Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Instant Pot Ribs
Sticky barbecue sauce and a browned finish make these tender ribs especially inviting to pick up. Orange and a little liquid smoke flavor the cooking juices, while the sweet, savory sauce clings to the edges after a brief trip under the broiler.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 28 min
- Total
- 53 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 21 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Pressure cooker
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
- Dish type
- Ribs
A few quick notes
1. Remove the membrane
Pull off the membrane before applying the dry rub so the seasoning reaches the rack more evenly.
2. Coil the rack
Stand the ribs in a circle on the trivet instead of cutting and stacking them in the pot.
3. Allow the natural release
Leave time for the fifteen minute natural pressure release before moving the ribs to the baking sheet.
Get to know the ingredients
Orange
Add the orange juice and the remaining orange slices to the pressure cooker with the water and liquid smoke.
Dry rub
Coat both sides of the rack liberally with dry rub before arranging the ribs on the trivet.
Barbecue sauce
Brush barbecue sauce over both sides of the cooked ribs before broiling to finish the surface.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 5 steps completeMake room for Instant Pot Ribs
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Broil both sides
Broil the sauced ribs on high for two to three minutes per side to finish their sticky coating.
A little more help as you go
Make sauce during cooking
Simmer the homemade sauce while the ribs pressure cook, giving the onions time to soften and the sauce to thicken.
Grip the membrane
Use a paper towel to grip the membrane after loosening an edge between the rib bones.
A few questions you might have
Should I cut and stack the ribs?
Keep the rack rolled in a circle; stacking cut ribs prevents even cooking.
Does the rack need a trivet?
Yes. Put the trivet in the Instant Pot and arrange the ribs on top in a circle.
When does barbecue sauce go on?
Coat both sides after pressure cooking, then finish the sauced ribs under the broiler on a foil lined sheet.
How do I remove the membrane?
Loosen it between two bones with a finger or butter knife, grip with a paper towel and pull.
How long does the homemade sauce cook?
Whisk the sauce ingredients over medium low heat for about fifteen minutes, until thicker and the onions are cooked.
Any more cooking tips?
Recipe Tips If the back of the ribs has a membrane, do your best to remove that prior to seasoning the ribs. With the bones facing up, slide your finger or a butter knife under the membrane between two rib bones until you can grip the membrane with a paper towel and pull it off. Season the ribs with a dry rub. A dry rub is best for these ribs because it will infuse it with a lot of flavor as it cooks and it won’t wash away while it steams in the Instant Pot. Pressure cook the ribs rolled in a circle. They won’t cook evenly if you cut them and stack them. You can sauté the onions first in some butter for more depth of flavor. Broil the ribs for a few minutes to crisp the top and boost the flavor of the barbecue sauce. Use the middle position in your oven when broiling for the best results. This recipe works for one or two sets of ribs without adjusting the sauce quantities. Simply add a second set of ribs coiled in the Instant Pot. It’s best to use a 6 QT or larger Instant Pot. How long to cook ribs in the instant pot? Baby Back Ribs: 25-30 Minutes Spare Ribs: 30-35 Minutes If you live in a low altitude, use the lower number to cook the ribs, and if you live in a high altitude, cook them a little longer. Can you cook frozen ribs in the Instant Pot? Yes you can! Simply up the cooking time for the ribs to 32 minutes and follow the rest of the recipe as is.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: deliciousmeetshealthy.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
