Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
I have been testing out different recipes and methods for Instant Pot ribs and I finally nailed down the BEST and easiest ribs you will ever eat! I still cannot believe that you can have delicious, fall-off-the-bone ribs in under and hour. That is mind blowing!
*post originally published 6/13/19; updated 6/25/20

The first step in making these BBQ ribs is to prepare the dry rub, it just adds another level of flavor to the ribs while they are cooking. Here’s what I put in mine….
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 TBLS Smoked Paprika
- 2 TBLS Chili Powder
- 1/2 TBLS Mustard Powder
Tip– I like to buy my spices in the larger container at Sam’s Club, they are less expensive and I can make all my own spice mixes! They have organic options too. See my Whole30 Sam’s Club Round-Up for more healthy buys.

The next step is preparing the ribs. I used baby back ribs for this recipe and they were perfect. Most ribs have a membrane on the back of them, (it is like a thin layer that you can peel off with your hands) you need to remove this. Lastly, coat the ribs with a hearty layer of rub all on both sides.

Now we will prepare the Instant Pot. You need to put the metal trivet in the base of the IP and then add the liquid. Next layer in the ribs. You might have to cut them in half if they are too long, but you can curve them around in layers (pictured below). Pour in the water and put the lid on and lock the steam valve, and set the time for 25 minutes!

When the timer goes off, I let it manual release for 10 minutes and then quick release. This is the method that gave me perfectly tender ribs that still had a little chew to them. There is one final step to get the perfect BBQ ribs. Place the ribs on a lined baking sheet and baste with BBQ sauce. I love to use my homemade Sweet & Tangy Paleo BBQ Sauce, but I also love Tessemae’s. Once the ribs are basted, place them under the broiler for 7-10 minutes and they are done!

I love to serve these ribs with Instant Pot Corn on the Cob (not Whole30) or a side of my classic potato salad. I also like to keep extra sauce for the side, some people like it extra saucy 🙂
Used In This Recipe:
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Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 3 lbs St. Louis Stlye Ribs baby back ribs work too
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 TBLS Smoked Paprika
- 2 TBLS Chili Powder
- 1/2 TBLS Mustard Powder
- 1 cup Water
- 2 cups BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Remove the membrane off of the ribs if there is one (can also ask butcher to do this)
- Add all the spices to a small bowl and mix together, liberally coat the ribs on both sides with the seasoning mixture
- Place the metal trivet in the Instant Pot and add the waterThen place the ribs inside, bending around the IP as needed
- Place the lid on and seal the steam valve. Hit manual button and set timer to 25 minutes. Once the timer goes off, let sit for 10 minutes and then release the steam valve
- Place the ribs on a lined baking sheet, coat with a layer of BBQ sauce and broil for 7-10 minutes
- Serve with extra BBQ Sauce on the side