These Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs are so juicy and tender and they only require three ingredients to make: pork ribs, dry rub, and water.
A boneless pork rib can be cooked in a number of different ways, but I guarantee none of them are as good as in the Instant Pot. These ribs turn out so well that it’s the only way I’ll make them anymore.
Since boneless pork meat can be a little low on fat marbling, it’s easy to make them dry by cooking them in the oven or on the grill. They need the extra liquid that they sort of stew in when you make it in the Instant Pot. This ensures they turn out tender.
Why You’ll Love It
- Tender and Flavorful: Instant Pot boneless pork ribs come out incredibly tender and flavorful thanks to the pressure cooking method. The pressure helps to break down the connective tissues in the meat, resulting in ribs that are moist, succulent, and fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Time-Saving: Using the Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time for boneless pork ribs compared to traditional methods like grilling or baking.
- Versatility: Instant Pot boneless pork ribs are incredibly versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes. Whether you prefer a classic barbecue flavor or a tangy teriyaki glaze the Instant Pot can accommodate a variety of seasoning and sauce options.
Mt says: 
A+ great recipe!!
Kim says: These were great! I did IP method and then refrigerated several hours and then put on the grill with BBQ sauce for 10 minutes (along with smashed sweet potatoes that I also prepped in IP.
I have frozen some pork ribs after step 1 (IP) and plan to thaw and put in the grill or broiler some day for
A very last minute meal!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Boneless pork ribs – These ribs are actually cuts of boneless pork shoulder or butt that have been taken off the bone and cut into pieces that resemble ribs. If you can’t find them as country-style ribs in the store, you can buy a pork shoulder and cut your own “ribs”.
- Seasoning – We make a dry rub with paprika, brown sugar, salt, freshly ground black pepper, chili powder, garlic and onion powders. You can skip this step and use a store-bought rub, if you like.
- Water – You’ll need a cup of water for the 6-quart pot, or 1 1/2 cups water for the 8-quart pot.
- BBQ Sauce – Use any BBQ sauce you like – we use Sweet Baby Rays – or a homemade one like this Smoky Bourbon BBQ Sauce.
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Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus to make all of my recipes, but you can use any size or brand of electric pressure cooker. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more water to build steam.
Helpful Tips
- Try to find ribs that have good marbling to the meat and not ones with a huge chunk of fat all in one spot. The marbling will help them become super juicy and not dried out.
- If you want to add more flavor, put the ribs on the grill after cooking in the Instant Pot and glaze a few times with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- These are great to make ahead. If you’re having a party, you can make a huge batch of ribs in the Instant Pot and have them ready to go on the grill. They will take WAY less time this way.
How to Make Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs
Step One: Season the ribs
Mix together all seasonings in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the ribs and pat it so it sticks to the meat. If you have time, allow the flavor of the rub to set in and form a bit of a crust on the meat. It’s great if you can put them in fridge for about 2 hours. But it’s okay if you don’t have the time.
Step Two: Pressure cook
Pour the water into the Instant Pot. Set the ribs inside. Close and lock the lid. Set to cook for 20 minutes on high pressure, then allow a natural release of pressure.
Step Three: Add glaze or sauce (optional)
Open the lid and remove the ribs from the pot. Be careful as you’re doing this because the ribs have gotten exceptionally tender in the cooking process and they are prone to falling apart.
At this point, you can glaze them with the BBQ sauce and serve them. Or you can put them on the grill or under the broiler to char them up a bit, if desired. Serve hot.
What Are Boneless Pork Ribs?
Boneless Pork Ribs are also sold as country-style ribs, but without any bone. The meat comes from the shoulder area of the pig. It’s a fatty, muscular section of the shoulder blade near the loin.
It’s actually a cut of pork shoulder.
They make great “ribs” even if only in name, especially when they are slow cooked to make the meat super tender and delicious. Sometimes these boneless pork ribs contain a lot of fat, which you might want to trim before cooking. It really depends on what you’re able to purchase.
More Instant Pot Ribs To Try
Questions About the Recipe
Can I cook Instant Pot boneless pork ribs from frozen?
You can make these boneless ribs in the Instant Pot from frozen. It will just take longer for them to cook, and they won’t have as much flavor due to not being able to put on the dry rub.
You’ll need to add an additional 10 minutes to the cook time when using frozen country-style ribs. If the ribs are stuck together in one big clump, you will likely need to add 15 minutes instead to make up for the solid block.
I would recommend placing the frozen ribs into the Instant Pot, then sprinkling them with the rub as well as you can.
Can I skip the natural pressure release?
It can be a bit frustrating to have to wait the entire 25 minutes it takes to naturally release the pressure from the Instant Pot. However, when cooking meat that you want to be tender, it’s better to allow the pressure to naturally release.
This is because the meat needs a resting period to relax and rest. If you’re really strapped for time, you can cut down the pressure release time to 15 minutes and it won’t negatively affect the outcome.
What Should I Serve Ribs With?
You can serve this dish with any side dish you like. That’s the best part – they go with everything.
Try serving them with these sides that you can also make in the Instant Pot:
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Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (907 g) boneless pork ribs
- 1/2 tablespoon (3.5 g) paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon (6 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoons (6 g) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) chili powder mild
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.75 g) garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) onion powder
- 1 cup (237 ml) cold water
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Mix together all seasonings in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the ribs and pat it so it sticks to the meat.
- Pour the water into the Instant Pot. Set the ribs inside. Close and lock the lid. Set to cook for 20 minutes on high pressure, then allow a natural release of pressure.
- Open the lid and remove the ribs from the pot. Glaze with BBQ sauce. Broil in the oven to get a char, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Try to find ribs that have good marbling to the meat and not ones with a huge chunk of fat all in one spot. The marbling will help them become super juicy and not dried out.
- If you want to add more flavor, put the ribs on the grill after cooking in the Instant Pot and glaze a few times with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- These are great to make ahead. If you’re having a party, you can make a huge batch of ribs in the Instant Pot and have them ready to go on the grill. They will take WAY less time this way.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
These were great! I did IP method and then refrigerated several hours and then put on the grill with BBQ sauce for 10 minutes (along with smashed sweet potatoes that I also prepped in IP.
I have frozen some pork ribs after step 1 (IP) and plan to thaw and put in the grill or broiler some day for
A very last minute meal!
Thanks Kim! I love the idea of freezing them after cooking. Glad the recipe came out great for you.
A+ great recipe!!
I love these boneless pork ribs. They came out incredible tender.
I tried your bourbon bbq sauce. It was so good on these ribs.
I wish the recipes included how much time to cook per pound of ribs. I never cook 2 pounds – but a 6 pound package:)
I hear ya Laurie. The Instant Pot doesn’t work quite that way. You can probably cook 6 pounds of ribs for the same cooking time. If the ribs feel really packed together then you may need to add a few extra minutes. Let us know if you try cooking the whole 6 pounds and how it comes out.