Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

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Fall apart tender, Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs are ready to eat in about an hour.  Boneless country Style Pork Ribs, prepared in your pressure cooker, then glazed with Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce on your grill or in your oven. Grab the napkins and dig in!

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

These Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs are here to rock your world.  Are you ready?

 

This post is sponsored by Iowa Pork, but the opinions and my lifelong love of their product and ideals are all my own.  

SOME OF THE ITEMS BELOW CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS; I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. I AM ALSO AN AFFILIATE FOR OTHER BRANDS. HOWEVER, I ONLY PROMOTE THINGS THAT I LOVE AND THINK YOU WILL LOVE, TOO.  FOR MY ENTIRE DISCLOSURE POLICY PLEASE CLICK HERE.

 

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs

My number one recipe every day, over the last six months or so, has been my Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs.  So many of you have made them, and everyone loves them! I get comments and feed back daily about how tender and delicious they are.  

 

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

For a while now, I have wanted to recreate them in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.  Then I got a call from Iowa Pork.  

Iowa Pork Logo

They asked me to create a recipe for them, and after chatting awhile, we decided this would be the perfect opportunity to share this already popular recipe, using country style boneless pork ribs, in the instant pot.  

Why the Instant Pot?

Anytime is a great time for pressure cooking.  It’s quick and requires less effort than stove top cooking.  Once it’s in the pot, it fairly “hands off.”  But using the instant pot in the summertime?  That is quite brilliant.  No heating up the kitchen with steamy stovetops or hot ovens.  Aside from releasing the pressure, no heat.  It’s done in minutes rather than hours.  It’s a winning situation no matter how you look at it.  

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

^Love them?  Pin them!^

 

The original recipe, made in the crock pot, I caramelized the Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce on in my oven on a rack.  For this method, I used my grill.  Again, keeping the kitchen cool in the summertime heat.   Of course, this recipe isn’t just for summertime, so I have given instructions for both methods, finishing off on the grill and in the oven.  

There is no need to measure the internal temperature when you prepare pork ribs, simply cook them until they are tender. 

Another method I have for delicious BBQ Pork Ribs? Boil them in beer until tender, then place them on your grill to char them a bit, then slather them in Homemade BBQ Sauce

 

 

3 Ingredients in Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs:

  1. Country Style Boneless Pork Ribs
  2. Two Cans of Dr. Pepper Soda
  3. Barbecue Sauce

 

It doesn’t get much easier than 3 ingredients, does it?   

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

My favorite ribs are the boneless country style pork ribs.  They are all meat, and I can eat them with a fork.  (nothing wrong with being “lady like” while you chow down on barbecue!) 

f.a.q. – “Can I make this recipe with bone in ribs?”  — Absolutely!  I recently made this same exact recipe using bone in pork ribs, and it worked great!

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

Three pounds of boneless country style pork ribs fit perfectly in the bottom of my 6 quart Instant Pot.  If your instant pot is smaller, adjust accordingly.  I recommend not stacking the ribs on top of one another.  

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

For this recipe I used Dr. Pepper Cherry.  I loved that little bit of added sweet cherry flavor.  Of course, regular Dr. Pepper works great, too!

f.a.q. – “Can I use another soda?” or “Can I use diet Dr. Pepper?” — Yes!! I have tried this recipe with a cola and with root beer.  Both are delicious! Diet soda will also work if you are watching your glucose.  

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

One can of soda just covers the ribs in the instapot.  

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

Part of the second can of soda gets whisked together with some of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce.  We always buy Honey Sweet Baby Ray’s.  This is where if you wanted to kick it up a notch, you could use something spicy of you like.   

The rest of that can?  Pour it over ice, and put your feet up while your instant pot does all of the work for you!

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

Once the ribs are cooked in the pressure cooker, carefully remove them (they are so tender they fall apart easily!!) Place them on your grill and brush the tops with the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce.  Grill for 10 minutes, flip them and do the same on the other side to caramelize that sauce over them.  

