Spicy Roasted BBQ Country Ribs

Spicy Roasted BBQ Country Ribs are packed with flavor and have a deep, rich, mahogany color. They're a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds!

When you have a hankerin' for a really tasty BBQ sauce, don't reach for the ones on the shelf. Make this easy molasses-based sauce to slather on pork, chicken, and even fish. I promise you won't regret it!

The ingredients for making spicy BBQ Country Ribs:

*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• pastry brush
• 3 quart saucepan
• baking sheet with rack
• wooden spoon
• kitchen timer
• cooking spray
• chefs knife
• cutting board

How this recipe came to be:

If you've been here before you know that I enjoy collecting vintage recipes from vintage cookbooks. Cooking from vintage books bridges me to the past and many times gives me inspiration for new recipes, cooking methods, and flavors.

This is one such recipe.

I found this recipe in a vintage 1972 Better Homes and Gardens cookbook called MENU COOK BOOK (page 34, called Hot Barbecue Ribs). The only thing I did differently from what the original recipe called for was that I changed the cooking method of the country ribs.

BHG's original recipe called for simmering the ribs in salted water for 60 minutes, draining them, and then finishing them on an outdoor charcoal grill while basting them with the spicy BBQ sauce before serving.

I'm sure that method is perfectly fine and yields a delicious end result, but I'm not a big fan of boiling protein, so I decided to oven-roast the pork ribs (from start to finish) while brushing them with the sticky, hot, and sweet molasses BBQ sauce, at several intervals, after the halfway mark of the roasting process.

See BHG's directions for simmering country ribs:

• Simmer ribs, covered, in salted water until tender (50-60 minutes); drain.
• Meanwhile make the molasses BBQ sauce in a saucepan (see recipe card for specific ingredients).
• Grill the ribs over slow to medium coals for 10-15 minutes on each side, brushing often with the barbeque sauce.
• Garnish the ribs with lemon slices and serve.

What is a country rib?

Country ribs are a cut of pork from the shoulder blade where the shoulder and loin meet.

Country ribs are a combination of lean and dark meat that is marbled with a good bit of fat which always leads to extra flavor.

Country ribs can be found as single ribs or in slabs, but I've only seen them as individual ribs. They can also be found boneless, or bone in. For this post, I used boneless country pork ribs.

How to prepare country ribs so they're less fatty:

Roasting them on a baking sheet fitted with a rack will render out the fat as the ribs roast, so the fat collects in the baking sheet and not on the ribs themselves.

Simmering country ribs in salted water (see above section for BHG's method for simmering country ribs) is also a way to render out some of the fat. As the ribs simmer, the fat will slowly melt into the water. The fatty water is then drained off once the ribs are fully cooked.

Can these country ribs be made on an outdoor grill?

Yes, but be aware that due to the fatty nature of pork country ribs, there will most likely be plenty of flare-ups as the fat is rendered from the meat and drips into the grill's flames.

Can these country ribs be made in an air fryer?

Yes, but again, I would recommend using a rack to collect the fat while the ribs cook in the air fryer.

In addition, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to either cut back on the amount of ribs you make or do them in batches.

I recommend air frying the ribs at 375-degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, glaze, 20 minutes, glaze, and a final 15 minutes before glazing again and serving.

*IMPORTANT - Always check the internal temperature of the pork with an instant read thermometer before serving. See the chart below for safe internal cooking temperatures for pork.

Proper cooking temperature for pork:

Can this sauce be used on other proteins?

You bet!

This molasses-based tangy BBQ sauce would be fantastic for chicken, fish, shrimp, and even beef.

Can the hot sauce be left out or ramped up in this recipe if desired?

Sure, either one is fine by me. Not a fan of spicy, cut back or leave it out completely.

Love spicy heat? Add as much as you like. The choice is yours!

What is liquid smoke? Can it be left out of this recipe?

It certainly can be left out, if desired, but did you know that liquid smoke is a completely natural product made from running wood smoke through a condenser and then collecting the droplets? Yep.

Using liquid smoke as an ingredient is an easy alternative to smoking food in a smoker but without woodchips. A shake or two of liquid smoke is all you need, but use it sparingly because it's a very concentrated flavor enhancer!

Can country ribs be frozen after cooking?

They sure can.

Cool the ribs completely first, and then wrap them well in an airtight freezer bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat, covered with foil, in a preheated 350-degree oven (or air fryer) until hot.

Additional pork recipes:

French Onion Pork Chops have all the flavor you love about French onion soup but with more flavor to sink your teeth into.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches are tender, meaty, and full of delicious flavor. Making them in the slow cooker makes this meal perfect for entertaining because if feeds a crowd without any fuss.

Pineapple Pork Tenderloin can be made outside on the grill or inside in the oven. The pineapple keeps the pork tender, juicy, and exceptionally delicious!

Make it a complete meal:

Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad is a healthy, chilled, and colorful side dish that everyone adores. It's no wonder it's been shared around the internet 215,000 times and counting!

Keeping up with the vintage recipe theme, this Old-Fashioned Red Bean Salad (aka Kidney Bean Salad), has also been super popular. This 5 minutes salad bring back the fondest memories from all who've tried it. See for yourself!

With a crispy exterior and a creamy interior, Lemon and Thyme Roasted Baby Potatoes (for the oven or air fryer) are the absolute perfect accompaniment for just about any meal!

I sincerely hope you'll enjoy making (and eating) this delicious glazed country pork rib as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!