Skip to main content

BBQ Baby Back Ribs

5.0

(2)

Easy Instant Pot baby back ribs with a slaw on a white plate.

Making a batch of barbecued ribs in the Instant Pot is much faster than doing it on the grill, and you can make them any time of the year. The ribs cook to tenderness in the pot, then get brushed with barbecue sauce and take a quick trip to the oven until nicely browned and caramelized.

Note:

You can steam the ribs with water instead of braising them in the apple juice and vinegar. They will be slightly less flavorful but still good. To steam the ribs, pour 1 cup water into the Instant Pot, place the trivet in the pot, arrange the ribs on top of the trivet, and secure the lid. Select the Steam setting and set the cooking time for 20 or 25 minutes at high pressure, depending on how well-done you like your ribs. Release the pressure and bake the ribs as directed.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

1 or 2 racks baby back ribs, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds total
4 cups apple juice
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup favorite barbecue sauce

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    With a rack bone side up, and starting at one end, slip a knife tip under the translucent membrane, loosening it from the bone. Once you have lifted enough to get a good grip, grasp the membrane with a paper towel and peel it off the rack (or ask your butcher to do this). Repeat with the remaining rack(s). Cut the rack(s) in half crosswise.

    Step 2

    Stack the ribs in the Instant Pot. Pour in the apple juice and vinegar. Secure the lid and move the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Meat/Stew setting and set the cooking time for 20 minutes at high pressure. (For meat-falling-off-the-bone ribs, set the cooking time for 25 minutes.)

    Step 3

    Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. While the pressure is releasing, preheat the oven to 400° F and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat.

    Step 4

    When 15 minutes have passed, move the Pressure Release to Venting to release any remaining steam. Open the pot and, using a pair of tongs, transfer the ribs to the prepared sheet pan. Discard the cooking liquid.

    Step 5

    Brush the ribs on both sides with the barbecue sauce, then bake for about 10 minutes, until the sauce is a caramelized and browned. Remove from the oven, cut the ribs apart, and serve.

Image may contain: Food, Noodle, and Pasta
From The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook: Fresh and Foolproof Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker © 2017 by Coco Morante. Reprinted with permission from Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Native American people made these with cornmeal dumplings, simmering them with wild grapes, which were harvested at their peak sweetness.
This version of pork skewers is made in the oven, which tastes just as good, but you could always throw these on the grill for a version closer to the original.
The clams’ natural briny sweetness serves as a surprising foil for the tender fritter batter—just be sure to pull off the tough outer coating of the siphon.
An espresso-and-cumin-spiked rub (or brine) gives this smoked chicken impressive flavor.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
Every sauce needs a few secrets. Ours is smoky, sweet, and savory—use it for burgers, fries, tenders, and more.
Palets bretons are oversize cookies that feature butter, and because they’re from Brittany, they’re traditionally made with beurre salé, salted butter.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.