 

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs

As I mentioned earlier, this recipe isn’t just for summertime.  BBQ sauce can be caramelized in the oven, too, using a rack placed over a baking sheet. 

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

Aren’t they gorgeous??

We served our up with our favorite potato salad.  That’s the beauty of barbecue, isn’t it?  You don’t need anything fancy for side dishes.  If the barbecue is done this well, it steals the show!

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, shred it up and make these amazing BBQ Pork Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!

 

 

Iowa Pork Farmer
Photos taken on my in-laws farm in the late 1980’s.

Did you know that 1/3 of the pork raised in the United States comes from Iowa?

I bet many of you don’t know this, because I am constantly talking about Nebraska, but my husband grew up on a farm in rural Iowa.  His dad grew corn and soybeans and raised hogs, and he owned the local fertilizer and anhydrous business.   

When I took my first trip to the farm to meet his parents, they couldn’t get over what a “city girl” he had brought home.  I know, if you are reading this from NYC or LA, you probably think, “Omaha?? Big City??”

 

Iowa farm
My youngest son, when he was little, riding in the combine with Grandpa during harvest.

But compared to his town of 300, it’s the big city.  I had never seen a hog up close, or even knew what a combine was.  We spent many many weekends there in the early days of our marriage and family.  Our kids grew up riding in tractors, feeding the farm cats, and knew what it meant when he said “that’s the smell of money.”

You see, those crops and those hogs were their livelihood.  When you purchase pork in your grocery store anywhere across the United States, you are supporting local family farms in Iowa and other parts of the U.S. 

 

Here is a recent photo of pig buildings on an Iowa friend’s family farm.

With the advancements in technology the past 30 years, most pigs are now kept in buildings in order to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A pig farmer’s biggest priority is animal well-being and food safety.  However, no matter how big or small the farm is, know that there is always a family behind it doing the work.   

 

 

The Power Of Pork
Compare Protein in Pork to Other Proteins – click the photo to read more about the Power of Pork and its protein content.

Pork, Good and Good FOR You!

 Pork is a complete protein. Adding lean animal protein source like pork to your meals not only helps you hit daily suggested protein levels, but you also acquire essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs.  

Adding pork to your meals, helps you to feel fuller longer, which helps lower post-meal glucose and insulin levels, and can even help with weight loss.

Pork is even more beneficial for aging adults,  shown to help resist against the natural loss of bone density and muscle mass. It is a terrific a source of Vitamin B12, which is a common deficiency in adults over the age of 65.

 

Be sure to follow along with Iowa Pork on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for delicious pork recipes year ’round!

 

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs

So what are you waiting for?? Let’s get to making some of these Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pork Ribs!!  M.

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs plated
4.45 from 75 votes
Print Recipe

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pork Ribs

Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs are Country Style Pork Ribs, pressure cooked in Dr. Pepper, then grilled or baked to caramelize the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. Only 3 ingredients!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Additional Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Pork
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Boneless Country Style Pork Ribs, How to make pork ribs in an Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs, Pressure Cooker Pork Ribs
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 929kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • 3 pound boneless country pork ribs
  • 2 cans Dr. Pepper divided
  • 3/4 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Place ribs in a single layer in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
  • Pour one can of Dr. Pepper over the top.
  • Cover with the lid, and lock into place. Make sure the quick release is set to the pressure position.
  • Cook on high for 40 minutes.
  • Allow natural release for 15 minutes. Carefully remove any excess pressure. Remove lid.
  • Remove ribs from pressure cooker.
  • Combine 3/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce with 1/2 cup Dr. Pepper.
  • To finish on the grill: Set grill to 350 degrees. Place ribs on the grill and brush Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce on the top. Close grill and in 10 minutes flip the ribs over and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Grill 10 minutes more.
  • To finish in the oven: preheat oven to 400 degrees. Carefully place ribs on a rack over a baking sheet. Brush the tops with BBQ sauce. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip, brush with BBQ sauce, Bake for 10 minutes more.
  • Serve with extra sauce for dipping.

