Go Back
white plate with two servings of baby back ribs with bbq sauce

How to Make Easy Instant Pot Baby-Back BBQ Ribs

Chef Alli
Looking for a fast and simple way to make fallin'-off-the-bone ribs? Grab your Instant Pot and make some saucy, sticky, and tender ribs in just 25 minutes of cooking time.
Servings: 4 servings
4 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Approx. Time Needed for Instant Pot to Pressurize: 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 2 Tbs. dark brown sugar
  • 3 Tbs. of your favorite rib rub, I used Three Little Pigs Rib Rub, Kansas City Championship
  • 1 rack baby back pork ribs, 2-4 lbs., rinsed and patted dry
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar with the rib rub.
  • Remove the membrane from the under side (the back) of the ribs rack. Using a doubled-up paper towel to grab the end of the membrane that is at the end of the rack that has the shortest ribs; pull the membrane back, removing it from the entire length of the ribs.
  • Rub the mustard all over the back side of the rib rack, then season the ribs with the prepared rib rub; turn the rack over and repeat on the other side.
  • Add the chicken broth and apple cider vinegar to a 6-qt Instant Pot. Place metal trivet into the pot, then place the prepared rack of ribs on top of the trivet, wrapping the rack in a circle.
  • Using the manual setting on the Instant Pot, choose high pressure for 25 minutes, bringing the Instant Pot to full pressure. When the timer sounds, allow the ribs to rest in the Instant Pot, using a natural release for 10 minutes, then perform a quick release to remove any remaining pressure in the pot.
  • Preheat the oven to the broil setting with an oven rack positioned about 6 inches beneath the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.
  • Place the cooked rack of ribs, meat side up, onto the foil-lined baking sheet; brush with barbecue sauce.
  • Place the rack of ribs into the oven; broil until the barbecue sauce is caramelized and bubbly, approx 4-5 minutes, keeping a careful watch on the ribs.
  • Serve immediately with more warm sauce, as desired.

Notes

**Please note:  the cooking time stated for this recipe does not include the time required to bring the Instant Pot up to pressure since this can vary. This recipe was made using a 6-quart Instant Pot. 

Tips for Making Tender and Juicy Instant Pot Baby-Back Ribs 

  1. Use lots of aluminum foil! I spread aluminum foil out over my work space for use when I'm rubbing the ribs with the mustard and seasoning them.
  2. I also use heavy-duty aluminum foil for covering my baking sheets for the ribs. I HATE scrubbing baking sheets that are covered with stuck-on BBQ sauce. It's so nice to pull the foil off after the ribs have baked, tossing it right into the trash can. You may still have to wash your baking sheet a bit, but it will be sure easy.
  3. If you're wondering why this recipe calls for the mustard for rubbing on the ribs, it's because it gives the flavor of the ribs a bit more complexity and also helps hold the rub to the ribs.
  4. We always remove the membrane that's on the back of our rack of baby back ribs. However, know that there other cooks who completely disagree with this - it's personal preference. We find that membrane to often be tough and sinewy, so we remove it.
  5. Before you cook your ribs in the Instant Pot, unwrap them and let them rest on your work surface for 30 minutes or so. This gets the chill off of the meat and the ribs will cook more evenly, plus it will take less time for your Instant Pot to come up to pressure when the ingredients you're cooking aren't ice cold.
  6. I like to cook 1 rack of ribs in my 6-quart Instant Pot. If I'm cooking two racks of ribs at the same time, I use my 8-quart Instant Pot. If your racks of ribs are pretty small (say around the 2 pound mark), you may be able to cook both racks in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
  7. I like the addition of the cider vinegar to the chicken broth when cooking the ribs since this helps tenderize the meat and also gives the meat a bit of tang.
  8. Once your ribs are fully cooked and tender in the Instant Pot, make sure you slather them well with BBQ sauce and then place them beneath the broiler so the sauce can get nice and sticky and caramelized - both important things for ribs!

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 16gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 885mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 255IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!