Cooking boneless pork ribs with BBQ sauce is and classic American comfort food as it gets…especially during the summer!
Making instant pot country style ribs is a hearty and easy meal you can enjoy on a weeknight and wait to start the recipe when you get home. Better yet…boneless ribs in an instant pot mean you can enjoy them all-year-round! It’s a WHOLE LOTTA YUM!
What Are Country Style Ribs?
Country style ribs are a type of pork meat that comes from the blade end of the pork loin, close to the shoulder. You can often find them at the grocery store either boneless or with bone attached.
Boneless pork ribs do not contain rib bones like you’d find with a more expensive cut of meat like baby back ribs. They’re a popular pork recipe served like “ribs” that are much lower in price than pork back ribs.
Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs
While we used to make boneless country ribs in the crock-pot, ever since buying an instant pot, country ribs in a pressure cooker is our new favorite method for cooking country-style pork ribs.
While the crockpot still does a good job, cooking instant pot country style ribs turns out even better. Not only can you cook the boneless country-style pork ribs in under an hour, but they are incredibly juicy and delicious ~ just as if you’d been slow-cooking them all day in the oven or a slow cooker.
Unless you’re serving dinner to someone who doesn’t eat meat, the country-style ribs in an instant pot can work for everyone!, They are gluten-free and dairy-free already, and to be paleo, Whole30, low-carb, or keto, you’ll just need to make simple ingredient swaps that are mentioned below in the recipe.
Why You’ll Love This!
- Country-style ribs are an inexpensive cut of meat, which makes this a great budget meal.
- No browning is needed beforehand, this is a dump and go recipe that preps in 5 minutes.
- You can do a quick broil or grill of the ribs after they’re done in the pressure cooker to get that fresh grilled appearance.
- The country ribs in instant pot is easy to adapt to a variety of diet plans and dietary restrictions
- It takes just 4 basic ingredients!
Serve the instant pot country ribs with boiled corn on the cob and our healthy coleslaw recipe to make a complete meal that takes less than 30 minutes that will please everyone in your home!
And if you’re looking for more ways to cook ribs for dinner, be sure to try our instant pot baby back ribs or the BEST ribs in an oven!
Ingredient Notes
There are very few ingredients in this instant pot country-style ribs recipe, so that makes it even easier on busy weeknights. Before purchasing a pressure cooker, I would’ve never guessed that I could start making the main dish like instant pot boneless ribs after work and be eating it within the hour.
- Boneless country-style ribs
- Dry rub for ribs seasoning mix
- BBQ sauce (plus more to add after cooking)- our favorite is Baby Ray’s, but here’s a sugar-free sauce you can make to keep this lower carb.
- Broth – beef or chicken
The exact quantities you’ll need are at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
We love to make our own dry rub seasoning without sugar, it uses common pantry ingredients and it keeps for months. This is the same rub we use for our dry rub oven-baked baby back ribs recipe. You, of course, can use your own favorite brand of rub mix for the instant pot country-style ribs.
Supplies Used in The Recipe
- An Instant Pot – we LOVE this model!!
- A basting brush for spreading the BBQ sauce
- Long handled rubber tongs
Step by Step Instructions
Making instant pot boneless pork ribs just requires a few simple steps! You’ll be adding the rib rub, layering the 4 ingredients in the pot, pressure cooking, and broiling for a few minutes as an optional step.
Spread the Rub
Spread the dry rub evenly on both sides of the ribs, gently pressing it into the meat so it sticks and doesn’t fall off when you’re cooking the pork.
If you’re making our homemade pork rib rub, you’ll, of course, want to prep that before you get started cooking! Any of your favorite store-bought brands will also work.
Add Ingredients to the Pot
Pour the beef or chicken broth into the bottom of your Instant Pot and insert your instant pot rack. Add the ribs to your Instant Pot, long-handled rubber tongs work great for this.
Pour the BBQ sauce over the ribs, and spread it evenly with a basting brush.
Pressure Cook
Cook on high temperature on the Manual setting for 45 minutes. Depending on your Instant Pot model, this might also be called Pressure Cook.
Natural Release the pressure for 15 minutes before removing the lid.
Carefully remove the ribs to keep them intact and spread them with more BBQ sauce if desired.
Serve
As an OPTIONAL STEP, if you want that “just grilled” appearance you can broil the ribs in oven on the top rack for 3-5 minutes OR you can cook them on the grill.
Serve with all of your favorite summer-time sides.
Enjoy!!
Recipe Tips
- Take the country ribs out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking, taking the chill off of them helps ribs to cook more evenly.
- Instead of doing a quick broil at the end, serve the ribs straight from the pressure cooker. Browning on a grill is another option.
- Boneless country-style ribs also make a great substitution for pulled pork instead of using pork butt.
- Make the ribs healthier by using a homemade rub without sugar and a BBQ sauce that doesn’t have it either.
