• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Little Black Skillet logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Published: Sep 1, 2024 · Modified: Apr 26, 2025 by AshleyFreeman ·

    Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Style Pork Spare Ribs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You are going to love these instant pot sweet and sour spare ribs that are fall-off-the-bone tender and glazed with a sticky sweet and sour sauce. They're perfect for game day, for get togethers with family and friends, and even for weeknights thanks to the quick cook time in an instant pot. In other words, they're great anytime of year.

    Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Style Pork Spare Ribs on a wooden board with a basting brush and metal bowl of extra sweet and sour sauce.

    My instant pot pressure cooker is one of my favorite "mom hack" tools I like to use in the kitchen. In a fraction of the time that it would traditionally take to smoke, bake, or grill these ribs, they're ready to go in just about an hour.

    I let the time of year dictate what I serve with these. In the summer, I'll serve with boiled sweet corn on the cob and watermelon wedges. If it's the middle of winter, I will lean in to the Asian sweet and sour flavor of the glaze and serve with jasmine rice and a vinegary cucumber salad.

    The good news is that since these are made in the instant pot, you can have them whenever you've got a craving for sweet and sour pork ribs.

    If you want to serve these with corn that's more special than boiled corn, try my Mexican Street Corn instead. My Watermelon and Beet Salad is another great recipe that goes really well with these sweet and sour ribs. So does my Potato Salad with Bacon and this vinegar coleslaw.

    For dessert you'll want to serve these Mini Banana Pudding Jars. Finally, if you're looking for more instant pot recipes, be sure to check out my Beef Barbacoa Tacos recipe. It also uses the instant pot to turn typically long-cooking beef chuck roast into tender shredded beef for tacos.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Tasty Tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related
    • Pairing:
    • 🍽Get the recipe
    • Recipe Guidelines and Test Kitchen Tips
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:

    Ingredients for Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Style Pork Spare Ribs.
    • pork spareribs
    • ground ginger
    • garlic powder
    • brown sugar
    • low-sodium or light soy sauce
    • pineapple juice
    • rice wine vinegar
    • dark sesame oil
    • tomato paste
    • green onions
    • water
    • cornstarch
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

    (See recipe card for quantities.)

    Instructions

    Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time get cooking!

    Pulling the membrane off the back of a rack of spareribs that are on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet.
    1. First, remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs. Rub the ribs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ground ginger. Add the wire rack to the bottom of the inner pot of the cooker.
    A rack of spareribs inside an instant pot.
    1. Then, cut the ribs in half. Stand the ribs around the sides of the instant pot. Pour the sauce over the ribs and into the bottom of the pot. Set the instant pot to the pressure setting and cook on High pressure for 35 minutes. Turn the pressure cooker off and allow for 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Then, turn the vent to quick release. (Be careful of the hot steam.)
    Pouring a cornstarch slurry into the cooking liquid in an instant pot.
    1. Next, remove the ribs from the cooker to a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or coated with cooking spray. Combine the cornstarch and water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the cooking liquid in the pot. Press the Saute mode setting and let the mixture simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.
    Brushing the cooked ribs with the thickened sweet and sour sauce that are on a rimmed baking sheet.
    1. Finally, preheat the oven to broil. Brush some of the sauce on the ribs. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the glaze is browned and thickened. Serve the ribs with more sauce on the side and sprinkle with green onions.

    Hint: It may take awhile for the instant pot to come up to temperature. This is totally normal. Once it comes up to temperature, it'll beep and then begin counting down from the timer you set.

    Substitutions

    Here are some ideas for ingredient substitutions in case you need them:

    • Spareribs - St. Louis-style ribs are a type of sparerib and will work for this recipe; the extra meat and cartilage has been trimmed to make the ribs a more uniform shape. You can also use baby back ribs instead of spareribs. The cooking time will be less--only about 25 to 30 minutes.
    • Brown sugar - For this recipe, I used light brown sugar but you can also use dark brown sugar if that's what you have.
    • Rice wine vinegar - Substitute apple cider vinegar or white vinegar for the rice vinegar if you'd like.

    Variations

    Looking for more ways to change up this recipe? I've got you covered:

    • Spicy - Add some crushed red pepper to the sauce mixture to give these ribs a kick.
    • Gluten-free - Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to make this a gluten-free rib recipe.
    • Leftover sweet and sour pork - If you have any leftover ribs, cut off the meat and chop it to make chopped pork sandwiches. Or, you can serve the chopped pork over rice for a sweet and sour rice bowl.

