Sticky Paleo Ribs
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Prepare to lick those fingers clean after digging into these crave-worthy paleo ribs! Coated with an easy-to-make spice rub, slow cooked until fall off the bone tender, and then slathered in an easy-to-make (and refined sugar-free!) chocolate BBQ sauce. Finish them off with a quick grill or broil, allowing the sauce to caramelize and create a savory-sweet, sticky exterior.
For another hearty paleo dinner that will warm you up, check out this divine paleo beef stew.
Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get sticky fingers, a satisfied belly, and all over happy! These paleo ribs are heaven. Calling for a handful of wholesome ingredients, they're also super easy to make ā the slow cooker does the heavy lifting for you. Grab your ribs, cover them with a spice rub made from pantry staples, pop them in the slow cooker, then come back to finish them with a sauce and a broil or grill! It's easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for entertaining.
Ingredients notes
Paleo ribs call for paleo ingredients! This recipe has a little secret weapon in the ingredients list: dark chocolate! It adds a rich depth and complex character to the BBQ sauce without being obviously chocolate-y. This is what you need:
- Baby back ribs: Also called pork back ribs!
- Paleo rib rub: Coconut sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Paleo BBQ sauce: Tomato sauce, coconut sugar, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and dark chocolate.
- Collagen: This ingredient is optional, so feel free to omit it. It does make the BBQ sauce richer and adds a boost of nutrition.
- Optional: liquid smoke.
How to make paleo ribs
Making finger-licking-good, hearty ribs is so not complicated. Make a spice rub, let the slow cooker do the work, whip up a sauce, throw it all together then cook to perfection. This is how it's done:
- Spice it up: Get your rack of pork ribs ready, mix up some pantry-staple spices in a small bowl, then distribute the blend over the ribs, massaging them into the meat.
- Slow cook: Put your spiced-up rack of ribs in your crockpot, setting 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 crockpot has a warming feature, you've got some leeway.
- BBQ sauce: Put all the sauce ingredients, bar the chocolate, into a saucepan, whisking together as it comes to a boil. Once you see bubbles, remove it from the heat, add the chocolate, and whisk so the residual heat melts it into the mix.
- Baste and cook: 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. Enjoy!
Baby back ribs vs pork back ribs
You've probably heard of baby back ribs, and you've probably heard of pork back ribsā¦ So, what is the difference? Nothing! They're one and the same. Despite the different names, baby back ribs and pork back ribs refer to identical cuts of meat ā you might even find them under other aliases, such as pork loin back ribs or loin ribs. We like pork back ribs (and baby back ribs) as they are meatier, and more meat = better ribs!
Can you use spare ribs or short 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 (also known as pork side ribs) or short ribs. Spare ribs and short ribs have a higher fat content and less meat, and make delicious paleo short ribs or paleo spare ribs! The higher fat content means they're extra tender and flavorful. The cooking time won't differ in this recipe as they're first cooked in the slow cooker.
So where do you buy these ribs? Start by checking out your nearby supermarket, where you'll likely find a selection of ribs in the meat produce section. If your local supermarket is small and you can't find them, try visiting your local butcher!
What to serve with paleo ribs
Turn these paleo ribs into a meal by serving them beside some wholesome and filling veggies. Our top picks are some sauteed green beans with garlicĀ and someĀ herb and garlic butter smashed sweet potatoes on the side! Some other ideas:
- Crispy Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Acorn Squash
- Garlic Butter Sugar Snap Peas
- Roasted Broccoli
- Garlic Smashed Red Potatoes
If you still have room for dessert, enjoy some healthy (and paleo) banana nice cream or zucchini brownies!
Recipe FAQs
What type of chocolate do you use for paleo ribs?
We use dark chocolate. Make sure to read the ingredient list to ensure the chocolate you use is paleo.
Are ribs paleo?
Ribs are paleo so long as the ingredients you use to cook them are paleo! You'll want to avoid any processed ingredients or sauces. This particular recipe is paleo as you'll make your own BBQ sauce using paleo-friendly ingredients. These ribs are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
I don't have a crockpot, can I still make paleo ribs?
If you don't have a crockpot you can still slow cook the ribs in a traditional oven. Set it at a low temperature (around 250 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake for several hours until they are cooked through and tender.
How do I store leftover paleo ribs?
In the unlikely event of leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for around 3-4 days, reheating them in the oven.
Do you have any other rib recipes?
Yes! You can also try our braised pork ribs, grilled pork ribs with ponzu sauce, and our crockpot beef ribs. Or check out all of our rib recipes!
Sticky Paleo Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 rack baby back ribs (about 2 lb) (also called pork back ribs)
Paleo Rib Rub
- 2 tablespoons EACH: coconut sugar, chili powder, and smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder and sea salt
- Ā½ teaspoon black pepper
Paleo BBQ Sauce
- Ā½ cup tomato sauce
- Ā¼ cup collagen (see notes)
- Ā¼ cup coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon EACH: chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder
- Ā½ 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, cut the rack of ribs in half.1 rack baby back ribs (about 2 lb)
- 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.2 tablespoons EACH: coconut sugar, chili powder, and smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and sea salt, Ā½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pop the ribs into your crockpot and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- Add the tomato sauce, collagen, 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.Ā½ cup tomato sauce, Ā¼ cup collagen, Ā¼ cup coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon EACH: chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder, Ā½ teaspoon sea salt, Optional: 6 drops of liquid smoke, 2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate
To Grill the ribs
- Preheat your grill to medium-high. Take the ribs out of the crockpot 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 crockpot and place them on a baking sheet. Baste them generously with the chocolate BBQ sauce then broil for 3-5 minutes on each side.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our ribs recipes!
Do use a bar of unsweetened chocolate or the dark chocolate that has sugar in it?
We use dark chocolate. š
Excellent!
Do you put any liquid in the crockpot with the ribs?
Nope! Just coat them in the rub.
What tomato sauce do you use? Do you mean ketchup? Or plain tomato sauce that you would use for pasta? Or passata? Thank you!
This is the tomato sauce that we use. It’s a plain tomato sauce that you could use to make pasta sauce. Passata would also work, but you may need to thin it slightly.
Made these last night and they were a hit. That chocolate bbq sauce was perfect.
I’m so happy to hear you liked them!!
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. š
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!!