- If you’re running low on BBQ sauce, don’t add it to the pot and just pressure cook the recipe in broth. And then save the BBQ to baste on after cooking.
- If your ribs have bones, just add a few more minutes to the cooking time.
Common Questions
What Goes With Country Style Ribs?
All the summer classics are a fantastic choice to serve with country-style pork ribs!
- Coleslaw
- Caesar salad
- Corn on the cob
- Roasted vegetables
- Baked beans
- Macaroni and cheese
What if I Have Bone-in Country Ribs?
Since this is an instant pot country-style ribs recipe using BONELESS ribs, you might be wondering how to make this same recipe using bone-in country ribs.
Simply follow the exact same recipe except you’ll add about 3 minutes to the pressure cooker cooking time. By some chance, if your ribs aren’t “fall-off-the-bone” just add 2 more minutes to the cooking time!
Are Country Ribs Keto?
If you’re on a low carb or keto diet or are simply just trying to avoid sugar, we’ll give you easy substitution ideas to make this a no sugar and keto-friendly instant pot pork ribs recipe.
While the instant pot pork country ribs “as is” is low carb since you don’t use much sweetener, as written there are 5 net carbs per 4 ounces serving. You can make it completely without sugar by using a sugar-free pork rub and a BBQ sauce that doesn’t add sugar either.
Are Country Ribs Even Ribs?
So you might be surprised to learn this, but country-style pork ribs aren’t “technically” ribs at all! They’re much more like pork chops than something like baby back ribs.
Country pork ribs are mostly meat and have much less fat than ribs. People generally cook their instant pot pork country ribs in that fall-off-the “bone” fashion until the meat is very soft.
More Rib Recipes
More Pressure Cooker Recipes
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork Recipe
- Instant Pot Beer Brats
- Instant Pot Mississipi Pot Roast Recipe
- Cooking Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot
Please leave a review if you make our instant pot country ribs recipe! We love feedback from readers, plus it helps others too.
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Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Easy and melt-in-your-mouth pressure cooker country style ribs that only take 1 hour to cook. These instant pot country pork ribs will become your new favorite way to make boneless ribs.
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb boneless country style pork ribs (boneless or bone-in)
- 2 T dry rub seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce + more to baste after cooking
- 1 C beef or chicken broth
Instructions
- Spread the dry rub mixture on both sides of the country ribs
- Add the trivet to the bottom of the pressure cooker and add the broth to the bottom of your instant pot.
- Lay the ribs on the trivet, stacking the ribs if needed to get them to fit.
- Pour about 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce onto the ribs and spread the sauce evenly with a rubber tip basting brush.
- Cook at high temperature for 40 minutes on the manual/pressure cook setting (depending on your IP model). Natural release the pressure for 15 minutes.
- Remove the ribs carefully and baste them with more sauce if desired.
- Optional - broil the ribs for 3-5 minutes to give them a grilled appearance. Enjoy!
Notes
- Take the country ribs out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking, taking the chill off of them helps ribs to cook more evenly.
- Instead of doing a quick broil at the end, serve the ribs straight from the pressure cooker. Browning on a grill is another option.
- Boneless country-style ribs also make a great substitution for pulled pork instead of using pork butt.
- Make the ribs healthier by using a homemade rub without sugar and a BBQ sauce that doesn't have it either.
- If your ribs weigh more than 4 lbs you might need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. If they aren't fall off the bone tender after cooking, just add a few more minutes to the cooking time; the pot will come back to pressure very quickly.
If your ribs have bones, the cooking time will be the same.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 4 ozAmount Per Serving Calories 384Total Fat 25gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 126mgSodium 1049mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 0gSugar 4gProtein 35g
Michael Soto says
Used this recipe tonight. It was incredibly delicious. My wife had seconds on everything. I served with, (a slightly doctored up), Lipton Onion Dry soup, and some marinated, then grilled fresh asparagus.
I did, in fact, prepare your rub recipe and it was good. I cut down on the cayenne since my wife does not tolerate food that is too spicy, lol. I really loved the chili powder and the cumin. The only thing I just had to add was some rubbed sage. It made a huge difference. As to the liquid in the instant pot, I used the beef broth, but here again, I wanted a more flavorful steaming brine. To the beef broth I added 1/2 of a rough chopped, (sacrificial onion), I call it that because it will disintegrate by the end of cooking. I also added some aromatics … Tyme, basil, and oregano, plus two bay leaves. I also threw in some Worchester sauce and some soy sauce. I opted to put the BBQ sauce into the brine itself, as I did not want ANYTHING to mess with my rub. The last thing, as I layered my ribs in the rack, I placed sliced onions in between the ribs.