    Equipment

    Here's the equipment you'll need for this recipe:

    • instant pot
    • paring knife
    • chef's knife
    • measuring spoons
    • dry measuring cups
    • liquid measuring cup
    • whisk
    • small bowl
    • rimmed baking sheet
    • basting brush
    • metal tongs

    Storage

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Freeze any leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

    Tasty Tip

    Don't be tempted to skip the step of removing the membrane from the back of the ribs. Doing so ensures that the ribs come out super tender and easy to eat.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are spareribs the same thing as St. Louis style ribs?

    St. Louis style ribs are spareribs, but they've been trimmed a little into a rectangular shape.

    Are pork side ribs the same as spare ribs?

    Yep! They're the same thing!

    How much liquid do you put in the ribs in an instant pot?

    For safety reasons, you'll need about 1 cup of liquid inside the instant pot.

    Why are my ribs tough in the instant pot?

    They either didn't cook long enough or the membrane was likely not removed before cooking.

    Can you overcook ribs in an instant pot?

    It is possible to overcook ribs in an instant pot. While the rib meat may be falling apart, if it's dry that means they were overcooked.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • White platter of Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa Tacos with charred tortillas on a wooden board, crumbled white cheese in a wooden bowl with an enamel spoon, and a glass of beer.
      Easy Instant Pot (or Slow Cooker) Beef Barbacoa Tacos
    • Houston's Hawaiian Ribeye copycat recipe on a white oval platter with slices of grilled pineapple wedges and green onions with a wooden handled meat fork off to the side as well as a teal striped kitchen towel on a wooden table surface.
      Hawaiian Grilled Ribeye (Houston's Copycat Recipe)
    • Two blue floral bowls filled with Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice, one with a pair of chopsticks resting on the side as well as a wok filled with the fried rice, a small white bowl with sliced green onions, and a white napkin.
      Better Than Takeout Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice
    • Dark wooden board with a pulled chicken sandwich topped with Alabama White BBQ Sauce and a jar of the sauce off to the side along with a bowl of chicken and pickles.
      How to Make the Best Alabama White BBQ Sauce

    Pairing:

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with these Sweet and Sour Spareribs:

    • Red, White, and Blue Cheese Potato Salad with Bacon in a ceramic bowl with blue design, wooden spoon, rattan mat, and blue cloth off to the side.
      Red, White, and Blue Cheese Potato Salad with Bacon
    • Hot dogs topped with Southern Chowchow inside a starburst metal pan and with a jar of chow chow off to the side on top of a wooden board.
      Southern Chow Chow (Pickled Cabbage Relish Recipe)
    • Mini cast-iron dishes filled with Creamy Baked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with wooden handled forks off to the side.
      Creamy Baked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • Smoked street corn on the cob with cilantro and cotija on a baking sheet.
      How to Make Smoked Street Corn (Elote Recipe)

    🍽Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Style Pork Spare Ribs on a wooden board with a basting brush and metal bowl of extra sweet and sour sauce.

    Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Style Pork Spare Ribs

    Thanks to the instant pot, these sweet and sour spareribs are fall-off-the-bone tender in a fraction of the time they normally would be. After a quick cook, they get brushed with a tangy, sticky sauce. Serve them at your next get together or for an easy weeknight meal.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Standing Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4

    Equipment

    • instant pot
    • paring knife
    • chef's knife
    • measuring spoons
    • dry measuring cups
    • liquid measuring cup
    • whisk
    • small bowl
    • rimmed baking sheet
    • basting brush
    • metal tongs

    Ingredients

    • 4 ½ pounds pork spareribs
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅔ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
    • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
    • ¼ cup pineapple juice
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
    • ½ tablespoon rice wine vinegar
    • 3 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoon water
    • Sliced green onions for garnish

