Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
15 Comments
Posted: 01/10/22
Updated: 10/13/23
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If you need a quick and easy dinner recipe try these tender Instant Pot Country Style Ribs! It starts with a coat of yellow mustard, then a flavorful homemade rub and cooked in your pressure cooker. Finish them off with BBQ sauce and quick broil to get it perfectly sticky.
If you have an Instant Pot and you haven’t used it to cook ribs yet, you are going to love this recipe. We love pork ribs around here and one of our favorite recipes is this Instant Pot country style pork ribs. They are tender, falling-off-the-bone ribs that your family is going to love.
What are Country Style Ribs?
Despite the name, they’re not actually ribs, but slices of meat from the pork butt cut. They have a lot of fat marbling which gives them tons of flavor and makes them incredibly tender.
Depending on where you buy yours, they’re often sold boneless. If they do happen to have bones it’s not actually a rib bone. Instead, it’s part of the bone from the shoulder blade.
I guess they ended up being called “ribs” because of the way they’re sliced! They’re meatier than baby back ribs and absolutely delicious!
There are several ways to cook them, including the oven, grill, or smoker but my favorite way is in the Instant Pot. They cook so much faster and they come out so amazing.
Once they’re cooked, I add one extra step that takes them over the top and turns them into sticky finger-licking-good ribs that you will want to make again and again.
These are perfect for a weekend dinner – just add your favorite side dishes (I’m sharing a few favorites in this post!). Everyone loves country rib night at our house – it’s always a hit!
Ingredients
- Country style pork ribs – for this recipe, I use three pounds.
- Classic Yellow Mustard – I like to slather it on the ribs first. No worries, if you don’t like mustard. It acts as a tenderizer for the meat.
- Dry Rub – I like a sweet and smoky rub with a hint of heat. It’s a combination of brown sugar, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili, powder, black pepper, and dry mustard. It adds tons of flavor and helps develop a crust.
- Cooking liquids – the ribs cook in some beef broth and liquid smoke. They help keep the ribs moist and infuse them with tons of flavor.
- BBQ sauce – I brush this on at the end as the finishing touch. Use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce flavor!
Products Needed
How to Season the Ribs
Mix the ingredients for the dry rub in a small bowl.
Place the ribs on a cutting board and rub the mustard on them.
Sprinkle the rub mixture over the ribs and massage it into the meat.
Refrigerate the ribs for at least 30 minutes or for up to 8 hours. The longer they chill, the more flavor you’ll get.
How to Cook Them in an Instant Pot
Pour the broth and liquid smoke into the IP. Stack the ribs inside so they all fit.
Secure the lid and close the steam valve. Choose the manual high-pressure setting and set the timer for 45 minutes.
When the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally (keep the valve closed) for 15 minutes. At that point, you can open the valve and release any remaining pressure.
Sauce and Broil Them
Carefully remove the ribs from the pot and place them on a baking sheet lined with foil. Brush them with the BBQ sauce.
Turn the oven to broil and place the pan underneath the broiler. Broiler them on high for two to three minutes or long enough to caramelize the sauce so it’s sticky.
Now your Instant Pot country ribs are ready to serve!
Side Dish Ideas!
Now that you know how to make the best Instant Pot country ribs, all you need are some amazing sides to go with them. Here are some of our favorites!
- A big scoop of Creamy Corn Macaroni and Cheese is always a winner at our house! Or, try a cool and creamy Macaroni Salad.
- When it’s cold, we love them with some my easy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes or add a Baked Potato with all of your favorite toppings.
- Keep it lighter with some Oven-Roasted Vegetables or some Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans.
- You can’t go wrong with Potato Salad – I have several recipes that pair perfectly with the tender ribs.
Recipe FAQ
Why are my ribs tough?
If your country ribs are tough, most likely they did not cook long enough. For this recipe, I use three pounds of ribs which are perfectly cooked after one hour. They cook at high pressure for 45 minutes and then continue to cook as the steam naturally releases.
How do you know when they are done?
The best way to tell is to check the temperature. I think they’re best once the temperature is around 190°F. This means all of the fat has melted making them very tender. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test them by checking the meat. It should pull away from the bone easily.
Do you have to refrigerate them first?
You don’t have to, but I highly recommend it. Allowing them to chill gives the mustard and dry rub time to absorb into the meat. They will be more tender and more flavorful if you do this step. If you skip it, the ribs will still taste good but won’t have as much flavor.
How long do leftovers keep?
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for three to four days. Sometimes I use the leftover meat to make sandwiches – it’s so good!
Are you ready to make some delicious Instant Pot country style ribs? I know you will love this recipe! Treat yourself and your family to these sticky, smoky, sweet ribs and they will a new family favorite. Enjoy!
