35 Paleo Pork Ribs Recipes Perfect for Summer
I love how easy it is to use ribs in my recipes. You can smoke them, grill them, roast them in the oven- you can do almost anything with them! You can even use them as the base for a delicious bone broth after you’ve used them in another recipe!
That’s what I’ve put together a list of my favorite Paleo-friendly pork ribs recipes. Although I know so many people who love ribs, so few of my friends take the time to make them at home. But they’re so easy!
On this list, we’ve included fun and simple Paleo recipes for everything from delicious smoked BBQ ribs to boneless pork rib breakfast tacos. Once you discover how easy they are to use in the kitchen, you might find yourself making ribs every single day.
Here are just a few of the Paleo Pork Ribs Recipes we’ve included:
- Paleo BBQ Ribs
- Thai Tom Saap Pork Ribs Soup
- Paleo Baked Ribs with Sticky Glaze
- Fall Off the Bone Keto Baked Ribs
- AIP Baked Honey Ginger Pork Ribs
If you click or tap any of the links above, it will instantly take you to the recipe below. Or download the entire list by clicking on the green button below.
BBQ Paleo Pork Ribs
Paleo BBQ Ribs
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, Paleo BBQ sauce.
In this paleo rib recipe, the ribs are boiled before being baked in the oven, and this can be the best way to make sure your ribs are falling off the bone. The sauce is tomato-based and is packed with flavors and with a sweetness from the honey that goes really well with the pork. Although this is an oven-baked method, you could place the ribs on the grill for a few minutes once they are cooked to give them the grilled look.
Pork Spare Ribs with Primal Peach, Mango and Jalapeno Bbq Sauce
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, mango, peaches, onion, jalapeno peppers, tomato paste (no added sugar!), chicken stock, coconut aminos, juice of 1 lime, apple cider vinegar, garlic, black pepper, paprika, ancho chile, cayenne pepper.
Although the sauce in this amazing paleo recipe takes a while to reduce down, it is so worth the extra effort to get that sweet and spicy coating that makes your ribs even more delicious than ever! The ribs are cooked in a slow-cooker and they come out tender and with the meat falling off the bone, so next time you want an impressive and satisfying dish to share with friends, this one could be the answer!
Smoked Pork Spare Ribs & Chili Garlic Sauce
– Ketogasm
Photo Credit: Tasha from Ketogasm
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, Hickory wood chips/pellets, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, chili powder, ground mustard seed, chili garlic sauce, coconut aminos, yellow mustard.
Here is a fantastic rib recipe for those of you who have a smoker. Pork meat tastes so good when it is smoked, and although this is a complex process, it would make a super-impressive meal for friends! The chili and garlic sauce add flavor and helps to keep the meat tender and juicy, and should be used to baste the meat regularly as it smokes. These amazing keto ribs taste so much better if you can apply the dry rub the night before.
Grilled Pork Burrito Bowls
– Fed and Fulfilled
Photo Credit: Fed and Fulfilled
Ingredients: country pork ribs (boneless), olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, sea salt, cayenne, pepper, cauliflower, red onion, red pepper, Easy Mango Guacamole, Simple Blender Salsa, fresh cilantro.
These burrito bowls are a fusion of colors and flavors that would look good on any dinner table and be devoured very easily! You have a grain-free dish of ‘rice’ and veggies supporting the spiced boneless pork ribs and it is all dressed with salsa to add a touch of freshness. This fabulous keto recipe would also work with chicken if you want a change from the ribs.
Smoked Spare Ribs
– Slim Palate
Photo Credit: Josh from Slim Palate
Ingredients: rack of spare ribs, wood chips or wood chunks, salt, paprika, black pepper, cacao powder, onion powder, cinnamon, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder.
If you have ever been to a barbecue and been given ribs that are mostly bone, you will appreciate the need for meaty ribs, and these can often be sourced at your local farmer’s market. Smoking meat has long been a way to cure it and it works with most meats, but smoked pork is the best in my opinion! This is another recipe that uses a ketogenic dry rub and once you have tried it you can experiment with different ingredients to make the ribs your own.
