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ribs on the grill with bbq sauce
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5 from 5 votes

SMOKED BABY BACK PORK RIBS IN PRESSURE COOKER

These baby back pork ribs are the most delicious and tender ribs you will ever make. The homemade sweet'n'sour BBQ sauce will give the perfect kick to baby back pork ribs. You will be licking your fingers for sure.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Grilling5 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bbq, bbq sauce, instant pot, pressure cooker, ribs, summer
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 280kcal
Author: Julia

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker

Ingredients

For the ribs

  • 4 pounds (1.5 kg) 2 full racks baby back pork ribs
  • 3 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp hickory liquid smoke
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tbsps canola oil

For smokey BBQ sauce

  • 1 cube chicken bouillon
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp hickory liquid smoke
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp mustard

Instructions

For the Baby Back Pork Ribs

  • Clean, wash the Baby Back Ribs and dry with paper towel. Remove the white membrane from the back of the ribs with a knife. Use butter knife and paper towel; membrane might be slipping through the fingers. Cut the ribs with a knife in sections, about 4–5 ribs at a time.
  • Season the pork ribs with salt, pepper, red paprika and rub minced garlic in the ribs. Reheat canola oil in the pressure cooker on medium-high heat. (If you are using Instant Pot, it's sear button option on high).  Sear the ribs on each side for 2-3 minute.
  • Once seared, remove the ribs from pressure cooker and place them on a plate, set aside. Cut onion on large pieces and add in pressure cooker. Stir and cook for 2 minutes, add water, liquid smoke and stack the ribs back in the pressure cooker.
  • Close the lid of pressure cooker and check if safety button is on right position. If you are using traditional pressure cooker, cook first 15 minutes on high heat, then turn on medium heat and cook for another 30 minutes. If you are using Instant Pot, choose pressure cook program and set it for 45 minutes high pressure.
  • Turn off the heat and release the pressure, either naturally (let it sit for 10 minutes until the pressure will be released) or press the button release pressure manually. Open the lid carefull and remove the ribs one by one from the pressure cooker. Place them on baking sheet.
  • Now you have 2 options. You either preheat you BBQ or oven.

Oven option

  • Preheat oven 450 F/232 C and brush over the ribs 3/4 of the homemade smokey BBQ sauce. Bake on middle rack, for 20 minutes or until the sauce starts to caramelize. At the end brush over the ribs the rest of the BBQ sauce and let stand on the counter for 5-10 minutes. Serve with your favourite side.

BBQ option

  • Reheat BBQ on medium heat, place baby back ribs directly on the BBQ and brush the ribs lightly with BBQ sauce. Turn the ribs on other side, but only once the BBQ sauce lightly starts to caramelize (in about 1-2 minutes). Turn the ribs 3-4 times. If your ribs are already so tender and starts to fall apart, then brush the ribs once and turn them only once. Finishing the ribs with last touch of BBQ sauce before serving

For the Smokey BBQ Sauce

  • While you pressure cooker is cooking your ribs, you can get ready smokey BBQ sauce.
  • Place the chicken bouillon cube in medium bowl and pour over hot water. Mash it with fork to combine with water.
  • Add all the other ingredients for BBQ sauce, stir with wooden spatula and brush over the Baby Back Pork Ribs.

Notes

  • This recipe is suited for traditional and electric Instant Pot pressure cooker. 
  • I recommend always remove the membrane on the pork ribs. You will enjoy more these tender baby back pork ribs.
  • BBQ sauce is smokey flavoured, you can either omit the hickory smoke and add Tabasco or any other hot sauce to spice up the BBQ sauce.
  • The pork ribs has to be divided in portions of 4-5 ribs, to fit the pressure cooker.
  • Always read safety instructions, that comes with your pressure cooker, as these may vary from one type to another. Also cooking instructions might be slightly different/adjusted for your type of pressure cooker. ALWAYS consult first cooking instruction booklet of your pressure cooker, before following cooking instructions in this recipe.