These honey garlic ribs are sticky, sweet, and savory, with tender, fall-off-the-bone meat. Perfect for a family dinner or a backyard barbecue.
Ingredients:
- For the Ribs:
- 2-3 pounds pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or neutral oil)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ketchup (optional, for added depth)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tablespoons water or chicken broth.
- Garnish (Optional):
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Ribs:
- Remove the Membrane (Optional but Recommended): Flip the ribs over so the bone side is facing up. Slide a butter knife under the thin membrane covering the bones. Once loosened, grab it with a paper towel and pull it off. This helps the ribs become more tender.
- Season the Ribs: Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika (if using). Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs.
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Cook the Ribs (Oven Method):
- Place the ribs on a large baking sheet lined with foil.
- Cover the baking sheet tightly with foil.
- Bake for 2-2.5 hours, or until the ribs are very tender.
2. Cook the Ribs (Grill Method):
- Preheat your grill to medium-low heat.
- Place the ribs on the indirect heat side of the grill.
- Cook for 2-2.5 hours, or until the ribs are very tender, flipping occasionally.
3. Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- While the ribs are cooking, prepare the sauce. In a medium saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil (if using), ketchup (if using), red pepper flakes (if using), and water or chicken broth.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until it has thickened slightly.
4. Glaze the Ribs:
- Once the ribs are tender, remove them from the oven or grill.
- If using the oven, turn the oven broiler on.
- Brush the ribs generously with the honey garlic sauce.
- Oven: Place the ribs back under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce is caramelized and sticky. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Grill: Place the ribs over direct heat for 2-3 minutes, brushing with more sauce and flipping frequently until the sauce has caramelized.
- Remove the ribs from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes.
5. Serve:
- Cut the ribs into individual portions.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra smoky flavor, you can smoke the ribs for 1-2 hours before baking or grilling.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spiciness of the sauce.
- If you don’t have rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice can be substituted.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a little more water or broth.
- For a deeper garlic flavor, roast the garlic before mincing.
- Serve with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or grilled vegetables.
Enjoy your delicious honey garlic ribs!