Country Style Keto Ribs
– Cassidy’s Craveable Creations
Ingredients: country style pork ribs, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, ghee, BBQ sauce of choice.
This is another good paleo recipe that gives you instructions for grilling or for baking in the oven which means ribs can be winter food too!
Korean BBQ Spare Ribs
– A Dash of Dolly
Ingredients: baby back ribs, pears, onion, garlic, coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, cayenne pepper, fish sauce, ginger, arrowroot flour, salt, pepper.
When you see the pictures of these ribs, you will be so impressed! They look so good you will want to eat them right away.
Sous Vide Pork Ribs
– Nom Nom Paleo
Ingredients: racks of pork ribs, kosher salt, ground pepper, chili con carne seasoning or your favorite dry rub.
The sous vide method of cooking involves sealing the meat in a vacuum and cooking it in water for a few hours. The result is tender and juicy ribs that fall off the bone, which you can finish off on a hot grill if you like the seared look. These ribs are paleo and AIP-compliant as you can use whatever dry rub you are allowed. They can also be smothered in your favorite barbecue sauce!
BBQ Ribs
– Little Bits of Real Food & Real Talk
Ingredients: tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, chipotle powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, rack of ribs, rosemary.
Here is a recipe for a really good paleo barbecue sauce that you can use on ribs, chicken or even pork chops! The sauce is tangy with a little bit of spice from the mustard and chili powder, although this can be adjusted for those of you who don’t like things too spicy. The ribs are cooked in the oven and then flashed on the grill for the charred effect and they look and taste amazing
Crockpot and Instant Pot Paleo Pork Ribs
Thai Tom Saap Pork Ribs Soup
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, red shallots, lemongrass stalks, galangal (or ginger), water, kaffir lime leaves, juice from 1 lime, fish sauce, salt.
Originally, Thai soups tended to be really spicy and use hot chilies, but this can still be a really tasty dish without the heat. Spare ribs can often be quite a cheap cut but they are packed with flavor as the meat is close to the bone. This paleo soup has the traditional Thai flavorings – salty and spicy with a subtle heat from the galangal, but with the freshness from the lime and lemongrass.
Sticky Honey Garlic Instant Pot Ribs
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: bone-in pork back ribs, broth or water, honey, coconut aminos, fresh lime juice, gluten free fish sauce, garlic, ground ginger or fresh ginger.
There is something so satisfying about picking up sticky ribs with your fingers and scraping the meat off the bone as you drink in the flavor of the glaze! It has a lot of Asian flavor from the fish sauce, garlic and aminos and the honey gives the ribs that all-important stickiness. These would be perfect next time you have people round for lunch and want a good paleo dish to serve.
Crock Pot Pork Ribs with Killer Barbecue Sauce
– Beauty and the Foodie
Photo Credit: Stacey from Beauty and the Foodie
Ingredients: baby back pork ribs, smoked sea salt or regular sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, tomato sauce or puree, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, natural hickory liquid smoke, coconut aminos, organic molasses, coconut sugar, onion powder, butter or coconut oil for dairy free, red pepper sauce.
If you find that grilled ribs can be dry and a bit tough, you might want to try these slow-cooked ones instead! The rib meat is tender and juicy and the ribs are smothered in a delicious low-carb barbecue sauce. This dish only takes a few minutes to prepare then you layer them in a crock pot and let it work its magic. This recipe can be made dairy-free if you use coconut oil instead of butter.
Slow Cooker Bbq Ribs
– Ditch the Wheat
Photo Credit: Carol from Ditch The Wheat
Ingredients: rack of pork ribs, sea salt, pepper, coconut amino acids, maple syrup, tomato paste, ground dried mustard, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, cayenne pepper, homemade chicken broth or water.
