These Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs are smoky, super succulent and tender. Made with a delicious spice rub that becomes a wonderful sauce as they slow roast to perfection, everyone flips for them.
Inspiration
My husband’s birthday was last week, and I love that he requested these Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs recipe for dinner!
Do you remember my husband’s culinary story?
He was a Vegetarian for 21 years and a year or so ago he decide to eat meat again. Why? You can check out his explanation here. I encourage you to, as it’s quite entertaining.
While none of his (often quirky) eating habits have ever truly bothered me, I do love his new meat eating ways. Especially this time of year as it cools down, when I typically start cooking all sorts of comfort food meals, which often include slow roasted meats.
What’s in Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs?
- pork ribs
- brown sugar
- smoked paprika
- chile powder
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- smoked sea salt, pepper
These Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs are so incredibly succulent and tender! And the spices pack every bite with delicious flavors! The smoky and spicy flavors in the rub, along with the touch or brown sugar make for such a great combination.
As the spices cook slowly with the pork, they “melt” into a sauce of sorts, coating each piece of meat.
Whether you’re having guests or an intimate dinner with family, everyone will be wowed!
I hope you enjoy every last bite and lick of these oh-so-tasty sweet and spicy pork ribs!
More delicious pork rib recipes:

Smoky, Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons golden brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons mild chile powder (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- smoked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (see notes)
- olive oil for the pan
- 2 1/2 pounds pork ribs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F and adjust a rack to the center.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, paprika, chile powder, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix to blend. Set aside.
- Add two layers of foil -- or one layer of heavy-duty foil -- on a baking sheet. Set aside.
- Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan (preferably cast iron) with olive oil, and place it over high heat. If the rib rack is too long to fit in the pan, cut it in half, between the center ribs.
- Place the ribs on a clean, dry surface and season both sides generously with the smoked salt and pepper.
- Once the pan is very hot, add the ribs, meat side down. Sear them just until there's a nice golden "crust," about 3 minutes. You can use metal kitchen tongs to move them around to be sure the entire surface of the meat is seared.
- Keep the wrapped ribs on the baking sheet and then place them in the preheated 300°F oven until they're very tender (a knife should very easily be able to slide into the thickest part of the rib meat), at least 2 hours. About halfway through the cooking time, remove from the oven, open the foil and flip the ribs over. Use a large spoon to baste them with any juices in the foil. Re-seal the foil and put them back in the oven for the remaining cooking time.
- Serve!
Notes
Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Kaye Kittrell says
Can’t wait to try this! Onion and garlic powder I don’t keep on hand. But I still have some of your smoked paprika you gave me! YUMMM
valentina says
That’s great, Kaye! I hope you love it — would be delicious along side some of your beautiful veggies from the garden! 🙂
Judy @My Well Seasoned Life says
Love this recipe and absolutely love your new look.
valentina says
Thanks so much, Judy!!! XO
Amanda@ChewTown says
These ribs just made my mouth water and my stomach growl and its only 8am! I love smoky sweet and spicy ribs and yours truly look incredible.
valentina says
Thanks, Amanda! Dinner for breakfast can be just as good as breakfast for dinner! 😉
Ange says
Ribs are so delish! Your marinade sounds really tasty and easy as well.
valentina says
Thank you! 😀
Ai Ping | Curious Nut says
Your hub’s reasoning of why he’s eating meat again cracked me up so bad. Love it! I’m a meat lover so I say Go Meat! :p Oh and I’ll take some ribs with me… k thanks bye.
valentina says
I’m with you – love meat! Makes my cooking life more fun now that he eats meat. 🙂
David says
Oh, my – they look so succulent! I have never been a rib guy, but lately they have been appealing to me a lot. Must mean I should make some, and use this recipe! xo
valentina says
Give in to the craving! 😉 xo
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Oh yeessss…..nothing beats a good side of smoked ribs!!
valentina says
Agreed! Thanks! 🙂
Meredith says
Yum, yum, and more yum!!! These look absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
valentina says
Thanks so much, Meredith! 🙂 Enjoy!
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting says
Oh my I wouldn´t mind having these for lunch today!!
ps. great to connect via FBC!
valentina says
Thank you & yes, great to connect! It’s a great group! 🙂
Chris @ SimpleFood365 says
We love ribs here and this looks and sounds like a great recipe!
valentina says
Thank you, Chris! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Heather says
I love this recipe! Personally, I am afraid of my grill so I always use my oven to do my ribs. Excellent recipe!
valentina says
I hear you! Sometimes it’s nice to be inside with an oven instead of outside with a grill. (Though I do love a smoky flavor!) Oven is perfect for this. Hope you enjoy & thank you! 🙂
Ann says
made this thrice already. last was last night and it was a success! It was a success the first time… the second time and even the third time so it means one thing… 🙂 thank you for sharing this recipe!
valentina says
Thanks for this awesome comment, Ann. So happy you love it and here’s to 4,5,6, and so on — for successes! 🙂