Instant Pot Country Style Ribs in BBQ Sauce are rich and fall-apart tender alternative to traditional ribs. So aromatic and flavorful thanks to the homemade Barbecue Sauce. Ready in the pressure cooker in just under 45 minutes, these tender and juicy ribs are perfect for busy weeknights!
Prefer baked ribs instead? Then learn how How to Make Ribs in the Oven.
I've made them all in the instant pot! Instant Pot Pork Chops, Pork Stroganoff and now please welcome the most amazing Instant Pot Country Style Ribs!
Why Make Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
You don't need to fire up the BBQ in order to have melt-in-your-mouth BBQ ribs. And you don't even need any spice rub. These easy to make ribs are pressure cooked assuring the juiciest and most tender meat.
They are ideal for big celebrations or busy week dinners. Or, basically anytime you want insanely good BBQ ribs! These fall off the bone ribs are also flavorful and tender. They are perfect as is or you can serve them with Garlic Lemon Beans!
What are Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Country-style ribs are cut from the blade end of the loin close to the pork shoulder. They have a very similar taste and texture to traditional ribs. But they are meatier than other rib cuts, emphasis on the meatier part.
And you will get a lot of meat out of them! Country style pork ribs also have enough fat to keep the meat moist, unlike leaner cuts like tenderloin or loin.
They are also cheaper and did I mention MEATIER?
By the way, you can find them sold as bone-in or boneless. Either one will work. I actually made both of them in this easy dinner recipe. While I took pictures with bone-in country style ribs, my video shows boneless country style pork ribs.
Can I Use Frozen Ribs?
Yes! Also, cooking time for frozen country style ribs stays the same as for fresh ribs. You will still pressure cook them for 35 minutes plus Natural Release. But coming-to-pressure time will be longer.
If you bought frozen ribs, remember that the cooking time doesn't start until the pot reaches pressure. Therefore, if ribs are frozen it will take longer to reach pressure. And the pot will take longer to become hot enough to reach pressure.
As a result, overall cooking time including coming to pressure will be longer for frozen ribs. However, it does not change cooking time!
How Do I Make BBQ sauce
- I made my homemade barbecue sauce with some basic ingredients. They include ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and brown sugar. I also added mustard, black pepper and vinegar. It's such a crowd pleaser! With so many layers of flavor there.
- By the way, you can use a variety of vinegars for Instant Pot Country Style Ribs. For example, you can use distilled or red wine vinegar. I also used apple cider vinegar.
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs Useful Tips
- First of all, add homemade barbecue sauce ingredients to the pot.
- Then you will place the ribs inside the pot. Right on top of the BBQ sauce!
- If your ribs have any fat layer on them, make sure to put them with the fat layer on top. Or, used trivet. Otherwise, before the pot comes to pressure, you might get a "Burn" warning since fat will start cooking off.
- If that happens, you should open the pot. Then flip the ribs - that's all! As a bonus, you might get a nice sear on that side. Once the ribs are in the pot, you will season them generously with salt and pepper.
- You will pour some of the sauce on top of the meat to coat the top part of the ribs.
Should I Use a Trivet ?
The trivet essentially keeps the ribs above the waterline allowing for even cooking and steaming. This method is great for many Instant Pot recipes, however you do not need to use it here.
Yes, you can STILL use a trivet and not worry about fat layer at all, but it is not mandatory! I cooked it both ways. And it worked with and without trivet.
How to Thicken BBQ Sauce
This is an optional step.
- If you desire to thicken the sauce a bit, simply add a cornstarch and water to the instant pot.
- Then Sauté the sauce until thick.
*Note that I did not thicken the sauce in this recipe. After I released the pressure, a good amount of the liquid did evaporate and the sauce had thickened up ON ITS OWN!
The close-up picture above shows the sauce spooned on top of the ribs. As you can see, it's of a pretty good consistency!