If you have a slow cooker you can make these paleo ribs any time you want without having to wait for grilling weather! These are best if you can get really meaty ribs, and these can often be sourced at your local farmer’s market. The sauce in this recipe packs quite a punch from the mustard and cayenne, but if you like your sauce a bit milder you can cut back on the cayenne.
Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: rack of baby back ribs, sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, BBQ sauce, beef broth, cilantro.
Using an Instant Pot, you can have these delicious ribs ready in less than an hour! This is a really easy paleo-friendly recipe that you could serve to guests next time you have friends around. These are made with a gluten-free and paleo-friendly sauce which gives the ribs that barbecue flavor we all love, and you can serve some extra sauce to dip the ribs in once they are cooked.
Slow Cooker Asian Style Ribs
– Rubies & Radishes
Ingredients: rack of pork ribs, salt, pepper, sesame oil, coconut aminos, raw-honey, coconut vinegar, five-spice blend, fresh ginger, garlic, lime juice, red pepper flakes.
Here is a great paleo recipe for ribs with a totally different flavor to the barbecue ones we usually make. They are marinated in Asian-inspired ingredients like garlic, ginger and gluten-free soy and these would be fun to try for an Asian dinner party. The ribs are so easy to prepare and then the slow cooker does all the work for you. You can serve these with more soy as a dipping sauce if you like.
Instant Pot Cider Braised Country Ribs with Herbed Whipped Sweet Potatoes & Apple Onion Gravy
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: boneless pork country ribs, avocado oil, unsweetened apple juice, apple cider vinegar, apples, yellow onion, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, sea salt, white sweet potatoes, rendered fat from the pork, coconut milk.
In this delicious paleo recipe the star of the dish is the apple onion gravy which is so good I was seriously tempted to eat it out of the pan! It makes a lovely fruity partner for the pork and I find a stronger apple flavor works well so try to choose apples that have a bit of tanginess. Because the country ribs are boneless, this is a hearty and filling meal that has ‘comfort food’ written all over it!
Instant Pot Maple Tamarind Ribs
– Grazed and Enthused
Photo Credit: Grazed & Enthused
Ingredients: baby back pork ribs, sea salt, garlic powder, dried thyme, liquid (broth or water), maple syrup, tamarind paste.
In this recipe the tamarind and maple syrup combination has a great sweet and sour flavor which can be a lovely alternative to barbecue ribs. This is a paleo and low-carb recipe which you can serve with a vegetable side or with a salad. When you place the ribs in the Instant Pot, it works best if you use a rack in the bottom otherwise the lowest layer can burn.
Other Paleo Pork Ribs
Paleo Baked Ribs with Sticky Glaze
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: rack of pork ribs, small apple, honey, gluten-free tamari sauce or coconut aminos, avocado oil, fresh ginger, garlic, fresh parsley.
Next time you have the family and friends round for a meal, why not treat them to a plate of delicious, sticky ribs! These Paleo ribs are coated in a sweet and fruity glaze that makes the meat so tasty that you will always want more! You can serve these with a side salad, a low-carb dipping sauce or just on their own, but whatever way you serve them they taste best eaten with the fingers!
Fall Off the Bone Keto Baked Ribs
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: baby back ribs, applesauce, gluten-free tamari sauce or coconut aminos, olive oil, fresh ginger, garlic, salt, pepper.
Here is another keto and paleo rib recipe that takes its inspiration from Asian flavors as you are using garlic, ginger and gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos. This combination works so well with the pork and the applesauce gives a little hint of fruit to cut through any fattiness. Because you are adding the marinade right at the end of cooking, it gives the ribs a wonderful glaze and sticky texture.
AIP Baked Honey Ginger Pork Ribs
– Healing AutoImmune
Ingredients: rack pork ribs, honey, applesauce, coconut aminos, olive oil, fresh ginger, garlic, salt.
When you see these unctuous pork ribs you will never go back to the dry ones again! Pork and honey is a really great match as the pork turns sticky and sweet, but the applesauce stops the ribs from being too sweet and adds great moisture to the cooking process. You will not believe that this is an AIP recipe as the ribs taste like the best ones around!