    Instructions

    • Remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs. (Use the tip of a paring knife to lift up from the silver skin and pull.) Rub the ribs with salt, pepper, the garlic powder, and ground ginger.
    • Place the wire rack in the bottom of a 6-quart instant pot and coat with cooking spray. Cut the ribs in half. Arrange the ribs standing upright inside the pot.
    • Stir together the brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, tomato paste, sesame oil, and vinegar in a small. Pour the sauce over the ribs and into the bottom of the pot.
    • Secure the instant pot lid, making sure the venting knob is in the sealing position. Program the instant pot to pressure cook on the HIGH setting for 35 minutes. After 35 minutes, allow the instant pot to natural release for 10 minutes. Then, turn the venting spout to release the pressure for a quick release. (Be very careful of the hot steam that will escape.)
    • Remove the ribs from the pressure cooker to a rimmed baking sheet coated with cooking spray or lined with aluminum foil, reserving the sauce in the cooker.
    • Combine cornstarch and water and add to the sauce in the cooker. Program the instant pot to the Sauté setting. With the lid off, bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, whisking often, until the sauce is thickened.
    • Preheat the oven to broil. Brush some of the sauce onto the ribs. Broil for about 2 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly. Remove the ribs from the oven and cut individual ribs. Serve with extra sauce on the side and sprinkle with green onions.

    Recipe Guidelines and Test Kitchen Tips

    When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

    • Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
    • When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
    • I tested this recipe using a 6-quart instant pot.
    • When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

    Food safety

    Follow these food safety guidelines when making this recipe:

    • Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cooking in the instant pot
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched the raw pork
    • Wash your hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Main Dishes

    • Trader Joe's pesto chicken caprese sandwiches cut in half and lined up in a white enamel pan beside a red lined white napkin.
      Trader Joe's Pesto Chicken Caprese Sandwiches
    • Metal surface topped with Roger Wood sausage Low Country Boil, two cans of beer, and metal containers of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce.
      Low Country Boil with Roger Wood Smoked Sausage
    • Metal Ovenex Starburst pan filled with Phillips Crab Cakes and a bowl of Cajun Tartar Sauce with lemon wedges and fresh herbs sprinkled on top.
      How to Make Crab Cakes with Cajun Tartar Sauce
    • Wooden bowl filled with creamy chicken macaroni salad with ceramic serving spoons, an orange checked cloth, two yellow glasses filled with ice water, and one pottery plate topped with a serving to the side.
      The Best Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad with Chicken

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    • Flipboard
    • X
    • Print

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Loui says

      June 14, 2025 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      one can add certain flavours. I add 1 tsp of worchester and a nice bit of honey. Serve with rice and oriental vegies. Eat till you pop.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        July 01, 2025 at 1:24 pm

        "Eat till you pop"--I love it!

        Reply
    2. Agnieszka says

      September 18, 2024 at 10:00 pm

      5 stars
      My family loved these spare ribs. The sweet and sour sauce is super flavorful!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        September 19, 2024 at 9:51 am

        Hooray! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Juyali says

      September 18, 2024 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is incredible! The Instant Pot method was magic because I had a meal on the table in about an hour. Melt-in-your-mouth tender and very flavorful. Delish. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        September 19, 2024 at 9:51 am

        Thanks so much Juyali! So glad everyone loved them 🙂

        Reply
    4. Nora says

      September 18, 2024 at 4:46 am

      5 stars
      OMG! These ribs turned out so juicy! Simply divine!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        September 19, 2024 at 9:50 am

        Hooray! The instant pot is one of my favorite hacks!

        Reply
    5. Nicole Kendrick says

      September 17, 2024 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      The rub for these ribs is perfect. It's a nice combo of sweet and tangy, and it really made the ribs tender. Love this one.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        September 19, 2024 at 9:50 am

        Thanks Nicole!

        Reply
    6. Liz says

      September 17, 2024 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      My family loved tese ribs! Super easy to make and packed full of flavor!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        September 19, 2024 at 9:50 am

        Yay! I'm so glad they were a hit!

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Ashley Strickland Freeman in a kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Ashley, "your best friend in the kitchen." I'm a food stylist, culinary producer, editor, travel junkie, and author of The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook from Charleston, SC. Thanks for stopping by Little Black Skillet!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • White platter of Burrata Caprese Salad with a metal spatula and green checked cloth on the side.
      Burrata Caprese Salad with Fresh Basil Vinaigrette

    • Two plates topped with pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw, a jar of Western NC BBQ Sauce, a bowl of pickles, and some red checked napkins.
      Western North Carolina Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce

    • A metal pan of grilled pork chops brushed with Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce alongside a white bowl of sauce with a brush on top and a red checked cloth.
      The Best Tangy Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce

    • Slice of Edwards Turtle Pie recipe on a white plate with a bite out on a fork and a blue platter of the whole pie behind.
      The Ultimate No Bake Turtle Pie with Chocolate Crust

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Subscribe

    • Click Here to Keep in Touch

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Copyright © 2025 Little Black Skillet

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.