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Sticky Sweet Orange BBQ Ribs

Sticky-Sweet Orange BBQ Ribs

Sweet, smokey and tangy, these Sticky-Sweet Orange BBQ Ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender with a zesty twist from fresh orange juice. Slow-baked, then finished on the grill (or under the broiler) for that irresistible char, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser for backyard barbecues, game day, or Sunday dinners.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 991 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs:

  • 2 racks pork spare ribs or baby back ribs about 2 lbs each
  • 1 ½ tbsp coarse sea salt
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground mustard
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp chipotle chili powder

For the Orange BBQ Sauce:

  • ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice I used Cara Cara Oranges but you could use mandarin or blood oranges too
  • ½ cup honey
  • ⅔ cup ketchup
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp onion powder

Instructions
 

  • Slow-bake the ribs: Preheat oven to 300°F. Place each rack of ribs on a doubled sheet of foil. In a bowl, mix salt, paprika, mustard, garlic powder, cumin, pepper, onion powder, and chipotle chili powder. Rub generously over both sides of the ribs. Wrap tightly in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 ½ hours.
  • Make the sauce: Meanshile, whisk all sauce ingredients together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool—it will thicken even more.
  • Finish on the grill (or broiler): After baking, carefully pour any juices from the foil into a bowl. Whisk in 3–4 tbsp of the BBQ sauce. Heat grill to high. Place ribs directly on the grates and grill 10–12 minutes, turning and basting with the juice/sauce mixture until charred and caramelized. (No grill? Use your oven’s broiler—2–3 minutes per side.)
  • Serve: Brush with more sauce, grab extra napkins, and prepare for sticky fingers and happy faces.

Notes

Pro Tips
  • The sauce is a flavor bomb—make extra to keep in the fridge for chicken, burgers, or roasted veggies.
  • Want even deeper flavor? Rub the ribs and let them sit overnight in the fridge before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 6servingsCalories: 991kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 49gFat: 72gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 242mgSodium: 2309mgPotassium: 987mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 966IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Barbeque Ribs, BBQ, Ribs
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