Instant Pot Spare Ribs Recipe

A quarter rack of cooked spare ribs on a white plate next to a baked potato and cauliflower.

4.50 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Spare Ribs Recipe

Make a big batch of these three-ingredient instant pot spare ribs in just an hour! They come out fall off the bone tender and perfectly sticky sweet. This recipe is made with just a handful of pantry staples that you may already have on hand!

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Additional Time30

Total Time1 20

Course: Main Dish Recipes

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 169kcal

Author: Aileen Clark

Ingredients

1 slab pork spare ribs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup sweet barbecue sauce

Instructions

Cut the rack of ribs in half and season liberally with salt and pepper.
Pour apple juice into the pot of the instant pot and put the trivet inside. Place the ribs on top of the trivet.
Close the lid and set the pressure release valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.
Let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the remaining pressure and remove the lid of the instant pot.
Set your oven to broil.
Remove the ribs and place them on a cookie sheet. Brush the barbecue sauce all over the ribs. Broil the ribs for 2-3 minutes and serve.

Notes

Buying the best ribs: Look for marbled meat that's pinkish in color. Avoid ribs that are all one color or are pale looking.

Remove the Membrane: When cooking ribs, it's best to remove the membrane from the ribs before cooking. The membrane can have a rubbery texture and prevents the seasoning from absorbing into the meat.

Tips for Broiling: Broiling the ribs after pressure cooking is key to getting the sauce sticky and caramelized. For the easiest cleanup, line your baking sheet with foil. Do not pre-cut your ribs. Instead, slather the whole thing in bbq sauce and broil for 2-3 minutes. Watch it carefully because the sauce can turn from caramelized to burnt quickly.

Using an Air Fryer Lid: If you have an air fryer lid, you can use it in place of broiling your ribs. You will need to cut them to fit and work in batches. Slather the ribs with your favorite bbq sauce. Set the lid to 400ºF and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the sauce is caramelized.

Nutrition