What to Serve Instant Pot Country Style Ribs with
Since we are instant potting here, why not serve the ribs with the Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes? We also enjoyed this Garlic Butter Spaghetti with the ribs and made plenty of them together on weeknights
Instant Pot Tips
Are you frequently using your Instant Pot for a variety of recipes? Then it's a good idea to have 2 different rings. One for savory recipes and the other for sweet recipes in order to avoid odor exchange. I use this Genuine Instant Pot Ring as my second ring.
Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid is a good way to help keep the food warm without using a pressure lid.
More Instant Pot Recipes to Enjoy
Instant Pot Country style BBQ pork ribs is a comfort food like no other, perfect for your Pressure Cooker!
Check out our video inside the recipe card for how to make Instant Pot Pork Ribs.
Instant Pot Country Style BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
Barbecue Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup Vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 teaspoon Mustard powder
- 2 teaspoon Paprika
Pork Ribs:
- 3 lb. Country Style Pork Ribs
- ½ Cup Beef Broth
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add the ingredients of Barbecue Sauce into the Instant Pot. Mix with a wooden spoon
- Now add ½ cup beef broth and mix it into the sauce (this amount of liquid is needed prevent Instant Pot's "Burn" warning)
- Place ribs on top of the sauce with the fat layer on top (to prevent Burn warning). Season with salt and pepper over the ribs right in the pot.
- Using a spoon, coat the top of the ribs with the sauce.
- Close the lid, make sure it's in the "Lock" position. Turn the vent to "Sealing" position. Push "Meat/Stew" button which defaults to 35 minutes. Your pot will show On.
- Once the pressure is built up and valve pops up, the countdown will start from 35 minutes to 0.
Use Natural Release Method to release pressure:
- When pressure cooking is over and digital display reads "L0:00", the pot will start beeping. Push "Cancel" to cancel the reheat mode. The digital display will show "OFF". Now just patiently wait for the floating valve to completely drop (this will take 10 to 20 minutes).
- Now turn "Venting" knob to venting position. Turn the lid to "Open" position and open the pot. The ribs are done!
Video
Hungry for More Pork?
How about boneless pork chop recipes? I have several tasty and quick recipes here:
If you are looking for pork tenderloin or pork loin recipes, you might find these recipes interesting:
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Ron says
Can I use a crock pot ?
Olga says
I cooked this exact recipe in the slow cooker as well. In the crock pot, cook ribs on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.
Cris says
Can you make the sauce a few days ahead of cooking the ribs?
Olya says
Absolutely!
Lenora says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I especially loved the step by step instructions, as this was the maiden voyage of my insta pot. The ribs came out tender, juicy and yummy! We will make this recipe again.
Olya says
Thank you Lenora! Sounds like you nailed your maiden voyage!
Jennifer D. says
Made this tonight for dinner and it was AMAZING!!! The meat was so tender and juicy and it definitely was a hit in our household ☺️ Thanks for sharing this recipe and giving a step by step for the IP!!!!
Olya says
So glad you enjoyed the ribs Jennifer!
Hannah J Parrish says
if you have them sealed in foodsaver bags, I would just cover them in water.... Fill the sink with water and immerse the ribs still sealed. They will thaw pretty quickly and I figure they will turn out better. I have tied this method and it has worked well for me. While I haven't tried cooking ribs or butts from frozen, I recently read an article concerning how this practice may make for a tougher piece of meat..... so take that for what its worth, which may not be much....
Richard F Ink says
How about adding some red potatoes to the pot?
Olga says
I think it will worth trying!
Lacy says
Can I double this recipe in the instant pot?
Olga says
Yes!
Gabrielle Falk says
Gabrielle, again. Is a Hot Pot the same as a pressure cooker?
Olga says
Yes. It's a newest generation of pressure cookers.
Gabrielle Falk says
What is a Hot Pot. Gabrielle from Sydney
Katie says
My family absolutely loves this recipe!! Curious, if I wanted to use same sauce but for pulled pork with pork butt, would any of the timing or amounts change? TIA
Olga says
Yes, same amount of time!