Description
Tender and flavorful baby back pork ribs cooked quickly in an Instant Pot then finished under the broiler with a delicious BBQ sauce for a perfect caramelized finish. This easy recipe combines a smoky spice rub with aromatic ingredients to create fall-off-the-bone ribs in just over 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Spice Rub
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
Main Ingredients
- 3½ pounds baby back pork ribs
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- BBQ sauce (optional, for broiling)
Instructions
- Prepare the spice rub: In a small bowl, combine onion powder, garlic powder, ground turmeric, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and chipotle powder. Set the mixture aside for later use.
- Season the ribs: Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. Remove the membrane from the back side of the ribs to help the seasoning penetrate better. Generously coat both sides of the ribs evenly with the prepared spice rub.
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Add chopped onion, minced garlic, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, low-sodium chicken broth, and bay leaves to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Stir gently to combine.
- Place ribs in the Instant Pot: Set a steam rack or basket inside the Instant Pot on top of the liquid mixture. Coil the ribs gently and place them over the rack. Secure the lid and seal the valve.
- Cook under pressure: Select the Manual (Pressure Cook) setting and set the timer for 26 minutes. When cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
- Broil the ribs: Preheat your oven’s broiler and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the cooked ribs flat on the sheet and generously brush the top and sides with your favorite BBQ sauce. Broil for about 5 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning. This step caramelizes the sauce and adds a crispy finish.
- Serve: Remove the ribs from the oven, cut between the bones to separate individual ribs, and serve with your preferred sides. Enjoy the juicy, smoky, and tender ribs!
Notes
- Removing the membrane from ribs helps the seasoning penetrate and improves tenderness.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels but still add flavor.
- Broiling time can vary; watch carefully to prevent the BBQ sauce from burning.
- If you don’t have liquid smoke, you can omit it or substitute with smoked paprika for smokiness.
- Leftover ribs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
