Cooking beef ribs in an instant pot is a great way to get fall-off-the-bone tender ribs in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional braising or oven methods. With just a little prep and the press of a button, you can have ultra-tender beef ribs ready in an hour or less!
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cook beef ribs to perfection in your instant pot, including:
- Best cuts of beef ribs for instant pot
- How long to cook beef back ribs vs beef short ribs
- Step-by-step instant pot beef ribs recipe
- Pro tips for the most tender instant pot beef ribs
Best Cuts of Beef Ribs for the Instant Pot
The most common cuts of beef ribs to use in the instant pot are beef back ribs and beef short ribs
Beef back ribs come from the rib section close to the spine and are meatier than pork back ribs They have a curved shape with lots of connective tissue
Beef short ribs come from the belly/plate section and have more fat marbling. Bone-in short ribs work best preferably English-cut with the bones about 2-inches long.
Both cuts become meltingly tender in the instant pot. Beef back ribs will likely cook a little faster since they have less fat. For ultimate tenderness and flavor, choose meaty ribs approximately 2 pounds or less per rack.
How Long to Cook Beef Ribs in the Instant Pot
Cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size and cut of your ribs, but here are general instant pot guidelines:
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Beef back ribs – Cook for 25-30 minutes on high pressure, followed by 10 minutes natural pressure release
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Boneless beef short ribs – Cook for 25 minutes high pressure, 10 minute natural release
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Bone-in beef short ribs – Cook 35-40 minutes high pressure, 15 minutes natural release
For bone-in short ribs especially, the natural pressure release time is key to allow the connective tissue to fully break down.
No matter which type of ribs you cook, make sure they are completely submerged in liquid like broth or barbecue sauce in the instant pot. The moisture helps them cook up tender.
Step-by-Step Instant Pot Beef Ribs Recipe
This easy recipe for instant pot beef back ribs turns out fall-off-the-bone tender ribs in under an hour.
Ingredients:
- 1 rack beef back ribs (about 2 pounds)
- 1⁄2 cup beef broth or water
- 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon each salt, garlic powder, pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions:
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Rinse ribs and pat dry. Remove membrane from back of ribs.
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Make a rub by mixing together brown sugar, chili powder, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Generously season both sides of the ribs.
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Pour broth and vinegar into instant pot. Add ribs meaty-side up in a circle around pot.
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Lock lid and cook on high pressure 25-30 minutes. Allow 10 minute natural release before venting remaining pressure.
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Remove ribs and brush with barbecue sauce. Broil 2-3 minutes to caramelize sauce.
The sweet and savory dry rub gives these instant pot beef back ribs incredible flavor. Cooking them in broth instead of water helps tenderize the meat.
For an even more hands-off method, you can cook the ribs directly in barbecue sauce in the instant pot. The sauce doubles as both flavoring and cooking liquid.
Pro Tips for the Most Tender Instant Pot Beef Ribs
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Trim excess fat – For boneless ribs, trim large pockets of fat which can prevent the meat fromtenderizing. Leave a thin layer intact for moisture.
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Season generously – A bold dry rub adds lots of flavor. For sauce, use thick, sticky barbecue sauce.
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Don’t overcrowd – Cook no more than 2 pounds of ribs at once, in a single layer. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking.
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Release pressure properly – Allow a 10-15 minute natural release, especially for meatier ribs like short ribs. Venting too quickly can make the meat tough.
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Brush with sauce – Saucing the ribs after cooking but before broiling prevents the sugars in the sauce from burning.
With the right cut of ribs and cook time, you’ll have incredibly easy, fall-off-the-bone tender instant pot beef ribs to enjoy for dinner. Leftovers also make excellent sandwiches or nacho toppings.
So next time you’re craving delicious beef ribs, reach for your instant pot. In under an hour, you’ll have pro-level ribs ready to devour.
How to Make Country Style Beef Ribs
This cut of meat starts out tough, but becomes fall-apart tender when you braise it.
