Have you ever heard of Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot Spare Ribs? These tender, fall-off-the-bone sweet, and tangy tropical pork ribs will be on regular rotation for a dinner menu because they are so simple to make in your instant pot.
Instant Pot Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot Ribs
What’s Great About This Pork Rib Recipe
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of fruit and meat combined, but this pork rib recipe is an absolute exception!!
The pineapple adds an extra tangy sweetness to the sauce and also really helps in caramelizing the ribs for that crispy char flavor.
Also making these spare ribs is a breeze. Just like my Ninja Foodi Beef Short Ribs recipe, the pressure cooker (be it Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi) does all the heavy lifting to help you get these BBQ ribs on the supper table in no time.
Pick your favorite barbeque sauce for these ribs and you’re off to the races!
Easy Ingredients To Make These Ribs
- Spare Ribs – I use spare ribs (also called side ribs) because they’re usually less expensive in the store and I find them just as meaty as back ribs however, if back ribs are your thing, go ahead and use them!
- Canned Crushed Pineapple – You want to use canned pineapple because not only do you utilize the juice the fruit comes in, but it’s definitely more convenient than trying to peel, cut and crush your own.
- BBQ Sauce – The only right sauce to use here is your favorite sauce! If you prefer to try and make your own, give this copycat sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce recipe a try!
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
How To Make Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot Ribs
Not only do they taste phenomenal, but they are also indeed the easiest instant pot pork ribs I have ever made. You will be thanking yourself once you sink your teeth into this easy rib recipe.Β
To get started, season those ribs!
Add the ribs to the inner bowl.
Add the juice!
Tip: The ribs can’t cook properly if there isn’t liquid. That is what helps it pressurize and cook.
Add the pineapple on top of the ribs. Now, we are getting somewhere. π
Set the pot on SEAL, dial in the time, and let the Instant Pot do its thing! While you are cooking the ribs, it’s time to make up the basting sauce. This sauce is so important because it will make the pineapple ribs tangy and delicious.
Brush on the sauce and broil! Watch them and make sure they don’t burn and don’t forget to have some sauce on the side for extra dipping if you’d like.Β
I would take the ribs in a slightly different direction if you’re not using the BBQ sauce. Try using garlic chili sauce or even teriyaki sauce. Both of those sauces would pair well with the pineapple used in the recipe. Lastly, if you wanted, you could instead of using the juice to help pressure cook, use water or chicken broth instead. Then use all the reserved juice from the can (adding more fruit juice if you need it), bring it to a boil, and make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. Then simply use that mixture to baste in the crisping/broiling step.
Yes, you can use frozen ribs when you make these barbecue pork ribs recipe! That is the beauty of cooking in the Instant Pot because it cooks frozen meat in no time. Just add about 6-8 extra minutes to the Instant Pot cooking time when you are preparing the ribs to ensure they get cooked all the way through.
Storage and Reheating Cooked Ribs
If for some crazy reason, you don’t eat all the ribs they’ll stay great in the fridge, in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
When reheating, heat the oven to 250 degrees F. I prefer to cover them with foil, so they don’t dry out. Then reheat them for 20-30 minutes. Set a heat-safe bowl of water in the oven too, to help put steam in the air, so the pineapple ribs stay moist in case there are any open seams in the foil. I typically put it on the pan next to the ribs.
What Pairs Well With Barbeque Spare Ribs?
There are so many tasty sides that go great with these yummy barbecue pork ribs! I wanted to share a few of my favorites for you to try:
- Honey Butter Cinnamon Sweet Potato Fries
- Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes With Caramelized Onions And Bacon
- Tangy And Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Bacon Cheddar Buns
- Instant Pot Loaded Mashed Potatoes
I hope you’ll find these Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot Ribs delicious as I do! The Instant Pot makes fixing ribs such an easy job!! Did you change up the recipe at all? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!!
Thanks so much for stopping by The Salty Pot today and I hope you have a fantastic day!
~Joanne
Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot Spare Ribs
Pineapple BBQ Instant Pot ribs!!! These ribs are incredibly delicious and so simple to make! Sweet & tangy, these instant pot ribs are tender with that tropical pineapple flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 large rack of pork side ribs
- 2 cans pineapple, crushed (2x20oz) (see notes)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite)
- ΒΎ teaspoon garlic powder
- Β½ teaspoon onion powder
- as desired, seasoning salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried chili flakes (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
- Season the pork ribs with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders. Cut the rack into sections so that it fits nicely into the instant pot insert.
- Put the ribs in the pot and add 1 cup of the reserved pineapple juice.
- Also, add one drained can of the crushed pineapple
- Put the lid on and turn the toggle switch to “sealing”
- Select manual high pressure for 25 minutes. After cooking time is up, let it do a natural release for 5 minutes and then expel the rest of the steam by doing a quick release.
- While the ribs are cooking, in a sauce pan, add a β cup of reserved pineapple liquid. If there isn’t enough, simply use water.
- Add the second drained can of pineapple, the bbq sauce, and the chili flakes if you're using them.
- Heat to a boiling point and then reduce heat to simmer. If you find the sauce is a bit too runny, just simmer to reduce the sauce to a consistency you prefer.
- When the pin drops in the IP lid after completing the natural release, remove the lid and carefully remove the ribs onto a foil lined baking sheet.
- Brush on generous amounts of sauce over the ribs and broil for 2 – 3 minutes or until you begin to see some color develop on the ribs. Be very careful to not let them burn!
- Remove from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!!
Notes
** Drain both cans of crushed pineapple but reserve the juice from both cans.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: ΒΌ rackAmount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 916mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 2gSugar: 32gProtein: 9g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Vieson Sharon says
We donβt like BBQ Sauce. What else can I use or just omit it?
Joanne says
Hi Vieson! I’ve answered your question in the body of the post π
shawna akins says
Can you do the recipe in a crock pot and cook for several hours?
Joanne says
I don’t see why not, Shawna. If you try it, please let me know, I’d love to know how it worked out!
Ashley says
I’m new to the instapot… am I suppose to cook the ribs for 25 minutes per pound? Or only 25 minutes total? My husband brought home 3.5lbs of St. Louis pork ribs… I’ve never made ribs before please help!
Joanne says
Hey Ashley! Sorry to get back to you so late. It was a combined time of 25 minutes. Did you make them? How did it turn out for you?
Kari says
How many pounds is considered a large rack?
Joanne says
Hi Kari! You’d want to shoot for about 3 – 4lbs π
Christine Ostler says
My instapot doesn’t have a manual button can I just use pressure cook
Joanne says
Yes, as long as you can also dial up the required time, it should be no problem! π
Jennifer says
If I donβt want the actual pineapple pieces can I just poor pineapple juice on them?
Joanne says
Hey Jennifer, thanks for commenting with you question! Ok, so.. I dont know if I would pour pineapple juice over them.. BUT.. if you don’t like the big chunks of pineapple, how about blending the pineapple into a puree, and then using it from that way?
Lynda says
Do you put the ribs directly into the pineapple juice or on the trivet??? Thx
TheSaltyPot says
Hi Lynda – yes, I put the ribs on the trivet. Thanks for asking!
Terri says
Can you cook them another way? I don’t have an instant pot.
Joanne says
Hi Terri! You sure can. You can do them in the oven, just like my Oven Roasted Low and Slow BBQ Ribs. https://thesaltypot.com/low-and-slow-bbq-ribs/