These Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs are sticky, saucy, savory, sweet, and sooo tender. Fall-off-the-bone tender. They’re done in 30 minutes, with only 6 simple ingredients. The recipe includes a how-to video and lots of tips.

Barbecue Ribs over a piece of parchment paper.

Easy Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs Recipe

Baby back ribs have been my favorite comfort food for years, so I started making them at home. But to be honest, sometimes outdoor grilling isn’t an option, so I decided to try to make them in the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs turned out finger-lickin’ good!

The best part is that they are steamed to perfection in minutes, not hours!!

At first, I was a bit worried that they wouldn’t get nice, crunchy, and brown, but the magic happens after a few minutes under the broiler. They turn into these gorgeous looking, tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection!!

Sooo good; there are not enough words to describe it.

Fall-of-the-bone barbecue ribs over parchment paper.

Ingredients You’ll Need

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)
  • Vegetable broth
  • 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.

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.

  1. 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.

  2. Season The Ribs

    Rub the ribs with the meat rub. Be generous!

  3. Pressure Cook

    Place the ribs 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, 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.Uncooked Ribs in an instant pot pressure cooker.

  4. 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.Barbecue Ribs over a baking tray with a kitchen burst and barbecue sauce on the side.

How To Remove Membrane From The Back Of Ribs

  1. 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.
  2. 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 quantity, 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.

A rack of Fall-of-the-bone barbecue ribs over parchment paper and barbecue sauce on the sauce.

A hand pulling the meat of a barbecue rib.

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Recipe Card 📖

Barbecue Ribs over a piece of parchment paper.

Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs

64569017466b70122dc3c6f02423c7db?s=30&d=mm&r=gOriana Romero
These Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs are sticky, saucy, savory, sweet, and sooo tender. Fall-off-the-bone tender. They are done in 30 minutes, with just 6 simple ingredients.
4.77 from 52 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 (servings = 4 ribs)

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) vegetable broth
  • 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

Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!

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!

Video

Oriana’s Notes
 
My Favorite Homemade BBQ 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
 
Liquid smoke can be found next to barbecue sauces in most grocery stores or online.
Make Two Racks: 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.
How Long Do You Pressure Cook 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 for tender but not falling off the bone, 
  • 25 minutes to fall off the bone ribs.
 
If you’re making this recipe, please read the whole post content to get lots of tips, tricks, variations, and frequently asked questions.
 
 Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
 
Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate, and it can vary depending on the products used.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!Recipe reviews on the website are extremely valuable to other readers online. So, please don’t forget to give it a 5-star rating below.

Nutrition

Calories: 708kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 42gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 1535mgPotassium: 868mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 518IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Calories 708
Keyword barbecue easy instant pot ribs

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 March 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!

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4.77 from 52 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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