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Home » Freezer Friendly

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Published: Mar 22, 2017 · Modified: Jan 4, 2023 by Steph · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · About 4 minutes to read this article.

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Easy Instant Pot Weeknight Ribs | Meal Plan Addict
How to Make Instant Pot Weeknight Ribs | Meal Plan Addict
Family Dinner Instant Pot Ribs | Meal Plan Addict

Weeknight ribs in your Instant Pot just brought your weekend favorite meal to any day of the week! 

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Ribs at our house have always been sloooow cooked all day in our backyard smoker. “Slow and Low” is usually a pretty good rule for many meat based meals – including ribs. So, ribs have typically been a weekend treat… until I fell in love with my Instant Pot.

My husband was highly skeptical about the quick instant pot version of one of his beloved meat dinners, and to be honest – so was I.

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

I have done ribs many different ways in the instant pot now, and here is my personal preference for quick weeknight ribs – that are as tender as the classic “slow and low” versions but in a fraction of the time.

Are we giving up our tried and true backyard cooking method?! – oh heck no… but having the option to whip these up on a weeknight after work is a nice option for our busy, instant pot loving family.

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

FOR MAKE AHEAD FOR YOUR FREEZER -  I season the ribs with the dry rub and seal in a food saver package or zip bag. Don’t for get to label! Do not add liquid to this if you are doing these make ahead. Add the liquid at time of cooking.

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Thaw in the fridge overnight, and on the weeknight you want these, add the broth and the ribs to your insert and that is it!

It is possible to cook ribs directly from frozen - but I found the ribs cook unevenly, so I choose to cook these from thawed.

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Pour in your broth, and set the timer (as per directions below).

EXPERT TIP – use the saute function to heat the broth for a couple of minutes then press cancel. This will SIGNIFICANTLY decrease the time needed to get the pot to pressure. When I do this, my pot gets to pressure in under 3 minutes.

Once the pressure time is complete – let the pot naturally depressurize. This step is important. Do not quick release ribs.

Coat the ribs with your favourite  BBQ sauce and put under the oven broiler to get a crispy coating.

All in all this is about 1 hour to get to the table. This recipe breaks my general rule of having dinner on the table in 20 minutes… but fall off the bone ribs in under an hour… I will make the exception.

Recipe

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Weeknight Ribs.... in Your Instant Pot

Course: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot Ribs
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 160kcal
Author: Meal Plan Addict
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 6 Quart Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • Approx 4 pounds Pork back ribs fat trimmed off.
  • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Dry Mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon Cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprikia
  • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Celery Seed
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 Cup Beef Broth
  • Your choice of BBQ sauce

Instructions

Make it now

  • Combine all of the dry rub ingredients and rub onto the ribs.
  • Cut ribs into pieces that fit into the instant pot
  • Pour in the beef broth
  • Lay the ribs inside the pot (as shown in the picture in the blog post)
  • Set the lid to sealing and manual setting for 25 mins.
  • Let the pot release pressure naturally (approx 20 mins)
  • Place ribs on baking sheet and lightly coat with BBQ sauce. Place under the broiler until desired crispiness.

Make it a Freezer Meal

  • Combine the rub ingredients and season the ribs.
  • Cut the ribs into 4 rib chunks.
  • Place seasoned ribs into the freezer zip bag. Do not add broth.
  • Remove as much air as possible.
  • Freeze flat for up to 2 months.
  • To cook, allow ribs to thaw in the fridge, and follow the directions for "Make it Now" above.

Notes

This recipe will work in an 8 quart Instant Pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g

Now, go amaze the meat lovers in your house with some weeknight ribs in your instant pot!!!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 06, 2017 at 7:50 pm

    Just made these tonight SOOO worth the extra time it takes to make them. Best ribs I think I've ever had!

    Reply
  2. Emily M says

    May 12, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    I've made this twice now and they are super yummy! Fall off the bone on a weeknight! Both groups of guests were very impressed. Great recipe, Steph!

    Reply
  3. LEIGH ANN CONNELL says

    September 07, 2017 at 9:04 am

    5 stars
    This is one of the best tutorials I have run across. I think a light just came on.... Can't wait for ribs to go on sale, I will make several of this for sure.

    Reply
    • Steph says

      September 08, 2017 at 10:30 am

      Awesome! glad it was helpful for you!

      Reply
  4. Amy says

    January 27, 2018 at 4:23 pm

    What if you don’t have an instant pot without a manual function? How would you cook them?

    Reply
    • Steph says

      January 27, 2018 at 7:59 pm

      Use the pressure cook button. The new models don't have manual, but have pressure cook instead.

      Reply
  5. Brett Catron says

    January 18, 2019 at 10:02 am

    We have a 3 qt instant pot. Will this recipe work if halved?

    Reply
    • Steph says

      January 18, 2019 at 4:01 pm

      I don't see why not, as long as the ribs fit in the 3 qt.

      Reply
  6. Lisa MacKay says

    August 07, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    5 stars
    Made these tonight and omg they turned out perfect!! Fall off the bone, delicious rub recipe and loved that I didn't have to heat my house with my oven!

    Reply
  7. Ruma C. says

    June 23, 2020 at 12:11 am

    I use apple cider or apple juice as the liquid. So good!

    Reply
  8. Stacey says

    February 23, 2021 at 9:07 am

    My whole family Loves these ribs!!

    Reply

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