If you love tender, juicy ribs but don’t have hours to babysit a smoker or oven, these Instant Pot country style ribs are about to become your new go-to dinner. They cook up incredibly soft, flavorful, and fork-tender in a fraction of the time. These are perfect for busy weeknights or anytime you want comfort food fast.
I’ve tested several pressure cooking times to find the sweet spot between fall-apart tender and still sliceable, and this method delivers every single time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in under an hour
- Foolproof for beginners - grab your Instant Pot, I'll walk you through this recipe!
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for meal prep or leftovers
- Family-approved comfort food - our whole family loves this meal with sides like mashed potatoes and easy weeknight pork and beans.
👉 Looking for more pressure cooker meals? Try my Instant Pot Pot Roast or Pulled Pork Sliders.
What Are Country Style Ribs?
Spoiler alert...Country style ribs aren’t actually ribs. They’re cut from the pork shoulder or loin. But that's a good thing because it means:
✔ More meat
✔ Less bone
✔ Rich flavor
✔ Perfect for pressure cooking
Serve these boneless pork ribs with some sour cream potato salad and my
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what goes into this simple recipe:
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless country style pork ribs – Meaty and tender, they’re the star of the dish. Bone-In vs Boneless: Both cuts work! Adjust time slightly (bone-in may need an extra 5 minutes).
- Seasonings – Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper for a savory base.
- Liquid – Chicken broth or water helps build pressure in the Instant Pot and keeps the ribs juicy.
- BBQ sauce – Use your favorite brand or homemade sauce for flavor and caramelization.
- Optional splash of apple cider vinegar – Brightens and balances the richness.
Tip: If you prefer smoky ribs, add a dash of liquid smoke before cooking.
How to Make Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Step 1: Make the spice rub.
Step 2: Season ribs generously.
Pressure cook.
Brush with sauce and broil.
Step 3: Add liquid to your Instant Pot. Arrange ribs inside.
Step 4: Pressure Cook.
Step 5: Brush with sauce and broil.
Let them rest a few minutes—and dig in!
👉 Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
How Long to Cook Country Style Ribs in Instant Pot
Cooking time depends on thickness:
| Rib Size | Cook Time |
|---|
| Thin | 30 minutes |
| Average | 35 minutes |
| Thick | 40 minutes |
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For natural release: Plan on 10 minutes for best tenderness.
Why Broil After Pressure Cooking?
Pressure cooking makes the ribs tender.
Then, when you broil them, it gives them that sticky, caramelized BBQ finish everyone loves.
Grab the wet-naps and don’t skip this step! It takes just a few minutes and makes a huge difference.
Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Ribs
- Use a meat thermometer for sliceable ribs.
- Always use at least 1 cup liquid when pressure cooking.
- Stack ribs loosely and don’t pack tightly.
- Let pressure release naturally for tender meat. I don't know why that works, but it does!
Can You Cook Ribs From Frozen?
Yes! This is one of the advantages of using a pressure cooker. Add 5–7 minutes to the pressure cook time and separate pieces as soon as possible once thawed.
Why Are My Ribs Tough?
Usually it's due to one of these:
- They weren't cooked long enough
- The pressure was released too soon. See top tips above. ⬆️
- Ribs were extra thick
If that happens, simply cook for five more minutes and test again.
Serving Ideas
These ribs pair perfectly with:
Or slice them up and serve on sandwiches for an easy leftover meal.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
To reheat: Microwave until heated through. If you have more time, reheat in the oven at 300°F (covered) for the best texture.
They also freeze beautifully for up to 2 months.
More Tips
- Pat ribs dry before seasoning.
- Don’t skip the broil finish.
- Taste your BBQ sauce before using so you know how sweet it is.
FAQ
You can get by without it, but a trivet helps keep ribs out of the liquid for better texture.
Yes. Cook time stays the same.
Water, broth, apple juice, or even cola all work well.
Make This Recipe Next
If you make these Instant Pot country style pork ribs, leave a recipe rating or review. I'd love to hear from you!
Recipe
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
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Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons parsley
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- ¾ cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue sauce divided
- 1 ½ pounds boneless country style ribs
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the spices and brown sugar. Mix well.
- Rub the seasoning mix over all sides of the ribs.
- Add chicken broth and ¼ cup BBQ sauce to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
- Add ribs to the pot, turning to coat and ensuring they're partially submerged.
- Seal the lid and pressure valve. Cook on high for 30 minutes.Allow pressure to naturally release. Remove ribs and place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Brush ribs with remaining BBQ sauce. Broil on high for 5–8 minutes until caramelized.
Notes
- Don’t skip the natural release: This allows the meat to stay tender and juicy—quick release can make it tougher and more likely to fall apart.
- Stacking is okay: The ribs don’t need to be in a single layer. Just make sure the liquid touches the bottom layer and they're all coated with sauce.
- For extra thick sauce: After broiling, you can pour the leftover juices into a saucepan and simmer them to reduce into a thicker BBQ glaze.
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. Calories and other nutritional values vary depending on which brands were used.
