Description
Want to impress at dinner with minimal effort? Try this baked pork riblets recipe that uses just 5 ingredients for mouthwatering perfection.
Ingredients
For this incredibly simple baked pork riblets recipe, you’ll need just 5 key ingredients:
-
- 2 pounds pork riblets
-
- ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark both work beautifully)
-
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
-
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
-
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust according to your heat preference)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). This low temperature is crucial for breaking down the connective tissues in the riblets, resulting in that fall-off-the-bone tenderness we’re after.
Remove the riblets from packaging and pat them dry with paper towels. This step is essential because dry meat browns better and allows the marinade to adhere properly. If there’s a thin membrane on the bone side (sometimes called the silverskin), remove it by sliding a butter knife under it to loosen, then grip with a paper towel and pull it off. This can be a bit tedious but makes for a much better eating experience.
In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve and you have a thick paste. The vinegar’s acidity will help tenderize the meat while balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar.
I love this marinade because it creates a perfect glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven. My grandmother always said good cooking is about building layers of flavor, and this simple combination does exactly that.
Place the riblets in a large baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (trust me on the foil—it makes cleanup so much easier). Using your hands (or a brush if you prefer), massage the marinade onto all sides of the riblets, making sure to coat them thoroughly.
If you have time, cover the dish with plastic wrap and let the riblets marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes up to overnight. This extra time allows the flavors to penetrate the meat more deeply, but if you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This creates a steamy environment that helps break down the tough connective tissues in the riblets. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 2 hours.
During this time, the riblets will slowly cook in their own juices, absorbing all those wonderful flavors from the marinade. Your home will start to fill with an irresistible aroma that might have family members wandering into the kitchen asking, “How much longer?”
After the initial 2 hours, remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Spoon some of the accumulated juices over the riblets. Return them to the oven, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes or until the surface becomes beautifully caramelized and slightly crispy.
This final blast of high heat creates that gorgeous sticky glaze that makes these riblets utterly irresistible. Keep a close eye on them during this last phase so they don’t burn—the sugar can go from perfectly caramelized to burnt rather quickly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 105 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 riblets
- Calories: 380 per serving
Keywords: baked pork riblets recipe, easy pork riblets, fall-off-the-bone riblets, 5-ingredient pork recipe, sweet and savory riblets