Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs are the household’s favorite weeknight dinner. No more waiting for hours, instead, use your Instant Pot. Easy to make delicious fall-off-the-bone country-style ribs.
what are country-style ribs?
Country-style pork ribs are a type of pork rib cut that comes from the shoulder blade area of the pig. They are meatier than the back ribs and have a slight chewiness to them. They are most often marinated, rubbed with spices, and slow-cooked on the grill or in the oven until they are tender and juicy. Country-style pork ribs are a favorite among barbecue enthusiasts!
For this recipe, I used bone-in-country-style pork ribs. I also used my Instant Pot and for that reason dinner will be ready sooner.
OTHER RECIPE IDEAS FOR DINNER :
ingredients notes
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED FOR THE RUB:
- Garlic powder – is the best choice when making any kind of rub. It is convenient and easily stored in the pantry for a long time.
- Onion powder – is as flavorful as garlic powder and as easily stored also.
- Chili powder – is a blend of different kinds of peppers and spices, including cumin, peppercorn, oregano, and sometimes salt.
- Cumin – has a sweet, peppery, and warm flavor that I love to add to marinades and rubs.
- Smoked paprika – came from different dried chili peppers that were crushed and smoked under an oak fire. This process gives the red powder a rich smoky flavor. Sometimes I make stews with smoked paprika that gives them a Southern flavor.
- Salt and pepper – let the taste stands out. They’re surely the base of any flavor.
THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS:
- Bone-in Country Ribs – are what fits the budget. I’m always on the lookout for what’s on sale. It happens that they were on sale and they looked so fresh and meaty.
- BBQ – when it comes to bbq sauce, it’s your choice. You can either make it or use store-bought. I used STUBB’S “sweet heat”
- Broth – is definitely a personal choice. You can use chicken broth or beef broth.
how to make Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
MAKE THE RUB:
- In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, sea salt, and red chili pepper flakes. Use a spoon or small whisk to mix the spices. Set it aside until ready to rub on the meat.
- Place the meat on a baking sheet pan ( I lined the pan with parchment while letting them rest for at least an hour).
- Sprinkle half of the spice rub over the ribs, and using your fingers, massage it into the ribs. Flip and make sure to use up all the spice rub on the other side of the ribs. Set aside for an hour.
COOK IN THE INSTANT POT:
- Get familiar with the setting instructions of your Instant Pot.
- Fill the inner pot with broth (beef or chicken will work), apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine the liquid.
- Place the trivet in the middle of the pot. Use tongs to place the meat inside (spread them out, and make sure they’re not sitting on top of each meat).
- Set the pressure on high, for 24 minutes. Place on “seal”
- When done, let it “vent” until no more steam.
- Line a baking sheet pan with foil.
- Remove the meat from the pot and place them on a prepared pan. Reserve half a cup of the liquid.
- Preheat the oven to broil (on low).
- Pour the reserved liquid onto the meat. Brush them with half a cup of BBQ sauce.
- Broil for 4 minutes. Flip halfway and brush with more bbq sauce.
- Brush the ribs with the remaining BBQ sauce before serving.
Pro Tips
- FOR THE RUB: The blend of spices for the rub is also excellent in case you like to use a different type of meat like beef or chicken.
- BROILING: In order to charbroil the meat, place the baking sheet on the middle rack. If you set the broiler on HI heat, it only needs to broil for 2-3 minutes. And for LOW heat it needs 4-5 minutes. Don’t let the meat dry out; generously brush it with bbq sauce.
- PREP: I like to meal prep and for this reason, I cook in double batches. I keep my meat in a ziplock bag with the rub overnight. Sometimes I place them in the freezer if I’m not cooking them until later in the week or the following week.
- BONE-IN OR BONELESS: Country Style Ribs are the meat from the shoulder and are generally boneless. If they have bones they’re not rib bones but the scapula or shoulder blades. If you like to use baby back ribs or short ribs instead, those are perfect for this recipe too. Bone-in or boneless country-style ribs will work.
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Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Tongs
- Small bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
SPICE RUB
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds bone-in Country Style ribs
- 1 cup broth, chicken or beef
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce, I bought STUBBS "sweet heat"
Instructions
MAKE THE SPICE RUB
- See NOTE #1 if you're leaning more toward Italian flavor for your spice rub. In a small bowl combine all the spice rub ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, sea salt, and red chili powder. Use a spoon or small whisk, and mix the spice until well combined. Set aside until ready for the meat.
COOK THE MEAT
- Use a platter or baking sheet pan. Place the ribs on the pan, sprinkle half of the spice rub, and using your fingers, massage the rub onto the ribs.
- Flip the meat use the rest of the spice rub and massage the other side of the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Check the setting of your Instant Pot (see NOTE #2 if you don't have Instant Pot). In the inner pot, combine, broth, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Place the trivet in the middle of the pot.
- Place the ribs on top of the trivet, and make sure they are not sitting on top of each meat. Close the Instant Pot, turn the knob to seal setting, and cook for 24 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet pan with foil. Carefully turn the knob to the vent, and let the steam out before opening (or check your Instant Pot cooking instructions).
- Preheat the oven to broil. Place the cooked ribs on the prepared baking pan. Reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid. Pour it onto the meat and brush them with 1/2 cup BBQ sauce. Broil for 4 minutes. Serve with potatoes or steamed rice. See NOTE #3 for side dishes.
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Notes
frequently asked questions
- CAN I SEASON THE MEAT AND FREEZE THEM UNCOOKED:
Yes, if you think you’re not going to have time until the following week or even 2-3 weeks, they will still stay fresh and absorb all the flavors. Thaw the meat first before cooking.
- ARE RIBS BUDGET-FRIENDLY FOR MY MEAL PLANNING:
Meat in general nowadays is very costly, particularly ribs. However, from time to time they go on sale and that’s when I buy them in bulk and fill up my freezer. So, keep an eye on those sale papers you get in the mail (although most of them are junk). This is how I get the most out of my buck!
- CAN I SHRED THE MEAT OFF THE RIBS AND MAKE SOUP:
Yes, they are excellent to add to your soup. I use my Instant Pot, fill the inner pot with half water and set it to pressure to cook for 45 minutes. The meat is fall-off-the-bone goodness. Check out my recipe for Beef and Vegetable Soup, the meat is not shredded but I thought you might like the spices I used.
- CAN I USE THIS RECIPE TO MAKE BBQ PULL PORK SANDWICHES:
That’s a wonderful idea! One thing I will change though is to cook the ribs a little longer and no need to broil them. I will cook the ribs in the liquid for 30-40 minutes until they fall off the bone. Then smothered them with your favorite BBQ sauce.
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Hi there! Nice to meet you. My name is Jen.
Hello, nice to meet you! I’m Jen, a mom of 2 wonderful girls. I love to prepare home-cooked meals. Cooking and planning your meals might sound like another chore added to your already long list of things to do. Believe me, I’ve been there. Surely, cooking more meals at home is worth all the effort. After years of cooking for my family and teaching culinary classes, I can honestly say that I have more control over the quality of the ingredients I use. It’s important to realize that when you cook better you eat better.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring and you don’t have to eat the same thing repeatedly. There are ways we can naturally enhance our food’s flavor and enjoy home-cooked meals.