Cooking pork spare ribs in an Instant Pot is one of the appliance’s best uses. Ribs are incredibly flavorful but take hours with traditional smoking or slow-roasting methods. Grilling is great, but weeknights often don’t allow the time required. That’s where a pressure cooker shines.
Smoked ribs can take around six hours, which makes them impractical for weekday dinners. But pork spare ribs are so tasty they deserve to be made more often than just on weekends.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and want background or tips, Dad Got This has a page with Instant Pot basics and resources.
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Speaking of Spare Ribs, what exactly is a “Spare Rib”?
When shopping for pork ribs you’ll commonly find three types: spare ribs, St. Louis cut, and baby backs. Baby back ribs come from the upper part of the rib cage, beneath the loin. They’re shorter, curved, and often a bit meatier between and on top of the bones. Because of their texture and size, baby backs are the most popular ribs in the U.S.
The St. Louis cut is simply a trimmed spare rib—spare ribs with the rib tips and sternum removed to form a rectangular rack. Buying a full slab of spare ribs and trimming them yourself is cost-effective and gives you extra pieces like rib tips and the brisket flap, which are great for stir-fries or tacos.
What inspired this dish?
Dad is a Star Wars and Disney fan. When Galaxy’s Edge opened at Hollywood Studios he visited and tried the “Smoked Kaadu Ribs” at Docking Bay 7. The dish was Star Wars–themed, but Dad found the ribs overcooked and too cartilaginous, so he thought he could make a better version.
Dad thought he could do better!
He recreated the flavors he enjoyed—Korean-inspired notes like soy, pineapple, and ginger—and adapted them for the Instant Pot. This recipe borrows elements from Korean kalbi, using soy and pineapple in the sauce to balance savory, sweet, and tangy flavors that complement spare ribs beautifully.
How hard are ribs to cook in the Instant Pot?
Ribs are one of the easiest dishes to make in an Instant Pot. You can cook a whole rolled rack or cut ribs into single bones. Season them, add aromatics and a cup of liquid, then pressure-cook to your preferred texture. For fall-off-the-bone ribs, 18 minutes works well; for a firmer, chewier bite with single-cut ribs, you can reduce the time to around 10 minutes. After pressure cooking, finish ribs under a broiler or on a grill to develop a caramelized, charred exterior.
Instant Pot Spare Ribs
Equipment
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Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 Slab of pork spare ribs (about 5 lbs)
- 1 tablespoon Garlic powder (for ribs)
- 1 tablespoon Onion powder (for ribs)
- 1 tablespoon Sea salt (for ribs)
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper (for ribs)
- 1 tablespoon Minced garlic (for pot)
- 1 teaspoon Ground ginger (for pot)
- 1 cup Water
- 1 can Pineapple tidbits (drained)
- ½ cup Soy sauce (for sauce)
- ¼ cup White vinegar (regular or spiced)
- ¼ cup Honey
- 1 tablespoon Minced garlic (for sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Ground ginger (for sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder (for sauce)
Instructions
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Trim the ribs by removing the tips and the flap, then remove the silver skin from the back. Cut the rack into single bones or leave as larger sections.
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Combine 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon sea salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Evenly coat the ribs with the spice mixture.
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Place the trivet in the Instant Pot.
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Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 cup water to the pot.
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Stack the ribs inside the Instant Pot on the trivet.
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Secure the lid and set the pressure valve to sealing.
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Select Manual/Pressure Cook and set to 18 minutes for fall-off-the-bone ribs (reduce time for firmer texture).
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While the ribs cook, drain the juice from the pineapple can and reserve the tidbits.
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In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, pour in the reserved pineapple juice, then add ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup honey, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon onion powder.
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Whisk and bring the sauce to a boil. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces by about half (roughly 10–15 minutes).
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Stir half of the reserved pineapple tidbits into the reduced sauce.
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Preheat the oven to broil.
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When the Instant Pot finishes, allow a 10-minute natural release, then switch the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure.
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Remove the ribs and trivet. Place the ribs on a sheet pan with a wire rack and brush them with the sauce.
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Broil on the oven rack one step below the top for 5–10 minutes, until nicely browned and caramelized. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
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Top with the remaining pineapple tidbits and serve with your favorite sides.
Video
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Mention @DadGotThis or tag #DadGotThis!Dad hopes you try his rib recipe and share feedback. He enjoys hearing how readers like his recipes.