Dry Rub Pork Spare Ribs
– A Girl Worth Saving
Photo Credit: Kelly from A Girl Worth Saving
Ingredients: cacao, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder, black pepper, sea salt, racks ribs.
Normally rubs for spare ribs involve using sugar to achieve the sticky coating but this recipe is sugar-free, yet the ribs have a wonderful deep flavor because of the cacao powder. It doesn’t taste of chocolate and is a good addition to chili or beef stews as it adds richness. Because these ribs are oven-baked, it means you can enjoy these paleo meaty treats at any time of year!
Low Carb Jerk BBQ Ribs
– I Breathe I’m Hungry
Ingredients: pork ribs, carribean jerk seasoning, coconut aminos, ginger, orange zest, orange juice, rice wine vinegar, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, honey, arrowroot powder.
If you like your ribs sweet and sticky, you are going to love this low-carb recipe! They are not too sweet as you are adding some vinegar to offset it. For paleo people who like added sweetness, you can use some raw honey or maple syrup, but whatever way you do it, these are mouth-wateringly delicious!
Easy Baked Boneless Pork Ribs
– Low Carb Yum
Photo Credit: Lisa from Low Carb Yum
Ingredients: pork ribs boneless, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, salt.
This is another great basic recipe that you can change up to make it your own! If you like your ribs spicy you can add some cayenne, or try out different combinations of spice and herbs to create new dishes. Because these ribs are boneless they can be perfect for kids – mine don’t ‘do’ skin or bone! They can be chopped into a stir-fry or chilled and served on top of a salad or teamed up with a low-carb dip.
Asian Pork Ribs over Tangy Slaw
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: pork ribs, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, honey, sesame oil, fish sauce, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, coconut oil, broccoli slaw (or coleslaw), almond butter, sriracha, lime-juiced, chicken stock or water.
In this great paleo recipe the ribs taste much better if you can marinate them overnight as it lets the meat soak up all the wonderful Asian flavors of garlic, ginger and fish sauce. The tangy slaw has a bit of heat from the sriracha, which complements the flavor of the ribs really well. If you don’t have almond butter to add into the sauce, any other nut butter can be used instead.
Tender Oven Ribs
– Cavegirl Cuisine
Photo Credit: Michelle from Cavegirl Cuisine
Ingredients: rack of pork ribs, avocado oil, sea salt, ground pepper, smoked paprika, coconut palm sugar, chili powder, garlic, navel orange juice.
By enclosing the ribs in a foil ‘tent’ and cooking in the oven, you are virtually guaranteed to get ribs that are super-tasty and very tender! This is a clever paleo-friendly recipe that has the added flavor of orange to add a zesty note to the ribs, although this is not over-powering. As with all roasted meats, these ribs benefit if you rest them for a few minutes before serving.
Chinese Pork Spare Ribs
– Ditch the Wheat
Photo Credit: Carol from Ditch The Wheat
Ingredients: pork spare ribs (or back ribs), fresh ginger, scallions, star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, gluten-free tamari sauce, extra virgin coconut oil.
This simple recipe uses the classic combination of garlic and ginger to give an authentic Chinese flavor. Ginger is a great ingredient as it has many health properties and can help with reducing inflammatory problems. These amazing paleo ribs are simmered first and then browned in a skillet to give that barbecue look and this ensures they are juicy and tender.
BBQ Pork Ribs
– Keto Diet Blog
Ingredients: average racks pork ribs, shallot, garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper.
The ribs in this great recipe have a wonderful golden color and look so tasty! They are oven-baked, so no need to fire up the grill, and these keto and paleo-compliant ribs can be enjoyed any time of year. This recipe has less than 5 grams of carbohydrate so you could afford to serve these with some barbecue sauce if you like. I also like to add a little grated ginger to the marinade for added flavor.
Fall Off the Bone Ribs
– Cavegirl Cuisine
Photo Credit: Michelle from Cavegirl Cuisine
Ingredients: rack of pork ribs, sea salt, ground pepper, chili pepper, ground celery seed, ground lemongrass, olive oil, water.
