Instant Pot Baby Back, Spare, and St. Louis Style Ribs Recipe

Instant Pot ribs are both delicious and surprisingly easy to prepare. Whether you choose baby back ribs or St. Louis–style spare ribs, the pressure cooker transforms them into tender, flavorful results in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods.

Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

Ribs no longer require hours of slow cooking. The Instant Pot lets you cook one or multiple racks quickly — two racks easily fit in a 6- or 8-quart model, and some larger models will hold three. Regardless of the number of racks, the cooking time in the pressure cooker is short, so ribs can be a last-minute family dinner.

These ribs are also convenient for gatherings: you can pressure-cook several racks ahead, refrigerate them, and finish on the grill, under the broiler, or in an air fryer just before serving. A few minutes of finishing caramelizes the sauce and gives the ribs a classic appearance and texture.

Instant Pot Ribs Ingredients

• Rack of ribs (baby back or St. Louis spare ribs)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder or fresh garlic
• Paprika
• Apple cider vinegar (optional)
• Barbecue sauce (your preferred kind)
• Liquid smoke (optional)
• Water or broth (about 1 cup)

How to Prepare Baby Back Ribs

These simple prep steps apply whether you cook ribs in the Instant Pot, oven, smoker, or on the grill.

Remove the membrane – Not mandatory, but removing the membrane from the underside of the rack improves seasoning penetration and yields a more tender bite. Slide a butter knife under the membrane to loosen an edge, then grasp and pull it off; a paper towel helps when the membrane is slippery.

Season the ribs – Coat the ribs with salt and pepper or a dry rub. A basic homemade rub can include brown sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic, paprika, and a pinch of chili powder or adobo seasoning if desired.

How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot

Place the trivet in the Instant Pot so the ribs sit above the liquid. Add about 1 cup of water or broth to the inner pot. For extra flavor, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of liquid smoke, but this is optional.

Stand a full rack of ribs upright around the edge of the trivet in a half-moon shape. If necessary, cut the rack in half to fit. Two racks normally fit in a 6- or 8-quart model without cutting.

Lock the lid and set the pressure valve to SEAL. Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) on HIGH pressure. For slightly firm ribs with some bite, set the time to 22 minutes; for fall-off-the-bone tenderness, set the time to 25 minutes. When the cooking cycle ends, allow a 10-minute natural release, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.

Remove the ribs, brush them with your favorite barbecue sauce, and finish under the broiler, on the grill, or in the air fryer to caramelize the sauce.

How Long to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot?

A typical 2-pound rack cooks well at 22 minutes with a 10-minute natural release for ribs that hold a bit of texture. For very tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, increase cooking to 25 minutes. Adjust by a couple minutes if your rack is notably larger or smaller.

How Long to Cook Spare Ribs in Instant Pot?

For St. Louis–style spare ribs around 2 pounds, set the Instant Pot to 35 minutes and allow a natural release when the cook time completes.

Finish Ribs Under the Broiler, Grill or in the Air Fryer

Pressure-cooked ribs are ready to eat as-is, but finishing them adds color, texture, and a glossy, caramelized sauce. Place the ribs meat-side up on a baking sheet, brush with barbecue sauce, and finish by one of the following methods:

• Under the broiler: Place the baking sheet on the middle rack, put the ribs about 4–5 inches from the broiler, and broil 2–3 minutes per side until sauce caramelizes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
• On the grill: Preheat to medium-high and grill 3–5 minutes per side to caramelize the sauce without charring.
• In the air fryer: Cut the rack in half if needed to fit. Start with about 5 minutes per side and adjust based on your air fryer’s power until the sauce is nicely caramelized.

How Long to Broil Ribs After Instant Pot

Brush the ribs with your sauce of choice and broil about 3 minutes per side, watching closely so the sauce caramelizes but does not burn. Aim for a maximum of about 5 minutes per side depending on how hot your broiler runs.

How to Reheat Ribs

Reheating in an air fryer gives excellent results—faster than an oven and with better texture. Preheating is usually unnecessary.

Air Fryer Method (Recommended)

Set the air fryer to 350°F. Place ribs with space for air circulation and heat 5–7 minutes until warm.

Oven Method

Wrap ribs in aluminum foil, preheat the oven to 350°F, and heat 15–20 minutes until warmed through.

What to Serve With Ribs?

Classic and complementary sides include collard greens, roasted Brussels sprouts, air-fryer fries, bacon-wrapped asparagus, or steamed cabbage. Choose sides that balance richness and add texture.

Kitchen Essentials and Items Used

To prepare these ribs you’ll need an Instant Pot (6- or 8-quart is ideal), a trivet, a baking sheet for finishing, and optionally an air fryer or grill for finishing.

Recipe Card

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