Country-Style Ribs With Maple BBQ Sauce
Country-style ribs are meaty and inexpensive and lend themselves to various cooking methods and flavor profiles. The oven-baked pork ribs are finished with a homemade maple-flavored barbecue sauce.
These oven-baked country-style ribs are tender, meaty, and full of big flavor. The slow, covered bake keeps them juicy, and the quick finishing step with a homemade maple BBQ sauce gives them that irresistible sticky-sweet glaze. It’s an easy, dependable recipe that turns inexpensive cuts into something special.. The ribs and sauce go particularly well with corn, sweet potatoes, green beans, or broccoli. Scalloped potatoes or a cold potato salad would be excellent as well.
The maple syrup adds depth and balance to the savory seasonings already on the ribs. If you like a spicier barbecue sauce, add a teaspoon or two of liquid smoke and spice it up with a dash of cayenne pepper. If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can use a seasoned salt blend, or try a grill seasoning blend or a spice mixture for pork or chicken.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Tender every time. Slow baking keeps the ribs juicy and nearly fall-apart tender.
Maple-forward flavor. The homemade BBQ sauce has warm spice and subtle sweetness.
Easy prep. Just season, bake, brush with sauce, and finish uncovered.
Budget-friendly. Country-style ribs offer great value and plenty of meat.
Ingredient Notes
- Country-style pork ribs – Choose boneless ribs for fastest cooking; bone-in works but takes slightly longer.
- Cajun seasoning – Adds heat and smoky depth; use your preferred blend.
- Maple syrup – Dark/robust maple gives the sauce better body and flavor.
- Ketchup – The base of the maple BBQ sauce.
- Apple cider vinegar – Adds brightness and tang.
- Cinnamon & allspice – Warm spices that complement the maple beautifully.
Steps to Make Country-Style Ribs With Maple BBQ Sauce
- Heat the oven and lightly grease the baking dish.
- Pat the ribs dry and season all sides.
- Cover the ribs tightly with foil and bake until tender.
- Stir together the maple BBQ sauce ingredients.
- Uncover the ribs and brush generously with sauce.
- Return to the oven and finish baking uncovered.
- Brush with more sauce and serve hot.
Tips
- Trim excess fat from the ribs if they’re heavily marbled.
- Make the sauce a day ahead for even better flavor.
- Add a pinch of cayenne if you want a bit more heat.
- Finish under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes for caramelized edges.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy maple sauce. Add hot sauce, cayenne, or chipotle powder to the BBQ sauce.
- Smoky version. Stir ½ teaspoon smoked paprika into the seasoning or sauce.
- Bourbon-maple. Add 1 tablespoon bourbon to the sauce for depth and warmth.
- Mustard-maple glaze. Replace Dijon with whole-grain mustard for texture and tang.
Serving Suggestions
- Salad: Coleslaw is an excellent choice. The creamy, tangy flavor of a mayonnaise-based slaw provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, smoky, and sweet flavors of the maple BBQ sauce on the ribs.
- Cornbread: Whether savory or slightly sweet, cornbread pairs wonderfully with the maple BBQ sauce. The crumbly texture also contrasts nicely with the tender country style ribs with maple BBQ sauce. Or try this delicious cornbread casserole.
- Potato Salad: A creamy, tangy potato salad provides complements the richness of the ribs.
- Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy mac and cheese offers comfort and richness that pairs well with the flavors of the maple BBQ sauce.
- Southern Greens: Collard greens, turnip greens, or mustard greens are all great choices for barbecue pork.
- Sweet Potatoes: Roast cubed sweet potatoes or make a sweet potato casserole to go with the pork ribs.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store cooled ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze cooked ribs with extra sauce for up to 2 months.
Reheat: Warm covered in a 300°F oven with a spoonful of added sauce until heated through.
Country-Style Ribs With Maple BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds country-style pork ribs, boneless
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Dash garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning, or Creole
For the BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup, preferably robust or strong
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- dash salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients and Pan: Gather and measure the ingredients and heat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease a shallow 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish or spray it with cooking spray.
- Prep and Bake the Ribs: Pat the ribs with paper towels to dry them, and sprinkle all sides with pepper, garlic powder, and Cajun seasoning. Arrange the ribs in the prepared baking dish. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
- Prepare the BBQ Sauce: In the meantime, prepare the BBQ sauce. Combine the ketchup, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, cinnamon, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, pepper, and a dash of salt in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Brush the Ribs: Remove the ribs from the oven, uncover them, and brush them with the BBQ sauce mixture. Return the ribs to the oven and bake them, uncovered, for 15 minutes longer.
- Serve: Arrange the country-style ribs on a serving platter and brush with more BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