There are a few different braising methods you can use. The general steps are the same for all of them:
- Sear the meat.
- Simmer the meat with liquid (i.e., braise it).
- Broil or grill the meat to caramelize the outside.
What Are Country Style Beef Ribs?
Country-style ribs are boneless rib-like strips of meat, but they aren’t actually ribs at all! This cut of meat comes from the shoulder (or butt) area of pigs, or the shoulder (or chuck) area of cows.
Boneless country style ribs typically have rich, meaty flavor but are on the tougher side, so they benefits from a longer cooking time.
The BEST Instant Pot Short Ribs
FAQ
How many minutes to pressure cook beef ribs?
Cook for 25 minutes. Transfer the pressure cooker to the sink; cool the pot with cold water for about 30 seconds to release pressure quickly.
How long does it take beef to cook in Instant Pot?
Then add the fresh herbs and potatoes. Seal the Instant Pot and cook at high pressure. The cooking time depends on how much beef you have. I like to assume 20 minutes for every pound of meat.Apr 14, 2025
How long do you cook ribs in a pressure cooker?
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Leite’s Culinariahttps://leitesculinaria.comPressure Cooker Ribs – Leite’s CulinariaDec 4, 2015 — If using a stove-top pressure cooker, maintain the pressure for 20 minutes for tender ribs or, if you prefer that the ribs be falling-off-the-bone te…
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Our Best Biteshttps://ourbestbites.comPressure Cooker BBQ Ribs – Our Best BitesJul 2, 2024 — Add a few ribs at a time and use tongs to gently coat them in sauce. Then arrange ribs standing upright with meat-side facing outward (see blog post …
Can you overcook ribs in an Instant Pot?
How Do I Prevent Overcooking Ribs In The Instant Pot? When cooking in the Instant Pot, it is possible to over-do it. If overcooked, your ribs will be dry instead of tender and juicy. Follow the recipe exactly and be sure to perform a natural release before switching the valve to quick release.
How long to cook ribs in Instant Pot?
Cover and seal the Instant Pot. For baby back ribs: Cook on high (manual) pressure for 23 minutes (if you are making multiple racks and your ribs are super meaty, increase to 25 minutes). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then vent to release the remaining pressure. For spare ribs: Cook on high for 35 minutes.
How long does it take to cook beef short ribs?
It typically takes several hours to cook beef short ribs until they’re fall-off-the-bone tender. So, when you don’t have the luxury of taking the time to braise meat low-and-slow, breaking out your pressure cooker is the perfect solution. Our recipe for Instant Pot beef ribs makes meat that’s miraculously tender in under an hour.
How do you rub beef ribs in an Instant Pot?
Lay the beef ribs flat on a flat surface and apply 3/4 of the rub to the meaty side. Use your fingers to massage it in, then flip the ribs over and apply the rest of the rub to the other side. Place the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert. Pour in the water and apple cider vinegar, then place the ribs on the trivet.
How to cook baby back ribs in Instant Pot?
Place the ribs inside the pot, standing them on the trivet on their side and wrapping the rack around the inside of the pot like a circle. Cover and seal the Instant Pot. For baby back ribs: Cook on high (manual) pressure for 23 minutes (if you are making multiple racks and your ribs are super meaty, increase to 25 minutes).
How much water do you need to cook Short ribs in Instant Pot?
This Instant Pot recipe calls for 1/2 cup water to cook 4 pounds short ribs. For additional flavor, you can replace the water with an equal amount of beef broth, dry red wine, dark beer or apple juice. Why are my Instant Pot beef ribs tough?
How long to cook pork ribs in pressure cooker?
Pork ribs tend to only take around 18 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker. I once tried to cook them for the 22 minutes like the beef ribs and it was a disaster. It basically turned into pulled pork because they were so tender they were falling apart when I tried to recipe the pork ribs from the instant pot.