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Instant Pot BBQ Ribs

Instant Pot BBQ Ribs The Soul Food Way

Instant Pot BBQ ribs drastically reduce cooking time while delivering consistent, mouth-watering results. This easy BBQ ribs recipe ensures hassle-free preparation and fall-off-the-bone tender meat!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Pressure Release Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food
Servings: 4
Calories: 1429kcal
Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

  • Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
  • Instant Pot trivet rack (comes with the Instant Pot)
  • Air fryer or broiler (optional)

Ingredients

  • 3 ½-4 pounds ribs beef or pork ribs - I used beef short ribs
  • 1 cup  beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon seasoning Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning, or similar (Yes – use CHICKEN SEASONING on the ribs! See the notes below for how to make a homemade dry rub.)
  • 1 tablespoon seasoning Weber Seasoning Roasted Garlic & Herb, or similar (See the notes below for how to make a homemade dry rub.)
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce Homemade BBQ sauce recipe HERE!

Instructions

  • Remove the white membrane from the back of the ribs.
  • Mix the chicken seasoning and garlic & herb seasoning in a small bowl.
  • Rub the seasoning mixture on the ribs to coat them.
  • Pour the BBQ sauce over the ribs and use a basting brush to coat them evenly in the sauce.
  • Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the broth into the stainless-steel inner pot.
  • Place the Instant Pot trivet rack inside the inner pot, then place the sauced ribs on the rack.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid (ensure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.
  • When cooking is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
  • To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to 'venting' and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
  • Remove the cooked ribs from the pot using the trivet rack handles.
  • Brush more BBQ sauce on the ribs.
  • Optionally, broil or air fry the ribs for a nice char. (Air fry at 360 degrees for 10 minutes.)
  • Serve right away and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Homemade soul food BBQ ribs dry rub
  • 1 ½ tablespoons of smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper

Nutrition

Calories: 1429kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 65g | Fat: 114g | Saturated Fat: 50g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 55g | Trans Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 298mg | Sodium: 949mg | Potassium: 1124mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 10mg

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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