Sticky Paleo Ribs are AMAZING! They're slow cooked until fall off the bone tender then smothered in an easy to make (and refined sugar-free!) chocolate BBQ sauce then quickly grilled or baked. You will LOVE them!
| gluten-free + paleo + refined sugar-free |
I hope you're hungry, my friends. Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get sticky fingers, a full belly, and all over happy. Today's recipe is one of my favs. I've made three times in the past week and have no plans to stop the weekly ribs feast any time soon.
These babies are first covered in a simple rib rub then cooked in your crockpot until they're fall off the bone amazing. Then they're coated in the most ridiculously delicious chocolate BBQ sauce (yes, chocolate!) and popped on your grill or into your oven for a few minutes to finish them.
I think we should plan a giant online party where we all make these baby back paleo ribs together. What do you think? You in? 💃
Video: How to make sticky paleo ribs
Unless this is your first time here (and if it is, welcome!) then you probably know that I love love love Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I have two scoops every morning without fail. Sometimes in a smoothie and other times in my coffee. ← that sounds weird, I know. You can't taste the unflavored version at all so it totally blends into coffee.
But my favorite way to get more healthy collagen into my diet is to cook with it. In this ribs recipe, I've added it to the chocolate BBQ sauce to give it a boost of good-for-you-ness. Vital Proteins Mixed Berry Collagen Peptides work really well but you can definitely sub their unflavored Collagen Peptides if you have it on hand.
And in case you didn't believe me that I love to cook with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides …
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Recipes
- Curried Chicken Cauliflower Rice Soup
- Grab and Go Bacon and Egg Cups
- Flourless Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Super Creamy Almond Butter Latte
- Triple Berry Paleo Banana Bread with Lemon Glaze
Easy Paleo Baby Back Ribs
Making ribs is so not complicated. Trust me on this one. Here's how you're going to rock your paleo ribs:
1. Spice it up! Sprinkle a few pantry-staple spices on the rack and massage them into the meat. So far so good right?
2. Slow cooker magic! Put the rack in your crockpot and set it to high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Don't worry if you're not at home as soon as they're done cooking. As long as your crock pot has a warming feature, you've got some leeway.
3. Make the BBQ sauce! Five minutes is all you need here. Super simple.
4. Put it all together! Baste the fall off the bone tender ribs with the chocolate BBQ sauce then grill them for 20 minutes or broil them for 10 minutes.
See how easy that was? Making paleo pork ribs is so simple and so delicious!
baby back ribs vs pork back ribs
Back in my pre rib cooking days, I wondered if there was a difference between baby back ribs and pork back ribs. Here's what I learned: there is no difference. They're the same cut with two different names. (or same cut many different names since you may also see them called pork loin back ribs or loin ribs.)
Pork back ribs (and baby back ribs) are meaty ribs and my go-to choice. More meat = better ribs!
Can you use spare ribs?
Back ribs are pretty easy to find, but if your store is out, don't despair. You can still make this recipe using spare ribs. AKA pork side ribs.
Sidebar – why do ribs have so many different names?!!
Spare ribs have less meat and are fattier than back ribs. But … fattier means they're really tasty. They make delicious paleo ribs.
Side ribs/ spare ribs are bigger than back ribs but because this recipe cooks them first in the slow cooker, the time to cook them is the same.
More healthy BBQ recipes
- Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Skewers with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad with Avocado Ranch
- Grilled Garlic Butter Mushrooms
- Chunky Grilled Guacamole
- Grilled Gochujang Pork Chops with Watermelon Mint Salad
- Grilled Maple Dijon Carrots
Sticky Paleo Ribs with Chocolate BBQ Sauce
Prep Time: 10 mins- Cook Time: 4 1/2 hours
- Total Time: -25533553.616667 minute
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Sticky Paleo Ribs are AMAZING! They're slow cooked until fall off the bone tender then smothered in an easy to make (and refined sugar-free!) chocolate BBQ sauce then quickly grilled or baked. You will LOVE them!
| gluten-free + paleo + refined sugar-free |
Ingredients
1 rack of baby back ribs (also called pork back ribs)
Paleo Rib Rub
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Paleo BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon each: chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Optional: 6 drops of liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Remove the thin, papery skin from the back of the ribs. Once you get it started, it should pull off in one piece. Some butchers will do this for you. If you have a small BBQ (like me!) cut the rack of ribs in half.
- Mix the rub ingredients together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the rub over the meaty side of the ribs and pat it down so that it is well covered.
- Pop the ribs into your crock pot and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- Add the tomato sauce, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, coconut sugar, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and (if using) the liquid smoke to a small pan over medium-high heat. Whisk the ingredients together and bring it to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate, and whisk it into the BBQ sauce.
To Grill the ribs
Preheat your grill to medium-high. Take the ribs out of the crock pot and baste them generously in the chocolate BBQ sauce. Grill for 20 minutes, turning halfway through.
To Bake the Ribs
Preheat your oven to broil. Take the ribs out of the crock pot and place them on a baking sheet. Baste them generously with the chocolate BBQ sauce then broil for 3-5 minutes on each side.
Kristen Stevens
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Hi, I’m Kristen! 
Hi Kristen
Can this sauce be made without the collagen ?
Lucy
It can. It just won’t have the extra healthy boost of collagen that Vital Proteins gives it.
These are great. I love that you’re using chocolate in the BBQ sauce, not too much, but enough to darken it up and give it some depth. I like my ribs fall-off-the-bone, too. On my list for this weekend!
★★★★★
I love sneaking chocolate into savory food. I used to make a braised rib recipe and put a little chocolate in at the end. People would rave about it but they could never guess what the secret ingredient was. 🙂
Chocolate BBQ sauce definitely had my curiousity piqued! What an amazing blend of flavors on these. A love that you’re sneaking in more collagen.
★★★★★
Chocolate BBQ is so good! You definitely have to try it!!