This week’s forecast is: BABY BACK RIBS! And while you may think that baby back ribs on the grill are best, the fact of the matter is that Instant Pot ribs first cooked in the pressure cooker then finished off quick in the oven can be cooked in under 30 minutes (!!!) and still deliver that amazing fall off the bone, barbecue flavor.
This recipe is brought to you by the Kroger Mobile App
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Easiest Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Last year my mom and dad gave away their grill. My dad had rebuilt that thing at least five times over the years, but as the grill got older as they have too, the good old Char Broil just really didn’t see much grilling action anymore. So off to the trash heap it went.
However, my dad’s love affair with BBQ ribs will always remain strong. So when I was making my weekly meal prep plan that included taking dinner up to their house one night, I was thrilled to see baby back pork ribs were on sale and half price on my Kroger app’s 2-day Digital Deal. So with the tap of my finger, the deal was added to my grocery list and off to the grocery store I went.
Because while my dad loves his ribs, he loves a deal even more. And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Get all the Deals on the Go—Kroger’s Mobile App
I’m at my local Smith’s Marketplace grocery store several times a week because I can get just about everything I need there—not only groceries and personal goods, but I also buy the herbs, shrubs, and flowers I plant in my garden, I can get keys made, I bought my vacuum cleaner there, and get games and toys for pool time, home decor, and I am diligent about buying all the gas for my car there—always at a .30 to $1 per gallon discount thanks to their loyalty program.
The Kroger mobile app brings everything together on my phone under one app with time and money-saving features in one seamless experience where I can:
- Shop and track all of my coupons including exclusive digital deals and hundreds of $$ in monthly savings
- Digitally build my list no matter where I am: at work, waiting in line, sitting a the pool, etc. (now there’s an idea! Pool shopping!)
- The aisle locator feature in the app tells me exactly where each product is in the store and when I use the barcode scanner I know exactly how much an item costs.
- Or, I can totally shop from home
Instant Pot Pork Ribs
So after I’d made my rib-cooking plans, I was doing my Smith’s grocery store shopping cruise when a sweet sales associate noticed I had also picked up a new 6-quart Instant Pot as a wedding gift (deal alert! It was on sale, PLUS I got an extra $30 off coupon that weekend!).
That’s when she shared her pressure cooker pork ribs recipe where she cooks the ribs in the Instant Pot and then simply finishes them off in the oven, with no grill required. Fall off the bone tender, and incredibly easy!
The lightbulbs were going off in my head like last week’s fireworks and I knew this was the baby back ribs recipe to share with my mom and dad.
What’s in These Instant Pot BBQ Ribs?
Any barbecue master will tell you the flavor in bbq ribs starts with the rub. This mix of seasonings and salts is what helps break down the fibers in the meat to create not only flavor, but that tender, fall off the bone bite we all crave.
My mix is actually my husband’s magic dust he’s used for years in the secret to our oven-baked barbecue baby back ribs, the method we used and swore by forever that now just might be have found its match with the Instant Pot.
My homemade dry rib rub seasoning is a mixture of:
- Parika
- Dark brown sugar
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Dry mustard
- Celery salt
- Kosher salt
- Cayenne pepper
How to Make Instant Pot Pork Ribs
Compared to the two to three hour slow-cooking oven method we usually use, cooking pork ribs in an Instant Pot drastically cuts the cooking time and makes this dinner come together incredibly fast for any night of the week.
I use apple cider to flavor my ribs as they cook, but water will work fine too. Place one rack of ribs with the ends of the ribs facing up and on a wire rack in in the Instant Pot. This Instant Pot ribs recipe needs only 20 minutes cooking time on high pressure, then a 10 minute natural release.
After these ribs are cooked, I simply brush the meat with my favorite barbecue sauce like this Private Selection Texas BBQ Sauce and then finish them off for 4-5 minutes in a 450°F oven or on the grill over medium high heat.
All that’s left to do is grab a handful of napkins and dig in.
see more: 20 Healthy Dinners to Make in the Instant Pot
Do I Have to Marinate the Ribs?
Yes, most definitely! A dry rub and a marinade essentially do the same thing: break down the meat and tenderize. Dry rubs are strictly dry seasonings rubbed into the meat, whereas marinades include soaking the meat in a liquid.
If you don’t let the Instant Pot ribs “marinate” in the dry rub, they won’t be as flavorful and tender.
How Long to Season Ribs with a Dry Rub?
To decide how long to “marinade” your ribs in the dry seasoning mixture, aim for at least 4 hours but if you can, try to go for at least 24 hours. I’ve even let dry rubs rest into the meat for 48 hours with great success.
Can I Prep Instant Pot BBQ Ribs in Advance?
Yes, the ribs can be cooked in the Instant Pot up to 2 days in advance, then reheated in the oven or on the grill with the barbecue sauce.
How to Reheat Ribs in the Oven
You can reheat these Instant Pot pork exactly as if you were heating them straight from the pressure cooker. Preheat the oven to 450°F, brush the tops of the ribs with your favorite barbecue sauce, and broil for 4-5 minutes.
Just be sure to let the ribs rest on your counter for 10 to 15 minutes to come to room temperature before popping them into the oven.
Tips for Making Instant Pot Pork Ribs
If making the homemade rub isn’t in the cards for you, the Kroger Private Selection Texas Barbecue Seasoning Rub works wonders too.
When removing the cooked bbq ribs from the Instant Pot, be sure to grab hold by the meat as they will be so tender they might literally fall off the bone.
I recommend serving these pressure cooker pork ribs with additional bbq sauce for dipping. More sauce is always a good idea!
More Time-Saving Dinner Recipe to Make This Summer
- 10-Minute Maple-Crusted Salmon
- Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Ribs Recipe
- Easy Greek Chicken Kebabs
- Grilled Halibut with Tomato and Avocado Salsa
- Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri
- 30 Days of Easy Grilling Recipes to Make Now
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Bookmark this recipe and leave a comment below.
Baby Back Ribs In the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- For the BBQ Rib Rub:
- ¼ cup sweet paprika
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons celery salt
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- For the Ribs:
- 2 racks baby back pork ribs 6 to 8 pounds
- 1 cup apple cider NOT apple cider vinegar!
- Your favorite barbeque sauce
Instructions
- Place the racks of ribs on two sheets of aluminum foil. In a small bowl, whisk the dry rub ingredients together until combined and generously rub over the top and bottom of the ribs, gently working the rub into the meat. Wrap the racks with the aluminum foil and refrigerate for 4 hours up to 48 hours.
- Pour 1 cup apple cider in the bottom of a 6-quart Instant Pot or pressure cooker fitted with a wire rack. Place the ribs on the rack with bones facing up and lock the lid into place. Select High Pressure and 20 minutes cooking time.
- When the cooking time ends, turn off the pressure cooker and let it naturally release for 10 minutes before releasing the quick pressure release valve so the rest of the steam escapes. When the valve drops, carefully open the lid and remove the ribs onto a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F or preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush the tops of the ribs with your favorite barbecue sauce. Broil for 4-5 minutes, or cook on the grill for 3-5 minutes on each side. Add more sauce as desired and serve.
Notes
Ribs can be cooked in the Instant Pot up to 2 days in advance, then reheated in the oven or on the grill with the barbecue sauce.
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