Remove membrane and season ribs liberally with the dry rub on both sides of the rack.
Place trivet in the instant pot and ribs on top of the trivet in a circular fashion. Add water, liquid smoke, juice from one orange and the leftover orange slices, into the instant pot. Secure lid and set on manual pressure at High for 25 minutes. Allow for natural release for an additional 15 minutes.
While the ribs are cooking, combine remaining ingredients into a small pot on the stove. Whisk and cook ingredients over medium-low heat for approximately 15 minutes. Flavors will come together, onions will cook through, and the sauce will become thicker. Remove from heat and await ribs.
Place ribs onto a foil lined baking sheet and coat both sides of ribs with your homemade bbq sauce.
Broil in the oven on high for 2-3 minutes each side.
NOTES
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.
NUTRITION
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Ribs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 886Calories from Fat 585
% Daily Value*
Fat 65g100%
Saturated Fat 29g145%
Cholesterol 170mg57%
Sodium 1161mg48%
Potassium 1089mg31%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 38g76%
Vitamin A 852IU17%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 110mg11%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword easy rib recipe, instant pot bbq ribs, instant pot ribs, pressure cooker ribs