The unique flavors of baby back ribs glazed with a homemade Dr Pepper BBQ sauce! This easy Instant Pot recipe delivers fall-off-the-bone perfection in under 90 minutes.
Dr Pepper Glazed Instant Pot Ribs
4
servings10
minutes55
minutes850
kcal10
minutes1
hour15
minutesExplore the unique flavors of baby back ribs glazed with a homemade Dr Pepper BBQ sauce! This easy Instant Pot recipe delivers fall-off-the-bone perfection in under 90 minutes.
Ingredients
- Spice Rub
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dry mustard powder
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Ribs and Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce
2 racks baby back ribs approximately 5 lbs
12 oz Dr Pepper
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp ground black pepper
- Alternative Ingredients
Substitute Dr Pepper with root beer for a similar flavor profile.
Use honey instead of brown sugar for a natural sweetness.
Directions
- Spice Blend Preparation – Mix the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne together in a bowl. This blend will help infuse the ribs with rich, deep flavors.
- Ribs Prep and Marinate – Peel off the membrane from the back of the ribs to ensure they’re tender post-cook. Coat the ribs evenly with your prepared spice blend, then refrigerate to marinate anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours, enhancing flavor penetration.
- Instant Pot Setup – Pour the Dr Pepper into the pot, place the trivet inside, and arrange the ribs around the trivet. Secure the lid and cook under HIGH PRESSURE for 25 minutes. Following cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Sauce Cooking – Remove the ribs, then set the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode. Reduce the Dr Pepper liquid by half, which should take around 15 minutes. Combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, and black pepper and simmer the mixture until it thickens, about an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Finishing with a Broil – Place ribs on a baking sheet, generously baste them with the thickened BBQ sauce, and broil for about 4 minutes. This will give the ribs a beautifully caramelized top.
Equipment
- chef’s knife
- instant pot
- measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Baking sheet
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 850kcal
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
- Sodium: 2200mg
- Potassium: 800mg
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 32g
- Protein: 68g
- Vitamin A: 20IU
- Vitamin C: 5mg
- Calcium: 8mg
- Iron: 20mg
