Summertime is around the corner and I have the easiest Instant Pot BBQ pork spareribs and mashed potatoes recipe for you! No need for a grill when you have an Instant Pot (especially since San Francisco is the foggiest in the summer)!
When I was an undergrad college student living in Santa Cruz with my baby and hubby, I used to spend hours in the kitchen making BBQ spareribs and mashed potatoes for special occasions like end of finals or to celebrate a full night of sleep. I’d boil the ribs for about an hour to soften them; then cook them in the oven for another hour. Lots of dirty dishes were created with this method!
As I added more kids to the family (the twins) my time in the kitchen had to be strategically short; I didn’t have time for 2+ hours cooking binges. I still will slave in the kitchen every now and then, but if I find a shortcut, by all means, I take it.
So, my gift to you – to reclaim your time – is this Instant Pot BBQ pork spareribs and 8-minute mashed potatoes recipe! Hope you like it!
Instant Pot BBQ Pork Spareribs and Mashed Potatoes
No need for a summer grill! Make these ribs anytime of the year in the Instant Pot and oven.
Ingredients
BBQ Pork Spareribs
- 1 rack pork spareribs
- 3/4 c. vinegar
- 1/4 c. water
- garlic powder dry rub
- onion powder dry rub
- salt and pepper dry rub
- 1/2 bottle your favorite BBQ sauce
8-Minute Mashed Potatoes
- 5-8 Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
- 1 c. water
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
BBQ Pork Spareribs
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Remove the skin from the bottom side of the ribs. Use knife to loosen.
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Mix the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to create a dry rub for the ribs. Rub down the ribs and set aside.
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Place trivet into the bottom of your Instant Pot. Curl ribs to fit inside pot standing.
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Pour water and vinegar into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
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Close the lid and turn the knob on the lid to seal. COOK on MANUAL for 18 minutes.
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Once countdown is done, natural pressure release (NPR) for 10 minutes (i.e. don't touch the pot), then quick release (QR). Take out ribs carefully and place on foiled-lined sheet pan.
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Brush your favorite BBQ sauce on ribs and broil each side for 3-5 minutes. Make sure it doesn't burn. Enjoy!
8-Minute Mashed Potatoes
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Place trivet into the bottom of your Instant Pot and dump in your potatoes.
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Pour water into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
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Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the knob on the lid to seal. Cook on MANUAL function, 8 minutes.
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While Instant Pot is cooking the potatoes, heat the heavy cream and butter over the stovetop to heat through and melt the butter.
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Quick release (QR) knob to steam until pin drops. Open the lid.
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Drain the remaining water in the pot, remove the trivet, and return the drained potatoes to the pot. Mash.
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Add the heated heavy cream and butter to the mashed potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Mmmmm!
Recipe Notes
- The secret of the trivet is that it keeps the ribs out of the liquid. If you don't have a trivet, you can ball up aluminum foil into balls and place at the bottom.
- I've experimented with cooking time of the ribs and it goes as follows: 25 minutes - fall off the bone, can't-get-out-of-the-pot-without-falling-apart; 15 minutes - soft but need your teeth. 18 minutes - perfect timing.
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