The Best Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
If you’ve ever craved tender, fall-apart ribs but didn’t want to wait hours, this Instant Pot country style ribs recipe is for you.
With just 10 minutes of prep, the pressure cooker does all the work to transform budget-friendly pork into a comforting, flavor-packed dinner. A quick broil at the end caramelizes the BBQ sauce into a sticky glaze that makes these ribs irresistible.
Bone-in vs boneless? I tested this recipe with both bone-in and boneless ribs. Boneless ribs are the fastest and most widely available, but bone-in ribs also work beautifully, they just need a few extra minutes of cook time.
Love tender, fall-apart pork recipes? Try this Instant Pot Carnitas recipe and this recipe for Instant Pot Pulled Pork.
Reader Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I keep coming back to this recipe every time I bring country style pork ribs home. It’’s goof proof, easy to dress up or down and the ribs turn out so tender and flavorful with an almost but not quite crispy glaze from the broiler, they’re a winner in our house.” – Juli
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Just made a set of these ribs and they turned out perfectly fall-apart-as-you-grab-them-with-tongs tender.” – Jon
I pull out my Instant Pot at least one night a week to make Instant Pot Mongolian beef, Instant Pot Greek chicken and rice, or Instant pot coconut rice. It makes weeknight dinners so quick and easy!
Need another easy Instant Pot recipe? Try Instant Pot salsa chicken or Instant Pot lasagna soup next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are the simple ingredients for these boneless country-style ribs.
- Dry rub: smoked paprika, coconut sugar (or brown sugar), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, blacker pepper and oregano. It’s a similar rub to sheet pan pork chops!
- Country ribs: boneless country style ribs are the most common, but some groceries carry bone-in country style ribs and that works!
- Water: so the Instant Pot can come to pressure. The ribs won’t touch the water because we’re using the trivet. You could also use beef or chicken broth.
- Garlic: these cloves help infuse the ribs with garlic flavor and aroma.
- BBQ Sauce: use your favorite barbecue sauce. Try this whole30 bbq sauce or use a sugar free BBQ sauce to keep this keto and low carb.
- Liquid smoke: add an optional 2-3 drops to get that smoked-all-day flavor.
Regular Ribs vs Country Style Ribs
Country style ribs come from the pork’s shoulder (the meat you use for Instant Pot pulled pork) while spare ribs or baby back ribs come from an area near the breast bone.
There will be a lot more meat on the bone of country style ribs. They have more muscle to them and do better cooked low and slow (or in the Instant Pot).
How to Make Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Here are the simple steps to make Instant Pot country-style ribs. Skip to the recipe card for the full, printable recipe.
Step 1. Mix the Dry Rub. Combine the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 2. Coat the Ribs. Sprinkle the country style ribs in the dry rub and massage the rub into the meat.
Step 3. Add to the Instant Pot. Place the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot, pour the liquid into the bottom, then add the seasoned ribs.
Step 4. Pressure Cook. Pressure cooking on high for 50 minutes with a 15 minute natural release.
Step 5. Add BBQ Sauce. Transfer them to a baking sheet and brush the cooked country style ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Step 6. Broil. Place them in the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce bubbles.
My Top Tip!
Don’t skip the broil! That final 2–3 minutes under high heat caramelizes the sugars in the BBQ sauce and gives you restaurant-style sticky ribs.
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
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Ingredients
Dry Rub
- 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
Country Style Ribs
- 3-4 lbs country style ribs
- 1 cup water or beef broth
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke optional
- 1 cup BBQ sauce homemade or store bought
Instructions
- Mix all of the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl.2 Tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Pat the country style ribs dry then generously coat the sides of each with the rub. Use your fingers to massage the rub into the meat until it sinks in and becomes a deep red color.3-4 lbs country style ribs
- Set the metal trivet in the bottom of a 6 qt Instant Pot. Pour the water or beef broth in the bottom then arrange the ribs evenly without overlapping. You may need to stand them up against the sides of the Instant Pot for more room.1 cup water or beef broth, 4 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Add the garlic on top of the ribs, close the lid, and make sure the sealing vent is closed. Pressure cook on high pressure for 50 minutes then allow it to naturally release (do nothing) for 15 minutes. Turn the pressure valve to release any additional steam then carefully open the lid.
- Use tongs to carefully remove the country style ribs from the Insant Pot and transfer them to a sheet pan. You may need two as they'll likely fall apart easily. Lather the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce then broil them on high for 2-3 minutes, until the BBQ sauce starts to bubble.1 cup BBQ sauce
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQs
Usually because they’re undercooked. Country style ribs need at least 50 minutes under high pressure plus a natural release to break down the muscle fibers.
Yes! Add 5–7 minutes to the pressure cook time for bone-in ribs.
The Instant Pot requires a minimum of 1/2 cup of liquid to come to pressure. Add about 1 cup of water or broth to be safe and place the ribs on top of the trivet so they don’t touch the liquid.
Yes! Rub the ribs, add them to your slow cooker with ½ cup broth, and cook on low for 6–7 hours. Finish with BBQ sauce and broil as directed.
Use coconut sugar in the rub (or omit for keto), and swap in a sugar-free BBQ sauce.
Serving Suggestions
- Potatoes (of all sorts): classic potato salad, boursin mashed potatoes (they’re unreal), crispy pesto potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, air fryer smashed potatoes, or air fryer baked potatoes.
- Cooked veggies: roasted brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, garlic roasted mini peppers, air fryer asparagus, roasted broccoli and carrots, or maple glazed carrots.
- Hearty salad: We love this cucumber tomato avocado salad, chipotle roasted sweet potato kale salad, strawberry spinach salad or this shaved brussels sprout salad.
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Recipe by: Molly Thompson of What Molly Made | Photography by: Kate Poskochil
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Just made a set of ribs and they turned out perfectly fall-apart-as-you-grab-them-with-tongs tender.
I used the BBQ 3000 seasoning from Penzey’s Spices as a rub.
These are finger licking good! We all licked our fingers! Will definitely make this again!
Thank you, Marcy!!
So good! My hubby really likes it! Will definitely make it again!
Love that! Thanks!
If everyone would go back and read the recipe it says close and pressure cook on high for 50 minutes.
I made these for my family and they were delicious!! I would highly encourage anyone to try them you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you, Rachel!!
I keep coming back to this recipe every time I bring country style pork ribs home. It’’s goof proof, easy to dress up or down and the ribs turn out so tender and flavorful with an almost but not quite crispy glaze from the broiler, they’re a winner in our house. Thanks for posting this!
Love this, Juli! So glad you like them. I love the broil at the end too!
5 Stars in advance. I’m old and old-school. I have an electric pressure cooker (the original instant pot). I use it all the time to make Carnitas so this is a natural addition. I like the ingredient choices for your dry rub. I just bought 3 lbs. of boneless pork country ribs and I haven’t made this dish in years, but it was such a great sale I couldn’t pass it up. I read 6-8 recipes, but yours sounds the best! Thank You Very Much,
Wow, thank you Doreen! I love to hear that! We also have a pressure cooker carnitas recipe you could try:)