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Instant Pot Spare Ribs
5 from 80 votes

Instant Pot Spare Ribs

Instant Pot Spare Ribs offer tender, flavorful pork ribs cooked quickly under pressure. The ribs are marinated with garlic powder, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper to enhance taste and tenderize the meat. Optional liquid smoke adds a smoky aroma. Pressure cooking softens the ribs rapidly, making them juicy and easy to serve with your favorite barbecue sauce for a classic finish.

Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 2 - 4
Calories: 396 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 rack (742g) spare ribs
  • 1 cup (250ml) water cold
  • kosher salt generously season
  • black pepper generously season
  • 1 teaspoon (3.2g) garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon (3.8g) onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 2 - 3 drops liquid smoke (optional)
  • ¼ - ½ cup (60 - 120g) barbecue sauce depends on your rib’s size, your favorite

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Optional - Trim Spare Ribs into St. Louis Style Ribs (see photos): With a sharp knife, remove the flap at the end of the spare ribs. Remove the skirt (strip of meat that runs diagonally on the backside). Separate the rib tips by making a horizontal cut. Try to fold the ribs lengthwise and you should find where the breastbone and cartilage are connected. *Pro Tip: Save all the meat you trimmed off for our next recipe.
  2. Marinate Spare Ribs: Mix 1 tsp (3.2g) garlic powder, 1 tsp (3.8g) onion powder, and 2 tbsp (30ml) apple cider vinegar together. Brush the marinade all over the spare ribs. Generously season the spare ribs with ground black pepper and salt. Marinate ribs for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. *Pro Tip: The optimal marinating time is 1 - 2 hours. This allows the vinegar to tenderize the meat and let the salt penetrates the meat just a bit.
  3. Pressure Cook Spare Ribs: Add 2 - 3 drops of liquid smoke to the Instant Pot (optional). Place 1 cup (250ml) of cold water and a steamer rack in Instant Pot. Place the marinated spare ribs on the rack. Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes (Tender with a bit of chew) to 25 minutes (Fall off the bone) + 15 minutes Natural Release. Release the remaining pressure, then open the lid.
  4. Apply Sauce & Broil in Oven/Air Fryer: Carefully set the spare ribs on an oven tray or chopping board, then generously apply BBQ sauce all over the ribs on all sides. *Note: You can use an oven, toaster oven, Instant Pot Duo Crisp or Air Fryer Lid for this step.*Pro Tip: If you're using the Duo Crisp lid or Air Fryer lid, you'll need to cut the spare ribs into halves, then finish them in 2 batches. *Pro Tip: It's best to broil the spare ribs before cutting it into serving size to retain more moisture.Option 1 - Oven/Toaster Oven: Place the BBQ Spare Ribs on an oven tray under the "Broil" function (or the highest temperature setting) for a few minutes until the BBQ sauce is caramelized.Option 2 - Air Fryer Lid: Place air fryer basket with tray on the middle rack in Instant Pot. Layer ribs on air fryer tray in Instant Pot. Place the Air Fryer Lid on Instant Pot. Press "Airfry" button, set Temperature to 400°F and Cooking Time to 15 minutes. (It takes roughly 9 - 11 minutes + preheat time. You can open the lid to check the progress.) Air fry the second batch of spare ribs in Instant Pot.
  5. Serve: Chop up the BBQ Spare Ribs to serving sizes. Serve these tasty BBQ Spare Ribs immediately! Enjoy~ :)

Notes

  • Look for spare ribs with good marbling to enhance flavor and tenderness.
  • Marinate the ribs for at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 to 2 hours, to allow the vinegar and seasonings to penetrate the meat.
  • Adding liquid smoke is optional but adds a smoky flavor reminiscent of traditional barbecued ribs.
  • Use your favorite barbecue sauce to finish the ribs according to taste and rib size.
  • Save trimmed meat from the ribs for use in other recipes to avoid waste.

Nutrition Information

Calories 396kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 20g (40%) Fat 31g (48%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 104mg (35%) Sodium 294mg (12%) Potassium 365mg (8%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 40IU (1%) Calcium 25mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2 - 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories 396

% Daily Value*

Calories 396kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 20g 40%
Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 104mg 35%
Sodium 294mg 12%
Potassium 365mg 8%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 40IU 1%
Calcium 25mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.