Instant Pot Boneless Ribs & Pinto Beans
These KC Style Boneless Ribs are super tender, made in the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker at the same time as pinto beans and served with homemade BBQ sauce! Using the Pot in Pot method, you can cook two things at once! Learn how below.
This recipe was made in partnership with AdapTable Meals. All opinions are my own!
About the Recipe
Pot in Pot cooking is the best thing since sliced bread! There, I said it. Ever since I discovered that you can cook two separate things in your Instant Pot at the same time, my life has been changed.
The first time I tried this was when I first made Buffalo Chicken & Sweet Potatoes at the same time. Ever since, I’ve been hooked.
Basically, you stack your dishes inside the Instant Pot and allow the dishes to cook separately, like you might do in an oven. As long as the two foods have similar cook times, it works perfectly!
I was super excited to make these boneless Kansas City Style Ribs in my Instant Pot, because they cook so much faster than bone-in ribs. That means there are more possibilities for the pot in pot cooking!
And I found the perfect combination! Boneless ribs and pinto beans! Not only are they a classic bbq combination, but because the beans cook in the same pot as the ribs, the ribs impart some smokey, meaty flavor into the beans that I really love.
You may also like: Instant Pot Santa Maria Pork, Instant Pot Mexican Vegetable Soup.
Making the Recipe: Step by Step
Soak the Beans
To make the recipe properly you need to start with soaked beans. First, rinse the beans well under cold water, then let them soak in water on the countertop for 8-12 hours at room temperature. Rinse well and you’ll be ready to fire up the Instant Pot!
Cook the Ribs and Beans
Next, add the ribs and water or broth to your Instant Pot. Set the metal trivet on top of the meat, making it as level as possible.
Add the beans to a medium sized ovenproof bowl that will fit inside your Instant Pot. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaf, and seasonings, and stir to combine.
Place the bowl on top of the trivet inside the Instant Pot, adjusting the meat and trivet if necessary so the bowl sits flat and the water doesn’t spill out.
Put the lid on the Instant Pot, turn it close, and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Set to high pressure to 15 minutes.
Allow for a natural release, which means that when the timer goes off, do nothing and wait for the pressure to naturally dissipate. It usually takes about 15 minutes. The steam valve will drop down when all the pressure has released. Carefully remove the beans and trivet, then remove the ribs.
Get your side dishes ready
While the Instant Pot is doing all the hard work, get your side dishes ready! Everybody has their favorite BBQ side dishes, so here are some you might enjoy:
- Sugar free Pickled Onions
- Collard Greens
- Pickles
- BBQ Sauce
- Cornbread
- Cole Slaw
- Pickled Cabbage
Finish under the Broiler and Serve
You won’t believe how tender and perfect the ribs will be once they’re done cooking! Now it’ll be hard to stop yourself from immediately digging in (you can do that if you want, of course!), but if you follow this last step they’ll get a little extra bbq goodness.
Turn the broiler on, and while it heats up, lay the ribs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush them lightly with bbq sauce, then set the baking sheet under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to make sure they don’t burn while the sauce caramelizes. Trust you pal Laura, this takes the ribs over the top!
All that’s left to do now is assemble your sides! Serve with beans and your favorite bbq condiments, like pickled onions, pickles, and cole slaw.
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Instant Pot Boneless Ribs & Pinto Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
Ribs
- 1.5 lb AdapTable KC Style Boneless Ribs
- 1 cup water or broth
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
Pinto Beans
- 2/3 cup dried pinto beans rinsed and soaked overnight
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 Tablespoon white onion minced
- 1/8 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoons black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoons salt
Optional Sides
- pickles
- pickled onions
- cole slaw
- collard greens
- cornbread
Video
Instructions
Soak the Beans
- Rinse the beans well under cold water. Transfer the beans to a large bowl and fill the bowl with clean water, covering the beans by at least 2 inches. Allow the beans to soak at room temperature for 8-12 hours. Pour the beans into a large strainer and rinse well under cold water again.
Prep the Instant Pot
- Add the water or broth to the Instant Pot. Set the boneless ribs on top of the liquid in one layer if possible. Set the trivet on top of the meat, as level as possible.
- Add the beans and water to a medium sized ovenproof bowl that will fit inside your Instant Pot. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaf, and seasonings. Stir to combine.
- Place the bowl of beans on top of the trivet inside the Instant Pot, adjusting the meat and trivet if necessary so the bowl sits flat and the water doesn't spill out.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot, turn it close, and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Set to high pressure to 15 minutes.
- Allow for a natural release, which means that when the timer goes off, do nothing and wait for the pressure to naturally dissipate. It usually takes about 15 minutes. The steam valve will drop down when all the pressure has released. Remove the lid, and carefully remove the beans and trivet, then remove the ribs.
Finish and Serve
- Turn the broiler on. Lay the ribs on a parchment lined baking sheet.Brush the ribs lightly with bbq sauce. Set under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to make sure they don't burn.
- Serve with the beans and your favorite bbq side dishes, like pickled onions, pickles, and cole slaw.