If you want to cook delicious tender ribs for the family to enjoy but you don’t want to grill them, baking them in the oven can be a good alternative. As the rib rack is enclosed in foil, the meat stays tender and juicy and the meat literally falls off the bone! Ribs are a great dish to make for a paleo meal as they are low-carb but full of flavor and can be served with any vegetables or salad.
Ancho Chile Braised Country Style Pork Ribs
– Slim Palate
Photo Credit: Josh from Slim Palate
Ingredients: bone-in country style pork ribs, ghee, water, ancho chiles, dried guajillo chile, diced tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, red bell pepper, tomato paste, onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, pepper, coriander seeds, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, gound cloves, dried oregano.
The first thing you will notice when you try these ribs is their amazing flavor and this comes from the spices and chiles used. They are braised in a sweet, tangy sauce which means they are so tender, then you just broil them with extra sauce to create the caramelized stickiness we all love! This paleo rib recipe is low in carbohydrates but is absolutely packed with taste!
Coffee & Peach Rubbed Spare Ribs
– The Castaway Kitchen
Ingredients: spare rib rack, medium roast coffee grounds, ripe peach, garlic, ginger, sea salt, black pepper, coconut oil or avocado oil.
Here is an unusual recipe for ribs that involves using a coffee sauce! It gives the ribs a sweet but umami flavor that is definitely worth a try. To get even more out of this dish you can keep the rib bones to make bone broth, which is great for paleo soup and stew recipes or as a nourishing drink.
Boneless Pork Short Rib Breakfast Tacos
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: eggs, coconut milk, coconut flour, salt, boneless pork short ribs, maple syrup, garlic powder, bacon, green chiles, hot sauce, green onions.
As you know, it is so important to eat well at breakfast time as it gives your system a great start and helps regulate your body clock. So here is a great paleo taco recipe that is full of flavor but low in carbs. Believe it or not, spicy food can be great first thing in the morning, but if you can’t tolerate the heat you can just tone down the amount of hot sauce.
Smoked BBQ Ribs
– Modern Low Carb
Ingredients: baby back ribs, cumin, chile powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, pepper, onion powder, paprika, ground mustard.
Using gluten-free, dry rubs can be the best way to infuse flavor into your meat and they can be designed around any allergies or intolerance in the family, so you can rest easy that you are feeding them the best way. Meaty pork ribs are easy to source and can be a finger-licking dish to serve as the rub gives a deep and smoky taste that will leave you wanting more!
Chili Lime Pork Spare Ribs
– What Great Grandma Ate
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, avocado oil, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, ground black pepper, cayenne, zest of 2 limes.
It is so important on the paleo diet to eat clean foods without additives, so it is a good idea to make your own dry rub as you are in charge of the ingredients, keeping it gluten and grain-free. These ribs are a bit spicy but have the zingy freshness of lime, and I like to serve lime wedges with them so everyone can add more lime juice if they want.
Paleo Oven Baked Ribs
– Jay’s Baking Me Crazy
Ingredients: coconut sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, rack baby back ribs.
Here is another dry-rubbed rib recipe that fits so well with the paleo way of eating. This is a gluten and dairy-free recipe that uses a small amount of coconut sugar to give that sticky sweetness we all love. They are cooked low and slow in the oven to make them super-tender, and then broiled for a few minutes to give the charred effect. Even non-paleo people will love these!
Paleo Ranch Pork Ribs
– What Great Grandma Ate
Ingredients: pork spare ribs, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, parsley leaves, dried chives, onion powder, ground black pepper, dried dill, lemon juice.
Although this paleo recipe is for ranch ribs, they are dairy-free and just use the mix of herbs and seasoning found in ranch dressings. The lemon zest and juice adds a zing to the flavor, but can also help to make the meat tender so you will have meat falling off the bone. The spice paste coating these ribs gives them a crunchy outer layer but the meat will be soft on the inside.