Skip to main content

Instant Pot Sticky Hoisin Baby Back Ribs

4.8

(22)

Image may contain Food Animal Seafood Lobster and Sea Life
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson

Cooking ribs under pressure means they get incredibly tender without falling apart or shredding—in a fraction of the time as braising and with no attention needed.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hour, 30 minutes

  • Yield

    4 main course or 8 appetizer servings

Ingredients

4 lb. baby back pork ribs (about 2 racks)
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce, preferably dark
2 Tbsp. Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. five-spice powder
Flaky sea salt

Special Equipment

An Instant Pot

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cut meat between bones into individual ribs; season with kosher salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

    Step 2

    Whisk hoisin, honey, soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, and five-spice powder in cooker insert. Toss ribs in sauce to coat, then fit as many as possible in a single layer; set remaining ribs on top. Lock on lid, making sure steam release valve is in the proper sealed position. Select “Manual” and program for 12 minutes at high pressure.

    Step 3

    As soon as the time has elapsed, turn off cooker, “Quick Release” the steam, and unlock lid. The ribs should be tender enough to easily pierce with a sharp knife. Transfer ribs to a platter.

    Step 4

    Select “Sauté” and let cooking liquid simmer until reduced by about half, 10–15 minutes.

    Step 5

    Meanwhile, prepare a medium direct fire on a gas or charcoal grill (or preheat broiler). Brush ribs with sauce. Place ribs on grate directly over fire, meaty side down. Close lid and grill until browned and crisp in places, about 5 minutes (or transfer them to a baking sheet, meaty side up, and broil the same way).

    Step 6

    Return ribs to platter. Top with sea salt. Serve with remaining sauce alongside.

    Step 7

    Cooks’ Note: For a fruitier spin on the sauce, substitute pineapple or orange juice for the honey and use a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes instead of the five-spice powder.

Read More
This dish is not only a quick meal option but also a practical way to use leftover phở noodles when you’re out of broth.
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.
Tender, well-glazed, and just spicy enough, these ribs are the ultimate grill-out food. Cook fully in the oven ahead of time and finish them on the grill.
Braise tender pork belly in soy and vinegar, then grill with shishito peppers and toss with ginger and a tangy dressing for bold, savory Filipino dinakdakan.
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.
An espresso-and-cumin-spiked rub (or brine) gives this smoked chicken impressive flavor.
This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.
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.