by Diana Rattray
If you’re looking for a delicious recipe, try making these country style ribs with maple BBQ sauce. The dish is easy and makes a fantastic meal for an everyday meal or gathering of friends and family. The sweet and savory maple BBQ sauce flavors the succulent country-style ribs perfectly. I used boneless ribs for the dish, but bone-in will work just as well. Serve the tender pork with your family’s favorite vegetables. 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.
If you like a smoky or spicy 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.
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 Country-Style Ribs With Maple BBQ Sauce
- Refrigerate the ribs and sauce in an airtight container within 2 hours and enjoy the leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
- The dish may be frozen for up to 3 months, but be sure to use an airtight container or freezer bag and remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a foil covered baking dish in a 350 F oven.
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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pork, Pork Ribs, Barbecue Sauce, Maple Syrup
- Method: Bake
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Dash garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning Blend*
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
Cajun seasoning blends usually include salt, but if it is a salt-free blend, sprinkle the ribs with kosher salt along with the other seasonings.
