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Buffalo Ribs in the Instant Pot

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Satisfy your cravings for buffalo wings and ribs all in one dish. These buffalo ribs are loaded with spicy heat and cooked until tender in the instant pot.

close up of platter of pressure cooker baby back ribs coated in wing sauce with bottle of wing sauce in back ground

These ribs are the perfect game day food. They are a mashup of two favorites, tender baby back ribs and spicy buffalo sauce.

The best part is the instant pot makes getting tender ribs faster and easier than ever before!

We love hosting get togethers to watch football. It is a great way to get our friends together and enjoy a little yelling at the TV screen.

If we are being completely honest, however, the snack spread is a big reason we enjoy watching the games. There is just something about tailgate and home-gating snacks that make them extra delicious.

pouring buffalo wing sauce over raw baby back ribs.

My husband would love it if I made more wings for these events. He absolutely loves a good hot wing.

I have obliged a few times. I even have a recipe for baked peach habanero wings right here on the site.

For the most part, I stick to big pots of chili, fun cheese balls and other appetizers. Mostly because they can be made ahead and they are low fuss.

baby back ribs and buffalo sauce in instant pot ready to be cooked.

It’s not that I don’t like wings. It’s just that I don’t want to spend time in the kitchen when everyone else is having fun.

Plus there is a fair amount of mess to a low amount of meat payoff.  So I tend to make buffalo chicken inspired recipes instead of the wings themselves.

I have recipes for everything from off the beaten path recipes like buffalo chicken lasagna to more popular recipes like buffalo chicken dip. They are both great ways to enjoy the flavor without being tied to the kitchen.

You don’t want to miss a big play (or great commercial) because you were working on the next round of snacks.

tender ribs cooked in the instant pot and covered

These ribs are another great addition to your buffalo sauce lover’s repertoire. They are meatier than wings and mostly hands off to make.

They require only a few simple ingredients and pressing a few buttons on the electric pressure cooker. When they are done, they are succulent and flavorful.

A quick brush of more sauce and you will be ready to dig in. Cut them into individual ribs as an appetizer or bigger pieces for a meal.

Either way you may want to have another rack of ribs at the ready, there’s a good chance people will want more ribs!

Tips for Making Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot

You will want to use either a 6 quart instant pot or an 8 quart instant pot for the ribs. The 3 quart will not be large enough. 

Allowing the pressure to naturally release instead of quick releasing it helps to ensure the ribs are extra tender.  If you are in a hurry, add a minute or two to the cook time and quick release the pressure. 

If you want BBQ ribs instead of buffalo, you can use similar cooking instructions. Just rub the ribs with your favorite rub and cook without the sauce. 

After the cook time brush them with BBQ sauce and put them under the broiler for a minute or two to give it a great finish.

Or make tender juicy bbq ribs in the oven if that is easier for you. No matter how you do it, just make sure you get some ribs on the menu soon!

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

tender ribs cooked in the instant pot and covered

Buffalo Ribs in the Instant Pot

Carlee
Satisfy your cravings for buffalo wings and ribs all in one dish. These baby back ribs are loaded with buffalo flavor and cooked until tender in the instant pot.
4.84 from 6 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 257 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 rack baby back ribs around 2 pounds
  • 1 cup buffalo wing sauce plus more for serving
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Generously sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper, then rub in the buffalo sauce.
  • Spray your instant pot liner with non-stick cooking spray, then place the ribs inside. 
  • Add water to instant pot then secure the lid and make sure the vent is closed.
  • Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes then allow the pressure to naturally release.
  • Brush with additional buffalo sauce and serve. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 18gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 1782mgSugar: 5g
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Satisfy your cravings for buffalo wings and ribs all in one dish. These baby back ribs are loaded with buffalo flavor and cooked until tender in the instant pot.

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Recipe Rating




Vicki

Friday 5th of January 2024

Bone side down or meaty side ? In a 5 QT crockpot , I have meat in a circle meat side to the outside . Just wondering about Instapot .

Carlee

Friday 5th of January 2024

Meaty side out. Bone up or down makes less of a difference, but I usually do bone side down.

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Saturday 18th of January 2020

Much to my husbands disappointed, I do not make ribs at home. I've just never had much luck with them. I think this recipe will change that and husband will thank you forever!

Amy

Friday 10th of January 2020

These ribs look and sound amazing. I'm with you on the getting together for the snacks, probably more so than the games!

Carlee

Saturday 11th of January 2020

If the Steelers are playing, I'm in for the game... otherwise tell me about the snacks!

Julie's Creative Lifestyle

Monday 6th of January 2020

Happy New Year Carlee. These ribs sound so good and easy to make in the IP.

Carlee

Saturday 11th of January 2020

Thank you and happy New Year to you Julie!

Andrea Nine

Monday 6th of January 2020

Yum. Saving this for Super Bowl or heck, maybe making it this week while 2 of the boys are still home. Cheers to 2020 sweet friend!

Carlee

Saturday 11th of January 2020

You might as well practice it a time or two before the big game anyway!