Description
This Instant Pot Beef Ribs recipe delivers tender, flavorful ribs cooked to perfection using pressure cooking. The ribs are seasoned with a smoky spice rub, seared for a caramelized crust, and then pressure cooked with beef broth and apple cider vinegar to keep them juicy. Finished with a generous brush of barbecue sauce, these ribs make a perfect easy and quick main course for any BBQ lovers looking for a fuss-free method without sacrificing taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Ribs and Seasoning
- 3–4 pounds beef back ribs or short ribs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Cooking Liquids and Sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Ribs: Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs if it is still attached to ensure tenderness and better seasoning absorption.
- Make the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Rub this spice mixture evenly all over the ribs to coat thoroughly.
- Sear the Ribs: Set your Instant Pot to Sauté mode and heat the olive oil. Once hot, sear the ribs in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until they develop a rich brown crust. Remove and set aside.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour in beef broth and apple cider vinegar into the pot, scraping the bottom to lift flavorful browned bits left from searing.
- Arrange and Pressure Cook: Place the trivet inside the Instant Pot and stack the ribs neatly on top. Secure the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on Manual/High Pressure for 35 minutes.
- Release Pressure: Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully quick release any remaining pressure.
- Finish with Barbecue Sauce: Remove ribs from the pot and brush generously with barbecue sauce. For an extra caramelized finish, optionally broil ribs under high heat for 4 to 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute boneless short ribs if preferred.
- Adjust the spice level by varying the amount of chili powder or omitting it entirely for a milder flavor.
- For a sweeter rub, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the spice mixture.
