Keto Ribs (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)

These Keto Ribs are full of flavor and practically falling off the bone. They include just four ingredients like a sugar free keto rib rub and a substitute for soda. Learn how to make low carb ribs in your crockpot, slow cooker, Ninja Foodi, or Instant Pot with this easy keto pork ribs recipe.

Why Make Keto Ribs

• Keto BBQ option year-round: This BBQ Keto Ribs recipe is perfect for food holidays like 4th of July and the rest of the year. So, add this to your list of keto and low carb recipes. Plus, for those, like me, who live in an apartment, this dish lets us have the flavors of keto grilled foods despite being indoors.
• Works with several cooking methods: This recipe includes directions for cooking ribs in a Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, or slow cooker. I also include recipes for an easy sugar-free rib dry rub & a homemade Keto BBQ sauce.
• Delicious: whether you follow a keto diet or not, this great recipe will give you some of the best ribs. I’d say is one of the best BBQ recipes that you’ll ever taste. You’ll love the combo of the dry rub with keto cola soda.

Ingredients Needed

Making flavorful ribs doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Pork baby back ribs: about 2 racks of ribs. I prefer baby back ribs, but you can also use spare ribs.
• Keto Rib Rub: I’ve made this recipe with one of two sugar-free dry rub options. You can use my chicken rub (it uses spices that I’m sure you have in your cabinet like paprika, garlic powder, salt, and onion powder without any sugar substitutes). You can also use my BBQ Seasoning (which includes a brown sugar substitute)
• Keto BBQ Sauce: I make this recipe with homemade keto barbecue sauce or Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce (sweetened with Stevia) that I buy online. But, any low carb BBQ sauce that you prefer to get from local grocery stores.
• Keto Cola Soda: Zevia Cola, or Chicken Broth

You can get the full list of ingredient amounts and instructions from the full recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Keto Pork Ribs

Preparing to cook keto ribs in a Ninja Foodi or other pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot) is the same as when you make them in a slow cooker. The major difference between the two cooking methods is time.

Here are some key cooking steps:

Prepare the pork ribs

1. Pat your rack of ribs dry with a paper towel.
2. Remove the membrane or silver skin from the back of the ribs. You can start this process by using a sharp knife or even a butter knife.
3. Season & Marinate: Season the pork ribs on both sides with the dry rub. Allow them to marinate for at least 4 hours (ideally, overnight)

After the ribs are prepared, choose the best cooking methods for you.

Slow Cooker Keto Ribs

1. Put the seasoned ribs & other ingredients in the Crockpot
2. Cook & Tenderize: Slow Cook the ribs for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low
3. Sauce & Crisp: Add the barbecue ribs to a broiler-safe baking sheet or dish. Top the tender ribs with BBQ sauce. Then, broil them on high for 5 minutes.

Ninja Foodi Ribs/Instant Pot Ribs with Duo Crisp Lid

To make my ribs in a Ninja Foodi, I did the following:

1. Put the seasoned ribs & other ingredients in the cooking pot: Sit the seasoned ribs in the Ninja Foodi or pressure cooker bowl. Pour chicken broth or keto-friendly Cola soda at the bottom of the pot.
2. Cook & Tenderize: Cook the ribs on high for 25-30 minutes (your machine will take a few additional minutes to come to pressure). Allow the pressure to release naturally.
3. Sauce & Crisp: Top the tender ribs with BBQ sauce. Then, Air Crisp or Air Fry the barbecue ribs for 5 minutes.

Top Cooking Tips

Using 360 Cookware Slow Cooker Base

You can also make slow cooker keto pork ribs with the 360 Cookware Slow Cooker Base. I prefer this as an option compared to traditional slow cookers because:

1. One-Pot Browning: it turns a regular pot into a slow cooker so you can use the same pan to brown the meat as you do to slow cook the meat.
2. Less Liquid Required: 360 Cookware relies on vapor (or waterless cooking) technology. As a result, you can use less liquid when cooking to achieve tender results. In this recipe, you use half of the liquid that you would in a traditional slow cooker.

How to store Keto Baby Back Ribs

If you have any leftover juicy keto ribs, the best way to store them is in an airtight container for the next day (up to 5 days). You can also wrap them up tight in aluminum foil.

Keto Ribs Side Dishes

These delicious keto bbq ribs work well with any of these keto side dishes for bbq. Some of my favorites are:

• Cauliflower mac and cheese
• Collard Greens: you’ll find collard greens with bacon, pressure cooker collard greens, and crockpot collard greens on the site.
• Keto Cornbread
• Keto Coleslaw
• Green Beans: Crockpot Fresh Green Beans, Instant Pot Southern Green Beans, or Air Fryer Green Beans

If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!