Instant Pot Beef Back Ribs are tender and delicious, with a flavorful ribs spice rub and barbecue sauce. Instant Pot rib recipes are a great way to cook these tough cuts of meat. These are not short ribs, but are beef back ribs made in the Instant Pot. If you have wanted to enjoy beef ribs in the pressure cooker, try this tasty Instant Pot Ribs recipe.
Instant Pot Beef Ribs Recipe
Cooking ribs in the Instant Pot is a great cooking technique because the meat is cooked in a fraction of the time it takes with other methods.
Beef has tough connective tissue so needs a longer cook time to break it down. Then the meat becomes tender and very flavorful.
What Are Beef Back Ribs?
• Beef Back Ribs are what is left after the butcher cuts the ribeye roast off of the bones. After the prime rib roast is cut, the meat attached to the rib bones is the beef back ribs. The meat has a wonderful rich flavor.
• This is not a beef short ribs recipe. This type of ribs is the beef equivalent of baby back pork ribs.
Do I Need to Use a Dry Rub on Beef Ribs?
• I’m going to say yes, if you want great flavor. With that said you can make the spice rub as simple as you want. Simple salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder will work.
• We like more flavor so add smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin to our dry spice rub recipe.
Do I Need to Use BBQ Sauce for Ribs?
- That is totally up to you. We love BBQ Beef Ribs, the extra layer of flavor on top of the rubbed beef is amazing!
- Brush your favorite BBQ sauce or a homemade barbecue sauce over the pressure cooked beef ribs and serve them just like that.
- Some people like to broil them in the oven after adding the barbecue sauce on the pressure cooker beef ribs for a sticky sauce, but I don’t bother with that as I like them just saucy.
Should I Add anything to the Liquid in the Pot?
- The only thing I add to the 1.5 cup water is the liquid smoke. I think it adds a nice hint of smokiness.
- Some people do add other ingredients to the liquid or use an entirely different liquid such as:
- Apple Juice, Red Wine, Beef Broth or Beef Stock, Chicken Stock.
- Or other add-ins: balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, etc. (though I believe most of these are for cooking pork baby back ribs).
- I have not needed any of these add-ins, except for the liquid smoke. I do think that if you are making a Short Rib recipe that produces a gravy, you will want to rework the liquid so it makes a nice sauce. This recipe is just for Beef Back Rib in the Instant Pot.
How to Cook Beef Ribs in the Instant Pot
Prepare the Instant Pot
• Add 1 1/2 cups of cold water to the stainless pot of the electric pressure cooker.
• Add 2 Tablespoons of liquid smoke to the water.
• Place a rack/trivet in the bottom of the pot.
• Let the beef ribs come up to room temperature, or close to it, if possible.
Prepare the Ribs
• Remove the membrane on the back of the ribs (called the silver skin). Use a paper towel to grip it and just pull it off.
• Rub the spice rub on all sides of the ribs.
• Pat the spice rub in.
• Place the rack of ribs in the pot (it is okay to cut the rack in half if needed, to fit (Or cut into individual ribs).
• Make sure you have clearance for the lid to close.
Cook the Beef Ribs
• Close and lock lid. Set the valve to Sealing if yours doesn’t self-seal.
• Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button or dial, and choose 45 minutes. High Pressure (These are not “fall-apart” tender, but are very tender. There is so much connective tissue that it is hard for them to actually fall apart. This may vary from rack to rack).
• The pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure.
• When the pressure cooking time is finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for a 15 minutes natural release.
• Manually release the remaining pressure. Open the lid when the pin drops back down.
Finish Off the Beef Ribs
• Use tongs to carefully remove the cooked ribs to a plate or baking sheet pan (if you are going to broil them).
• Pour some of the bbq sauce onto the ribs and gently brush it over all sides of the ribs.
• At this point you can broil the ribs in your oven for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce, or you can serve them without broiling.
How to Avoid Tough Ribs
- Usually the cook time and method of pressure release determines how tender the the meat is.
- Since Beef has the tough connective tissue and fat, it is best if the meat cooks longer so that tough tissue has time to break down.
- Pressure cooking is more intense so it doesn’t take as long as other cooking methods.
- Always allow for a 10-15 minute Natural Pressure Release when cooking beef in the Instant Pot. Doing a Quick Release will suck the juices out of the meat and dry it out.
Are Beef Ribs Low Carb?
Yes, on their own spare ribs, back ribs, short ribs, etc. are low carb. What would make them higher carb is what you put on them. So be mindful of sugars, and other ingredients in your dry rub and in the barbecue sauce that you are using.
What to serve with Instapot Beef Ribs
Mashed potatoes, pasta salad, rice, baked potato, potato salad.
More Easy Beef Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Rare Roast Beef
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Instant Pot Hamburger Baked Beans
Storage for Leftover Beef Back Ribs
• You can store these ribs in a zip-closure storage baggie or airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freeze them well wrapped in plastic, then an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Keep the Bones!
• Consider freezing the bones after eating the ribs to make some delicious beef bone broth in your Instant Pot. It’s so easy and delicious.
• You can use the broth for soups, or use it to cook pasta in for spaghetti, cheeseburger macaroni, or just have to heat and sip it!
These are the best beef ribs! I hope you make them,, not just for special occasions, and enjoy them!
If you make this Instant Pot Beef Rib Recipe, please let me know. You can leave a comment with a star rating below. I would like to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Beef Back Ribs
Equipment
- Electric Pressure Cooker
- BBQ Sauce Brush
Ingredients
For the Ribs
- 1 Rack of Beef Back Ribs
- Dry Spice Rub
For the Pot
- 1 ½ cups Water
- 2 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke
To Finish
- 1 cup Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
Prepare the Ribs
- Let the beef ribs come up to room temperature, or close to it, if possible.Remove the membrane on the back of the ribs (called the silver skin). Use a paper towel to grip it and just pull it off.Rub the spice rub on all sides of the ribs.
Prepare the Instant Pot
- Add 1 ½ cups of cold water to the stainless pot of the electric pressure cooker.Add 2 Tablespoons of liquid smoke to the water.Place a rack/trivet in the bottom of the pot.
Cook the Beef Ribs
- Place the rack of ribs in the pot (it is okay to cut the rack in half if needed to fit. Or cut individual ribs). Make sure you have clearance for the lid.
- Close and lock lid. Set the valve to Sealing if yours doesn't self-seal.Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button or dial, and choose 45 minutes. High Pressure.The pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure.
- When the pressure cooking time is finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for a 15 minutes natural release.Manually release the remaining pressure and open the lid after the pin drops down.
Finish Off the Beef Ribs
- Use tongs to carefully remove the cooked ribs to a plate or baking sheet pan (if you are going to broil them).Pour some of the bbq sauce onto the ribs and gently brush it over all sides of the ribs.At this point you can broil the ribs in your oven for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce, or you can serve them without broiling.
Lynn says
These were absolutely amazing! We loved them.