.
- Finish under the broiler: This is where the magic happens! After brushing with barbecue sauce, pop the ribs under the broiler for a few minutes to get that beautiful caramelized finish. Watch closely—they can go from perfect to burnt quickly.
- Slice after broiling: For the cleanest cuts and best presentation, wait until after broiling to slice the ribs into individual pieces. They’ll hold together better and look amazing on the plate.
How To Remove Membrane From The Back Of Ribs
- Insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel.
- Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, repeat step one.
Can I Make Two Racks Of Ribs In The Instant Pot?
Yes, you can make two racks. To do so, double the meat rub and barbecue sauce quantities, but keep the same amount of liquid (broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke) underneath. Increase the cooking time to 30 minutes.
Pressure Cooking Times for Ribs
It will depend on how you like your ribs! Adjust the Instant Pot cooking time according to your preference:
- 15 minutes for tender with a bit of chew,
- 20 minutes for tender but not falling off the bone,
- 25 minutes to fall off the bone ribs.
Broil For Crisp & Caramelized Ribs
After the ribs are finished cooking in the Instant Pot, you only need to smother the ribs with plenty of BBQ sauce and throw ’em on the broil to get that beautiful char and smoky flavor.
Don’t skip this step! So brush them with BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes.
Serving Ideas
- Easy Creamy Coleslaw
- BEST Eggless Cornbread
- Easy Garlic Lemon Roasted Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Cheesy Garlic Hasselback Potatoes
Storage Suggestions
Leftover ribs? Lucky you! Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To keep them nice and juicy, I like to wrap them in foil before placing them in the container—it helps lock in the moisture. Reheat in the oven at 300º F (150º C), covered with foil, until warmed through. You can also brush on a little extra barbecue sauce before reheating for that just-cooked flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Recipe Card
Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 rack baby back ribs (about 2.5 – 3 lb | 1.1 – 1.5 kg)
- 4 – 6 tablespoons barbecue meat rub (store-bought or homemade) (see notes below for homemade)
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken, beef or vegetable stock
- 1 cup (240 ml) apple juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) liquid smoke (optional but recommended) (see notes)
- 1 ½ cup (360 ml) barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
Important
You can find step-by-step photos above in the post and/or right here on the recipe card. They’ll walk you through the process and make everything super clear! Just click the camera icon button below on the right to show or hide them. Turn them off before printing if you prefer a cleaner copy!
Instructions
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. To do so, insert a table knife under the silverskin anywhere along the rack. Lift and loosen it with the knife until you can grab it with a paper towel. Pull it off the ribs; it should peel away in one large piece, but if it breaks, lift it up again and remove the rest.
- Rub the ribs with the meat rub on all sides. Be generous!
- Place the ribs rack into the Instant Pot. Add vegetable broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke (if using). Close the lid and set it to cook on “manual” mode for 20 minutes. When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own, this will take about 8-10 minutes. Carefully turn the vent to “Venting,” just to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid.
- Preheat oven to broil.
- Transfer the cooked ribs to a large baking sheet. Brush barbecue sauce all over the ribs, including the bones. Broil for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes. Serve and enjoy!
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Soy-Free: Instead of store-bought barbecue sauce and meat rub (which may contain soy), use a homemade soy-free barbecue sauce and rub using basic pantry spices and tomato paste. Also, instead of store-bought stock (which may contain soy additives), use homemade chicken, beef, or vegetable stock or a certified soy-free brand.
- Gluten-Free: Instead of store-bought barbecue sauce and meat rub (which may contain gluten), use homemade gluten-free versions. Double-check that liquid smoke is gluten-free, as some brands may include gluten-containing flavoring agents.
- Remove the membrane: Don’t skip this step! Taking off the thin membrane from the back of the ribs helps the seasonings soak in and gives you that tender, fall-apart texture.
- Season generously: Be sure to coat the ribs well with your dry rub. The Instant Pot does a great job of locking in flavor, so don’t be shy.
- Finish under the broiler: This is where the magic happens! After brushing with barbecue sauce, pop the ribs under the broiler for a few minutes to get that beautiful caramelized finish. Watch closely—they can go from perfect to burnt quickly.
- Slice after broiling: For the cleanest cuts and best presentation, wait until after broiling to slice the ribs into individual pieces. They’ll hold together better and look amazing on the plate.
- 15 minutes for tender with a bit of chew,
- 20 for tender but not falling off the bone,
- 25 minutes to fall off the bone ribs.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
This recipe was originally published in June 2017. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in April 2025 to make it as helpful as possible!
With Instant Pot directions, I automatically assume that the time given is after the pot comes to full pressure. It’s impossible for the writer to post the full amount of time given the different size and brands of pots , area you live, the temp of the liquids, meat, etc.
Can’t wait to try this. My husband will be making these and it will be his first time using the Instant Pot. Thanks!
Hello Stacey! I hope you and your family love this recipe. It’s one of our faves. Thanks for your comment ?.
This recipe is fantastic and so incredibly easy. I’m kind of blown away that you can make fall-off-the-bone tender ribs in like 40 minutes start to finish that taste like they’ve been in a smoker for hours. Thanks for this!
Hello Jamin! Yes, these are awesome. I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed the recipe. Thank YOU for taking the time to come back and let me know!?
