These Instant Pot Country Style Ribs bring all the bold, smoky barbecue flavor to your dinner table — with a fraction of the time and effort. Thanks to pressure cooking, they become melt-in-your-mouth tender in just under an hour. It’s the perfect way to enjoy hearty, satisfying ribs any day of the week.
Whether you’re planning a cozy weeknight dinner or feeding a hungry crowd, these boneless pork ribs are an unbeatable choice. With a tangy blend of apple cider vinegar, beef broth, and barbecue sauce, every bite is loaded with flavor. And for that extra touch of indulgence, a few minutes under the broiler gives them that crave-worthy caramelized finish. Serve them with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or your favorite sides for a complete meal that never disappoints.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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3 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon onion powder
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1 cup beef broth
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1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
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1/2 cup barbecue sauce (plus more for serving)
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Directions:
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Pat the country-style ribs dry with paper towels. Season all sides with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
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Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode. Add olive oil and brown the ribs in batches for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
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Pour in the beef broth and apple cider vinegar. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
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Stir in the barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Return the ribs to the pot and coat them with the sauce.
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Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 35 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before quick releasing the rest.
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Remove the ribs carefully. Optional: place under broiler for 3-5 minutes with extra barbecue sauce for a caramelized finish.
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Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 35 minutes + 10 min natural release | Total Time: 55 minutes
Kcal: 450 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
The Charm of Country Style Ribs
Country style ribs are a fantastic cut of pork that come from the shoulder end of the loin, offering a rich combination of tender meat and flavorful marbling. Unlike traditional ribs, which are taken from the rib cage, these ribs are meatier and boneless, making them easier to prepare and enjoy for many home cooks. Their hearty texture and succulent taste have made country style ribs a beloved comfort food, especially in Southern and barbecue cuisine traditions.
One of the greatest appeals of country style ribs is their versatility. They can be slow-cooked, grilled, baked, or braised, and they readily soak up any seasoning or sauce you pair them with. The natural fat content in the shoulder cut helps keep the meat juicy during cooking, preventing it from drying out and enhancing its flavor with a buttery richness that balances perfectly with smoky or tangy sauces.
Why Use the Instant Pot for Country Style Ribs?
Traditionally, country style ribs require slow cooking methods to break down the connective tissues and render the meat tender. This usually means hours of slow roasting or simmering, which can be time-consuming. Enter the Instant Pot: a modern kitchen gadget that has revolutionized home cooking by drastically reducing cooking times while preserving — and often enhancing — flavor and tenderness.
Using the Instant Pot to cook country style ribs is a game changer. Thanks to its pressure cooking function, it simulates the slow cooking process but in a fraction of the time. This method seals in the juices, intensifies flavors, and ensures the ribs are fall-apart tender in about 35 minutes under high pressure. For busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings, this is a phenomenal shortcut to enjoying restaurant-quality ribs at home without sacrificing taste or texture.
The Flavor Profile and Sauce
The flavor profile of Instant Pot country style ribs is a beautiful balance of smoky, tangy, and savory notes. The seasoning blend typically includes smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, creating a base that enhances the natural pork flavor without overpowering it.
Adding apple cider vinegar and beef broth to the cooking liquid introduces a subtle acidity and umami depth that cuts through the richness of the pork, ensuring the dish doesn’t feel too heavy. The barbecue sauce is the final flourish, lending sweetness and a smoky tanginess that complements the tender meat perfectly. When finished under the broiler with a glaze of extra barbecue sauce, the ribs develop a slightly caramelized crust, adding texture and visual appeal.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
Country style ribs are incredibly versatile when it comes to pairing. Their rich, saucy profile works wonderfully alongside classic Southern sides such as creamy mashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, or cornbread. The contrasting textures and flavors of these sides balance the meat’s tenderness and sauce’s boldness.
For a lighter option, serve the ribs with a crisp green salad or roasted seasonal vegetables. Corn on the cob and grilled asparagus also complement the smoky, savory flavors well. If you’re hosting a barbecue or potluck, country style ribs are a crowd-pleaser that can stand on their own or be part of a larger spread including mac and cheese, potato salad, and pickled veggies.
Health Considerations
While country style ribs are indulgent and flavorful, they do have a higher fat content compared to leaner pork cuts. Using boneless ribs allows you to trim any excess fat if desired. Cooking methods like pressure cooking help retain moisture, which means you don’t need to add excessive oil or butter to keep the meat juicy.
If you’re mindful of sodium intake, consider using a low-sodium beef broth and a barbecue sauce with reduced sugar and salt. Additionally, pairing these ribs with plenty of vegetables or salads can help create a more balanced meal rich in fiber and nutrients.
Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
To maximize the flavor and texture of your ribs, a few simple tips go a long way. First, browning the ribs before pressure cooking creates a deeper flavor through the Maillard reaction, which enhances the overall dish complexity. Don’t skip this step if you want restaurant-quality results.
Second, allowing for a natural pressure release for about 10 minutes before quick releasing helps the meat fibers relax gently, resulting in more tender ribs. Quick-releasing the pressure immediately can sometimes cause the meat to tighten up.
Lastly, the broiler step for caramelizing the barbecue sauce is optional but highly recommended. It adds a lovely contrast in texture and a beautiful glaze that makes the ribs visually irresistible.
Variations and Customizations
This recipe is incredibly adaptable. You can easily customize the seasoning to suit your taste preferences. For example, adding a bit of cayenne pepper or chili powder will give it a spicy kick. Incorporating herbs like rosemary or thyme can lend an aromatic twist.
For those who prefer a sweeter glaze, try mixing honey or brown sugar into your barbecue sauce before finishing under the broiler. Alternatively, a mustard-based barbecue sauce works wonderfully if you want a tangier variation.
If you want to experiment beyond pork, boneless country style ribs can be swapped with other similar cuts like beef chuck ribs or even chicken thighs for a different but equally satisfying outcome.
Why This Recipe is Perfect for Home Cooks
One of the best things about this Instant Pot country style ribs recipe is its simplicity and reliability. It requires minimal hands-on time and uses pantry-friendly ingredients that many already have on hand. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook, this recipe offers guaranteed success with little fuss.
Pressure cooking removes the stress of monitoring long cooking times or checking meat doneness repeatedly. It’s essentially a “set it and forget it” method that delivers outstanding flavor and texture, making it ideal for busy lifestyles or weeknight dinners.
Conclusion
Instant Pot country style ribs marry traditional Southern comfort food with the convenience of modern cooking technology. This recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy tender, flavorful pork ribs any day of the week without hours of prep or cooking time. The rich combination of seasoning, tangy vinegar, savory broth, and smoky barbecue sauce creates a mouthwatering dish that’s sure to please any crowd.
Whether you’re feeding family or hosting friends, these ribs pair beautifully with a variety of classic sides and customizable flavors. The ease, speed, and delicious results make this recipe a staple to keep in your culinary repertoire. Give it a try, and you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again for quick, hearty, and satisfying meals.