Notes

  1. I used Cherry Dr. Pepper. You can use regular Dr. Pepper or Diet. It will also work well with root beer or cola, but the flavor will be a bit different.
  2. Be really careful when moving the ribs after you take them out of the pressure cooker. They are so tender, they fall apart easily.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 929kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 70g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 587mg | Sugar: 25g

 

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49 Comments

  1. I have never made ribs with dr,pepper before but I am very intrigued by this! Can’t wait to try it out, Im guessing the flavors are to die for

  2. Hi, I tried the Dr. Pepper ribs, I did have 4 pounds of boneless ribs, and they all fit perfectly in the bottom of my IP. I poured the pop over them and then pressured cooked them for 40 minutes and the release for 15 minutes. When they were done, they were falling apart, like the recipe, I put the Barbecue and Dr. Pepper together and basted them and put them in the oven for the amount of time. I was disappointed when I ate them they were pretty dry. Any idea why they would be dry? I am just beginning to make different dishes with my IP. Thanks for any ideas.
    Deb

    1. Did you feel like they were dry when you took them from the IP? Maybe they baked too long? The size of the ribs themselves can affect the cook times. The oven part is really just for caramelizing that sauce on them.

  3. I love my Dr Pepper! So it was no surprise that when I tried this recipe with baby back ribs, it was absolutely awesome. It was definitely fall-off-the-bone, and very flavorful as well. This is now my favorite bbq recipe.

    1. You could shorten it a bit? I can’t say I have tried it, but they get really done with the time they have. You might not need as much liquid either?

  4. I made the ribs with beef bone in and they turned out so incredibly perfect. I always say you can tell good ribs by how clean the bones are. The meat pulled right off the bone & was very tender.. I will use this recipe in the future for all my rib dinners.

  5. I had bottles instead of cans on hand so I poured a 16.9 oz bottle over two slabs of baby backs. They literally fell apart as I was getting them out of the pot. After glazing with Dr. P mixed with some Pioneer Woman Peach Whiskey Sauce and putting them under the broiler they turned out great. No leftovers tonight 🙂

  6. I’m fairly new to the instapot world so I’m constantly looking for fast yummy recipes for my family of 4 that includes 2 hungry boys. This ribs recipe is definitely a once a week meal we have to have! It’s so easy my husband can make it! Thanks for your blogs!!
    Stacy from Washington state

  7. I’m surprised how much flavor these had without seasoning. I did miss a little salt though. I started with a little predicament. My country style ribs were frozen together. I couldn’t get them separated even after doing some defrost in the microwave and running water. So I did a 5min high pressure with water first, rearranged the ribs, emptied out the water and then added the coke (my bev choice) . Then pressure cooked for 35min for a total time of 40min. Still fall off the bone tender and did 8min per side finish in the oven. Just the right amount of sauce (used it all). Not sure what to do with the cooking sauces (5min water and final cooking liquid coke). I used uncooked coke mixed with bbq sauce for the final broil cover.

    1. Sounds like they turned out great! There really isn’t anything to “do” with the cooking sauce. At that point, it just sort of served its purpose, ya know? I have made them with Coke, too, and they are good that way!

  8. 1st time making.They are in the Foodi right now with about 15 min to go.I did slice up a small onion and threw it on top the meat.I can already tell my house is gonna smell delicious when the pressure starts to release!!Mouth is watering already!We may just have a new way of making our ribs!!SO EASY!!!

  9. Thanks for the tips and HOORAY for Iowa pork. I am in PA but have great friends in Washington, IA (Gene Driscoll) from the service. Been friends since 1969…..can’t beat service friends, especially when they are from Iowa. Have visited many times and even got to attend the Washington IA tractor parade….what an experience.

    I am making your ribs today the 4th of July in celebration of our country and the military.

    Thanks again.

    1. What a lovely comment! Thanks, Donald. I am not familiar with Washington, Iowa, but I will be looking it up. I love that you two have shared that bond for so many years and that you have stayed connected. I thank both of you for your service, and I hope that your 4th and the ribs were delicious!

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