Easy Instant Pot Asian BBQ Ribs Recipe – delicious rich savory sticky and sweet Asian style ribs cooked right in an instant pot!

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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Easy Instant Pot Asian BBQ Sticky Ribs

If you love takeout sticky ribs, these easy ribs are going to be one of your next favorite meals! These delicious instant pot Asian bbq ribs are absolutely perfect!

This dish is inspired by Asian style sticky ribs – with lots of hoisin, ginger, and chili flavor – in a sauce that is salty, sweet, sticky, and totally addictive.

I’m also including notes on how to make this Asian Inspired Ribs recipe low carb and keto diet compatible – so you can enjoy these delicious ribs without extra guilt!

These ribs are sticky, sweet, salty – with notes of BBQ, soy, honey, and chili sauce – it is so delicious!

Ribs are a cut of meat that need to be trimmed well for the best flavor – and so they aren’t chewy and tough.

Ribs come with a silver skin often over the ribs – trimming the most of this tough tendon off the rib will greatly improve the flavor of your oven baked ribs – so don’t skip this step.

Trim Silver Skin off Ribs

• Run a knife under the silver skin to separate the membrane from the rib meat.
• If the silver skin resists in one spot, try another.

• Once you have separated enough with a knife, grab silver skin tightly and pull to remove from the ribs.
• If silver skin breaks in one spot, loosen it again with a knife to remove it completely.

Asian Inspired BBQ Rib Sauce

This delicious sauce is loaded with ginger, hoisin, and soy sauce flavors – and can even be made keto!

You can make it sweeter, or more garlicky, slightly sticky or extra sticky, and it is great on all kinds of dishes!

Asian Sticky Rib Sauce Ingredients

• ½ cup soy sauce (use coconut aminos for keto)
• 1/3 cup chili sauce (either chili garlic sauce or sweet chili sauce, depending on your taste preference – for keto pick chili garlic sauce)
• 2 tbsp honey (omit for keto)
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce (pick a keto sauce if watching carbs)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon powdered ginger

How To Make Asian Sticky Rib Sauce

Mix the sauce ingredients into a measuring cup and blend well.

Place the sauce mixture in a small sauce pan and heat on medium until thickened.

How To Cook Ribs in Instant Pot

Cooking ribs in an Instant Pot is incredibly easy and quick – making this a dinner that can go from fridge to your dinner table in less than an hour.

There are a couple steps that are important to follow for the best results cooking ribs in your Instant Pot – check my tips below!

Use a Trivet

Placing the ribs up above the water needed to bring your instant pot to pressure is essential – you’re not boiling ribs, you’re cooking them!

Finish With Crisp Lid or in Broiler

Finish with a crisping lid for crunchy ribs!

For a delicious, crunchy BBQ sauce bark, use a crisping lid or broil ribs in oven after baking for 5-10 minutes.

How Long To Cook Ribs in Instant Pot

• To Cook Baby Back Ribs In an Instant Pot, cook for 25 Minutes
• To Cook spare ribs in an Instant Pot, cook for 30 Minutes
  • For high altitude cooking (I’m in Colorado!), cook 5 minutes longer.
• Technically, ribs are overcooked when they are “fall off the bone” tender, even though that is popular (I’ll admit, I love fall off the bone ribs).
• To get extra tender ribs, cook an extra five minutes.

What to Serve With Asian Sticky Ribs

Steamed Jasmine Rice: The subtle fragrance and light texture of jasmine rice provide a perfect canvas for the bold flavors of the ribs.

Cucumber Salad: A refreshing cucumber salad, dressed in rice vinegar and a hint of sugar, can cut through the richness of the ribs with its crispness and acidity.

Sauteed Bok Choy: Tender sautéed bok choy, with a hint of garlic, adds a nutritious and flavorful green side that pairs well with the meaty ribs.

Pickled Vegetables: Pickled radishes or carrots offer a tangy contrast to the sweet and savory ribs, adding a bright crunch to your meal.

Cold Noodle Salad: A cold noodle salad, dressed in a sesame or peanut sauce, provides a chewy texture and nutty flavor that complements the sticky ribs wonderfully.

Grilled Corn with Miso Butter: Corn on the cob, brushed with miso butter, brings a smoky sweetness and umami depth that matches the ribs’ complex flavors. Try Asian miso dressing!

Sweet Potato Fries: Baked or air-fried sweet potato fries, seasoned lightly with salt, make a slightly sweet and crispy side that’s delicious with the sticky ribs.

Asian Slaw: An Asian slaw, made with cabbage, carrots, and a hint of ginger in the dressing, adds a crunchy, vibrant side that balances the meal. Try this coleslaw recipe!

Steamed Dumplings: Offering steamed dumplings filled with vegetables or shrimp as a side can introduce a soft, doughy texture that soaks up the ribs’ sauce beautifully.

Edamame: Salted or spiced edamame pods provide a simple, healthy snack or side that’s fun to eat and pairs nicely with the flavors of Asian cuisine.

If you’re looking for a great side dish for these easy ribs, please check out some of my favorites below:

Zucchini CousCous

Loaded Nacho Fries

Easy Sour Cream Cornbread

Funeral Potatoes

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