These sticky, juicy and fall-off-the-bone-tender BBQ Ribs are a real favorite in my home. In this easy recipe, pork ribs are pressure cooked then coated with bbq sauce and broiled in the oven for a delicious crisp finish.
Remove the membrane (skip this step if already removed)
Lay the ribs flat, membrane side up. Using a paring knife detach the membrane from the meat at the narrow inner corner of the rib rack.
Using a paper towel get a grip on the membrane and pull away in the opposite direction.
Keep pulling in the opposite direction slowly so the membrane doesn't break and comes off in one piece. If it breaks, use a pairing knife and detach it from the meat at a starting point and pull away.
Spice Rub
Combine salt, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper and brown sugar to make a spice rub for the ribs.
Using a paper towel, pat dry the ribs. If using regular size pork ribs remove the thin membrane at the back of the ribs. This step is optional.
Coat the ribs liberally with the dry rub and press the spices into the meat. Flip the ribs and repeat.
Instant Pot Recipe
Turn on the pressure cooker. Add water, Worcestershire sauce and Apple cider vinegar. Add a trivet in cooking pot. If you don’t have a trivet, you can skip this step. The ribs will be a bit more tender in that case.
Coil the ribs and place on the trivet. Close the lid and pressure cook on Manual or Pressure cook mode for 25 mins for baby back ribs, and 30 mins for regular ribs.
Wait 10 minutes before releasing the pressure (NPR 10). Release the remaining pressure instantly by turning the knob to ‘Venting’ mode in DUO, or pressing down the pressure valve in ULTRA.
Using tongs, remove the ribs and place them on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet.
Finish in Broiler or on BBQ Grill
Line the baking sheet with fresh foil or parchment paper and place the cooked ribs on that. Coat them with your favorite barbecue sauce generously.
Adjust the top rack of the oven to the second level grooves. Place the baking sheet, cook in BROIL mode, for 2-5 minutes on the presentation side. Oven temperatures may differ so its best to start watching after 2 minutes. This step can alternatively be done on the BBQ grill for the same time. Enjoy!
Oven Recipe
Preheat the oven at 400°F. Prepare and season the ribs as per directions above. Wrap the ribs in heavy-duty foil so that the juices don't leak. Cook for 80 minutes for Baby Back Ribs, or 90 minutes for regular ribs. Remove from the oven and follow the broiling directions above.
Video
Notes
For best results, it's best to remove that membrane otherwise it prevents the meat from absorbing the flavors.
We like our ribs fall-off-the-bone tender, so 25 minutes for Baby Back Ribs, and 30 minutes for Regular Pork Ribs works for us. But if you like them less tender than that, you can reduce the cooking time by 3 minutes.
This recipe is pretty easy to double for entertaining. You can easily fit 2 slabs in a 6 qt, or 3 slabs in a 8 qt cooker. The key is to coil the ribs and fit them.
For a larger crowd, you can pressure cook the ribs ahead of time and finish them later when your guests arrive.
Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.