Made this recipe tonight and it was SOOOOOOOOOOO darn good. I wouldn’t compare it to a cook on a ceramic grill/smoker because I think the flavors would be a bit different. But this was AMAZING. Thank you for posting.
This was our very first recipe with our new instant pot! It was super easy and turned out super tender and delicious! The bones fell out while we were putting the ribs on our plate 🙂 we couldn’t fit the second rack of ribs in the cooking pot, so it had me thinking… if we wanted to cook the second rack after the first one is finished, could I leave the liquid in the pot and just put them in to cook and repeat with the same settings and cook time?
Hello Hollie! I’m glad you found it easy to make. Yes, you can cook the second rack in the same liquid. Thanks so much for trying my recipe. ?
Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Thanks so much, Darcie! I am glad you liked it. ?
Broil on high or low?
Hello Krystal! Whatever is closer to 500º F. Thanks for your interest in my recipe.
I cooked these tonight, my husband doesn’t like dry rub so I did them with just the veggie broth and apple juice. They were absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the recipe! I’m loving my instapot. This is my second attempt at using my new pot. Cooked dry black eyed peas last night!! Lord I’m gonna gain 100 lbs!
Hi Deborah!! I am so glad you like this recipe. I love my Instant Pot! Make sure to check my other IP recipes. Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Cooked exactly as instructed. 23 minutes in and 10 minutes in oven on broil. Not good. Tuff and tasted boiled. I will stick to grill.
Hello Christopher! I am sorry this recipe didn’t work for you. Thanks for trying my recipe though.
I scored 2 racks of Baby Backs for 3.99 a pound. I cooked for 30 minutes as per the two rack instruction. These ribs were so tender they were falling off the bone and were difficult to remove from the pot. next time I’ll cook them for 23 minutes instead of 30. thanks for the recipe my whole family loved them and we will be making these many more times.
Hello Jason!! WOW…2 racks for $3.99? Awesome!! After testing different cooking times, I found that 20 minutes is what for best for me. I am so glad you like my recipe. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Absolutely divine baby backs??❤️ The flavor and texture were incredibly delicious! Will be making these over and over. I will tell you this is the second recipe I’ve tried for my new instant pot and THIS right here convinced me to keep it and keep exploring recipes. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hello Ally! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!! Make sure to check out my other Instant Pot recipes. https://mommyshomecooking.com/category/recipes/instant-pot/
I was very nervous to try my instant pot. I picked your rib recipe to try. OMG it was so good! Thanks
Hello Jenny! I’m so glad you love this recipe too. Thank you so much for letting me know ? Make sure you check out my other Instant Pot recipes. https://mommyshomecooking.com/category/recipes/instant-pot/
I have the DUO Plus 60 pot and I don’t see a “manual” mode. Can you tell me which option to use with this model?
Hello Jessica! Use “pressure cook” mode and adjust the time accordingly. Thanks for Trying my recipe ?
Wonderful recipe, my only issue is kind of small, bjt this drives me crazy witj all sorts of recipe posts: “Ready in just 30 minutes” is a bit off. Prep is abiut 5-10 minutes depending on ribs, come to pressure time can be about 10 minutes, 20 minutes cooking time, 10 minutes pressure relief, plus 10 to broil and 5 to rest. I get 50-55 minutes to be ready. I dont mind the extra time, just wish recipe posters would consider that when posting so ppl using recipe allot enough time.
So much for spell check! 😉
I am glad you like the recipe, Erica!! Thanks for your feedback ????
I agree with Erika. You’re cook time it way off. Takes an hour to cook alone not 20 minutes. Should update that.
Hello Jamie! Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m so happy you enjoyed it. ?
This recipe looks great! I was wondering if making 2 racks in the instant pot…should the recipe be doubled?
Hello Jon! Yes, you can double the recipe just make sure that the 2 racks are not too big to fit into the Instant Pot. Thanks for leaving your feedback.
I was wondering the same about cooking two racks.
Does the time need to be adjusted?
Hello Alex! You can make two racks, just double the meat rub and barbecue sauce quantity, but keep the same amount of liquid (broth, apple juice, and liquid smoke) underneath. Increase the cooking time to 30 minutes. Thanks for your interest in my recipe.
What level of pressure do you set the instant pot to?
Hello Travis! My Instant pot does not have the option to adjust the pressure levels so I use the pre-sets. I believe that it uses the max. high pressure for all the functions except the rice function, which uses low pressure. I hope this helps.
Awesome recipe! My family loves it, I have made it 3 times within a matter of weeks. Now, It has become a go-to recipe in our house!
Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Stephanie!! I’m SO GLAD you and your family enjoyed it!!
First time cooking ribs in the Instant Pot and they were so good I forgot to put the Bar-B-Que sauce on. I used Spare Ribs instead of Baby Backs. I have had problems getting Spare Ribs to come out right but these were bang on and as tender as Baby Backs. I didn’t have any liquid smoke so I used Worcestershire and Browning sauce and Chicken Stock instead of Vegetable broth. I think the veggie broth would have given more flavor, but the chicken stock worked fine. The time was perfect at 20 minutes, a little chew but still falling off the bone tender without just disintegrating. I have been getting accolades from my family for my slow cooker ribs (about 10 – 12 hours). I think they are going to love these even more at only 2 hours from thaw to finish baking with BBQ sauce. I’m looking forward to trying some of your other recipes, especially the Mojo Chicken Tacos. Thanks.
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know, Patrick! I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed it so much.