Description
This Instant Pot Beef Ribs recipe delivers tender, flavorful ribs cooked quickly under high pressure. Perfectly seasoned and seared before pressure cooking, these ribs come out fall-off-the-bone tender and sauced with your favorite barbecue sauce, offering a delicious American main course ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Ribs
- 3 pounds beef back ribs or short ribs
Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Other Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (plus more for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ribs: Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs if necessary to ensure tenderness and better seasoning absorption. Combine the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and optional cayenne pepper in a small bowl and thoroughly rub this spice mixture all over the ribs for even flavor.
- Sear the Ribs: Set your Instant Pot to Sauté mode and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, brown the ribs in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until they develop a nice crust. Remove the ribs and set them aside to preserve the browned bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour the beef broth into the Instant Pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape the browned bits from the bottom. This liquid will add rich flavor and prevent the burn notice during pressure cooking.
- Pressure Cook: Place the metal trivet inside the Instant Pot and arrange the ribs on top of it. Pour half a cup of barbecue sauce evenly over the ribs. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 35 minutes to achieve tender, juicy ribs.
- Release Pressure: Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes to gently finish cooking, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
- Finish and Serve: For an extra sticky, caramelized finish, brush the ribs with additional barbecue sauce and broil in your oven for 4 to 5 minutes until bubbly and slightly charred. Serve hot with extra barbecue sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Both short ribs and back ribs work well; adjust cooking time slightly if using thicker short ribs.
- Swap out the barbecue sauce for a spicy chipotle or hot sauce variation to customize heat levels.
- For even more tender ribs, extend the natural pressure release time up to 15 minutes.
