These Instant Pot BBQ ribs are an easy, flavorful way to make tender ribs without spending hours at the smoker. With a simple dry rub, beer or root beer for cooking, and a quick finish under the broiler, they come out juicy, saucy, and fall-off-the-bone tender.
There is nothing quite like a rack of BBQ ribs that has been slowly cooked until smoky, rich, and perfectly tender. Traditional barbecue ribs are wonderful, but they usually require time, patience, and the right equipment. Not everyone has hours to tend a smoker or grill, especially on a busy weeknight.
That is exactly why Instant Pot BBQ ribs are such a helpful recipe to have on hand. They give you the tender texture you want from slow-cooked ribs, but the pressure cooker does most of the work in a fraction of the time. The ribs cook quickly under pressure, then get brushed with barbecue sauce and broiled until the sauce turns glossy, bubbly, and lightly caramelized.
The beauty of Instant Pot Ribs
The Instant Pot makes it possible to prepare ribs that taste like they have been cooking for hours. An electric pressure cooker uses steam and high pressure to cook food quickly. For meats like pork ribs, this method is especially useful because it helps break down the connective tissue that normally needs a long cooking time to become tender.
Instead of waiting all afternoon, you can make tender baby back ribs from start to finish in about an hour. The pressure cooking step makes the meat soft and juicy, while the broiler gives the ribs that sticky barbecue finish everyone loves. It is a practical method for home cooks who want big BBQ flavor without a full day of cooking.
This Instant Pot ribs recipe uses a simple homemade dry rub made with smoked paprika, sugar, garlic salt, and onion powder. The seasoning adds smoky, savory, slightly sweet flavor before the ribs are cooked. Beer or root beer is added to the pot, giving the ribs extra depth while helping create the steam needed for pressure cooking.
Cooking tips for these Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- Remove the membrane, also called silver skin, from the back of the ribs before cooking. If left on, it can become tough and leathery and may prevent the seasoning from fully flavoring the meat.
- Use beer or root beer depending on the flavor you prefer. Both work well, but each gives the finished ribs a different taste.
- The dry rub in this recipe is simple and flavorful, but you can use another homemade or store-bought rub if you prefer. The cooking method stays the same.
- Watch the ribs closely while they are under the broiler. The sauce can caramelize quickly, and it can also burn quickly if left too long.
- Cutting the rack into smaller sections makes the ribs easier to fit inside the Instant Pot and easier to handle after cooking.
These Instant Pot ribs are tender, saucy, and full of barbecue flavor. Cooking them with beer or root beer adds an extra layer of taste, while the dry rub gives the meat a smoky and savory base. After pressure cooking, the ribs are already tender, but the final broil is what makes them look and taste like classic BBQ ribs.
Once the ribs come out of the Instant Pot, place them on a baking sheet and brush them generously with your favorite BBQ sauce. A few minutes under the broiler helps the sauce cling to the ribs and caramelize slightly. This step creates that sticky, glossy finish that makes barbecue ribs so satisfying.
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Easy Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Want more easy BBQ recipe ideas?
- Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
- BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
- Slow Cooker Blackberry BBQ Pulled Pork
Tools Used in making Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- Electric pressure cooker: An Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker is used to cook the ribs quickly until tender.
- Tongs: A sturdy pair of tongs makes it easier to move the hot ribs from the pressure cooker to the baking sheet.
- Baking sheet: Use a baking sheet for broiling the sauced ribs until the barbecue sauce caramelizes.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork baby back ribs
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 11 ounces beer or root beer See notes
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
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Remove the ribs from the packaging and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut the rack into sections of about 3 ribs each and set aside.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the smoked paprika, sugar, garlic salt, and onion powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the ribs and rub it into the meat with your fingertips.
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Place the ribs in the Instant Pot and pour the beer or root beer over them. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
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Preheat the oven broiler to high.
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When the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally most of the way, about 10 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
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Transfer the ribs to a baking sheet. Brush each piece with BBQ sauce and place under the broiler until the sauce is bubbly and beginning to brown and caramelize, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully because broilers work quickly.
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Remove from the oven and serve warm.
Chef’s Notes:
- Baby back ribs, St. Louis style ribs, and pork spare ribs can all be used for this recipe. Baby back ribs were used for the photos.
- Beer and root beer both add good flavor to the ribs. Use whichever you prefer or have available. The final flavor will be different, but both options work well.
Nutrition Facts
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