Simple BBQ Ribs - Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

Simple BBQ Ribs - Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

Make tender BBQ ribs in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, finishing under the broiler or on the grill for perfectly caramelized barbecue ribs.

Prep Time5

Cook Time50

Slow Cooker Time6

Total Time55

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 530kcal

Author: Jami Boys

Equipment

Instant Pot pressure cooker OR 6-qt or larger slow cooker

Ingredients

3 pounds pork ribs, baby back or spare ribs
2-3 tablespoons spice rub of choice (or a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3 cups water (Instant Pot) OR 1/2 cup water for slow cooker
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite or simple recipe below)

Instructions

Prep the ribs by cutting them into sections that will fit in the liner of the cooker you're using: IP or crockpot. (You can remove the underside membrane if you want - I never do and can't tell a difference.)
Rub the rib sections all over with the dry rub of your choice. Ideally do this a couple hours before cooking, storing the rubbed ribs in the fridge, uncovered (If you've forgotten, I've rubbed them right before cooking and it's still good.)

Instant Pot Cooking Instructions

Add the 3 cups of water and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar to the IP's liner. Place the sections of ribs, meat side down, around the inside of the liner on their sides, avoiding submerging any section completely under water.
Set the lid in place, choose "meat/stew" and set the timer for 20-25 minutes (I've found that smaller sections of ribs will only need 20 minutes, larger ribs will need 24-25).
When time is done, let the ribs sit for 5 minutes and then release the pressure (it will take a few minutes for the valve to go down), remove the lid and proceed with the recipe.

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions

Pour 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into the liner of a 6-qt or larger slow cooker. Place the ribs in, meat side down, on their sides, being careful that no section is completely under water.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours (about 6 hours for baby back ribs, 7 for spare ribs). Note: Slow cooker times are given as a range to account for your pot's cooking temperature - check at the minimum time for doneness and add more time as needed.

Finishing Ribs

Remove the rib pieces to a baking sheet. Start a broiler (or grill) heating. Slather the ribs with the bbq sauce of your choice, coating all the sides. Broil or grill until the sauce is bubbling and browning in places, about 5 minutes.
Cut the rib sections into smaller 2-rib sections and serve, passing more BBQ sauce along with them.

Notes

Quick Homemade BBQ Sauce

1 6-ounce can tomato paste
2 tablespoons honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup
1 tablespoon vinegar (apple cider vinegar or white vinegar)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 6-oz can water and extra as needed to thin to your desired thickness
OPTIONAL: 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a mild or spicy sauce

Instructions:

Combine all sauce ingredients in a food processor or blender and whir until smooth.
Transfer to a small saucepan. Heat it for about 5-10 minutes over a medium-low burner for the flavors to meld. TIP: the sauce tends to spit, so use a cover as it heats.
If sauce is too thick, add water as needed to thin to desired consistency.

Make Ahead: You can cook the ribs a day or two in advance, keeping covered in the refrigerator. When you'd like to serve them, warm them up in the oven:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
Place the ribs in a covered baking dish or wrap them in foil to keep them moist.
Reheat for 20-30 minutes.
Remove cover, brush with sauce, and turn oven to broil for about 5 minutes (depending on how far rack is from broiler.

Note: the nutrition was calculated with basic store bought BBQ sauce - the sugar would be less with homemade.

Nutrition