I cut the cooking time down to 35 minutes, as I wanted to add the BBQ sauce and finish on the grill with my asparagus. I am glad I did this, as they were already falling off the bone. In retrospect, and in the future, I will only pressure cook no more than 30 minutes, (assuming I will finish on the grill. These were so tender, I had to CAREFULLY get them on the grill and they came out simply amazing. It could not have tasted any better. Super great recipe and I have it printed out and saved in my folder of “classic Tastes!”
Michael Soto says
I meant to say … Lipton Dry Onion Soup, OVEN ROASTED POTATOES. Sorry!
WholeLottaYum says
I’m so glad that you and your wife loved the recipe! It’s one of our favorite go-to’s as well. I appreciate you taking the time to include recipe adaptions to give readers other ideas to try. Jen
Eve says
If you are cooking 7 lbs. of ribs is the cooking time the same? Also, are the amounts of the ingredients the same? Thank you.
WholeLottaYum says
The 1 cup of liquid would stay the same but you’d need to double the BBQ sauce and rib rub. The cooking time “could” be a little bit longer but I’d say to still cook it at the same time as the recipe…If you take off the lid and the ribs aren’t “fall off the bone ready,” then just add 2-3 more minutes and cook them a little bit longer. The pot will come to pressure very quickly if you need to add a little more time. Let me know how they turn out! 🙂
Pamela says
I made these tonight with your rub recipe, sooooop delicious!! I do have one question, when using the rack in the instant pot is it folded so it sits close to the bottom or unfolded and standing upright? Mine was low down and sat more in the liquid making them wetter then the picture. They were still amazing, I just put them in the oven for a little bit to dry them out.
Thank you for an anwesome recipe, per my family’s request I will be making them again!
WholeLottaYum says
I have the rack open and it only sits about 1″ above the liquid. I’m not sure why they would be more in the liquid? As long as they taste good, the extra liquid might just make them extra juicy!
Molly Z says
Just made these ribs tonight and they were fantastic! I had bone-in ribs and kept the cooking time as stated in recipe…could barely get them out of instant pot in one piece as they were so tender and falling off the bone! Thank you so much for this recipe! I’ll definitely be making these ribs again.
WholeLottaYum says
Thank you for the feedback!
Hannah J Parrish says
if you have them sealed in foodsaver bags, I would just cover them in water…. Fill the sink with water and immerse the ribs still sealed. They will thaw pretty quickly and I figure they will turn out better. I have tied this method and it has worked well for me. While I haven’t tried cooking ribs or butts from frozen, I recently read an article concerning how this practice may make for a tougher piece of meat….. so take that for what its worth, which may not be much….
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Amy Goodman says
Awesome they were so tender and fall apart I used Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce and I broiled them for about 3 mins so so good
Mary says
I made these the other night for dinner. While the flavor was spot on, I found that mine were a little over cooked. Next time I’ll cook for 30 and then NPR for 15 to see if that helps. It could have also been the cut on the ribs too.
With that said – these are on our camping menu now; if I can find a recipe that my picky eater son will go back for seconds then it’s obviously a winner!
WholeLottaYum says
Hi Mary! I’m glad you enjoyed the ribs! Finding things picky kids will eat is a big deal (I have one too!) Usually when ribs are a little tough it’s because they need to cook a little longer, not less time. Just pop them back in for a couple more minutes+ until they’re fall off the bone or letting them stay in longer with natural release.
Jessie says
Do you thaw them or cook them frozen?
WholeLottaYum says
I thaw them first, you can cook from frozen but I’m not 100% sure on how much longer to cook them for since I haven’t tried that. You could add 5 minutes to the cooking time and if they aren’t cooked through, then add a couple more minutes.
Hillcorob says
Made this yesterday, bone in and w/o BBQ sauce. 50 minutes 20psi. My wife and I both loved it. Thank you. Hillcorob.
WholeLottaYum says
I’m so glad you and your wife loved the Instant Pot ribs!
Michelle says
You mentioned you could make this recipe low carb by using no bbq sauce or using a low carb sauce, however looking at your nutritional info it already looks low carb to me. So I was wondering if your nutritional info is based on the recipe that includes the baby rays sauce or if you were figuring it with the sugar free ingredients. It would be awesome to be able to use the regular bottled sauce and only have 6 carbs. Thanks! It looks delicious and can’t wait to try it this wk.
WholeLottaYum says
Hi Michelle! The 5 net carbs per serving includes the Sweet Baby Rays sauce. It does have a little bit of sugar in it, so I just wanted to give another option for people looking for sugar free sauce too. Enjoy!
Hamilton Dias de Souza says
I need to to thank you for this good read!! I definitely loved every bit of it.
I have got you book marked to check out new things you post…
Jennifer says
How would you change the recipe for bone in county style ribs?
WholeLottaYum says
Boneless and bone-in should still take the same amount of time. If you ever make ribs and they aren’t fall apart tender, that means they aren’t done yet. Simply put them back in the instant pot and cook them for 2-3 more minutes.