More Ways to Use Your Instant Pot
- Juicy, tender Pork Loin is so easy to cook in a pressure cooker! It’s easy enough for weeknights and great for holiday dinners, too!
- I love to make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs. It’s quick and the eggs are so easy to peel!
- Skip the rotisserie chickens at the store and make the best Shredded Chicken in your IP. You can use it to make all kinds of delicious dinners!
- Use your IP to make Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes. It’s a complete meal that cooks all together for easy clean-up.
- Tender, juicy pork bursting with so much flavor! This Instant Pot Pork Carnitas recipe is the perfect family dinner recipe.
If you tried this recipe and loved it, please rate it! A five-star rating below will make my day!
If you snap a photo, please be sure to tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your delicious meal!!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Quick and easy Country Style Ribs cooked in the pressure cooker and slathered with BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds country style pork ribs
- 3 Tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Dry Rub
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together the dry rub ingredients until well combined.
- Place the country style ribs on a cutting board and rub yellow mustard over each piece. Then sprinkle the dry rub evenly on both sides of the ribs and massage into the meat.
- If possible refrigerate for 30 minutes up to 8 hours, but you can immediately cook them there just won’t be as much flavor.
- Pour the beef broth and liquid smoke into the bottom of the Instant Pot. The place ribs in the IP, stacking so they fit.
- Lock the lid on the pressure cooker. Cook on manual, high pressure, for 45 minutes. After the cooking time is finished, use the natural release method for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes release any additional pressure.
- Gently remove the ribs from the pressure cooker and place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce then broil on high for about 3 minutes or until the BBQ sauce is sticky.
Tips
Why are my ribs tough?
If your country ribs are tough, most likely they did not cook long enough. For this recipe, I use three pounds of ribs which are perfectly cooked after one hour. They cook at high pressure for 45 minutes and then continue to cook as the steam naturally releases.
How do you know when they are done?
The best way to tell is to check the temperature. I think they’re best once the temperature is around 190°F. This means all of the fat has melted making them very tender. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test them by checking the meat. It should pull away from the bone easily.
Do you have to refrigerate them first?
You don’t have to, but I highly recommend it. Allowing them to chill gives the mustard and dry rub time to absorb into the meat. They will be more tender and more flavorful if you do this step. If you skip it, the ribs will still taste good but won’t have as much flavor.
How long do leftovers keep?
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for three to four days. Sometimes I use the leftover meat to make sandwiches – it’s so good!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 521kcal (26%), Carbohydrates: 22g (7%), Protein: 45g (90%), Fat: 27g (42%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 164mg (55%), Sodium: 1452mg (63%), Potassium: 877mg (25%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 18g (20%), Vitamin A: 502IU (10%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 81mg (8%), Iron: 3mg (17%)
Paula says
Holy Pig! These are absolutely the best. I made these for my BFF that is a bbq snob from Texas and was asked for the recipe…that’s BIG lol
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made these now, it’s my go to recipe.
I just got home from the Mayo after kicking stage IV lymphoma and my husband asked me what I wanted for dinner – well DUH!
Thank you for sharing this with us
Julie Evink says
Wow, this made my day! I’m honored it’s your go-to and that it impressed a Texas BBQ snob—high praise! Wishing you all the best in your recovery—enjoy your meal!
Mary Addison says
can I use country style beef ribs instead of pork?
Brooke Kill says
Yes you can!
Michael says
made this in the IP a dozen times, always a hit, fall apart tender,great taste, easy, that’s why I love this so much, diner should not be a chore. Served this with mashed potatoes made in the IP, potato salad, and baked beans. Thank you for the recipe.
Julie Evink says
So glad you are enjoying this Michael!
Susan Ellingson says
This was so easy. The ribs were tender and so much flavor! I took your suggestion and served Mac & cheese with some grilled asparagus. I used both bone in and boneless ribs and I recommend both!!
lisa says
can you cook ribs is a slow cooker and be good
Courtney says
https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/crock-pot-ribs/ we do have a recipe that is delicious! 🙂
Pat says
We have gotten away from country ribs. We just could not seem to get them right. Not anymore. Instant Pot just got these back into our good graces.
Courtney says
So easy and so delicious!
Sean Palmeter says
Wow. Just wow. I love that these ribs had flavor all the way through and not just the outside. They did not turn out dry, which has happened a lot to me in the past. They also were so tender it was difficult to remove them intact from the instant pot! My search for a good country style rib recipe ends right here.
Julie Evink says
We just made this for dinner the other night again! We love it just as much, so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting and rating this recipe!
Danielle says
Yummy! These were SO good! The kids are already asking for these again!
Alison says
Best ribs ever! So smart to refrigerate first. Love the liquid smoke flavor.