Easy Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs (Sweet and Sour Ribs)

Easy Sweet and Sour Spareribs (Sweet and Sour Ribs) recipe has pork spare ribs covered in homemade sweet and sour sauce baked slowly and broiled in your oven.

This was inspired by my oven baked beef ribs and my Air Fryer Short Ribs on this site, and pairs well with this amazing side dish recipes.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• The sweet and sour sauce is perfect blend of tangy and sweet and can be easily adjusted to suit your personal tastes.
• Enjoy incredibly tender and fall-off-the-bone ribs with this easy recipe that uses common ingredients.
• The perfect dish for birthdays, holidays, or dinner parties.

Ingredients in Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

To make these amazing ribs you have to decide which kind of pork ribs you want to buy. Here is a quick overview and if you're interested you can find more detailed information here.

• Pork Ribs - Spare ribs or baby back ribs have a good balance of meat and fat, leading to a tender and flavorful result. St. Louis Style Ribs and Country Style Pork Ribs are also an option.
• Brown Sugar - Use granulated sugar instead.
• Molasses - Use honey, corn syrup or maple syrup instead for a different taste.
• White Vinegar - Necessary for flavor but you can use apple cider vinegar instead for a slightly different flavor.
• Broth - Chicken or Vegetable work the best.
• Soy Sauce - Tamari will work in a pinch if necessary.
• Cornstarch - Use all purpose flour to thicken instead.
• Garlic Powder - Garlic flakes or granulated garlic will work in a pinch.
• Salt and Pepper - Necessary for flavor.

Garnish

• green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this sweet and sour ribs recipe.

• Spicy - Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, homemade hot pepper sauce, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the sauce mixture for a bit of heat.
• Add Fruit - Add pineapple or lychees for different flavor.

How to make Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Preheat your oven to broil. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and place spare rib racks on top.

Place spare ribs under your broiler and brown your ribs for between 7 and 10 minutes. Ribs should be nice and brown on top before you reduce the temperature. Pour off excess grease if needed.

In the meantime, in a small saucepan, bring 1 ¾ cups combine broth, molasses, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and garlic powder to a boil.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine remaining broth and cornstarch in a small cup. Add to boiling mixture and stir to thicken.

Pour, brush or paint over top of your spare ribs.

Cook at 375 degrees for 60-75 minutes, or fork tender.

Baste ribs periodically with remaining sauce as often as you desire. Two or three times is more than enough.

Broil for a moment or two before removing ribs from the oven.

Caramelizing the sauce on your ribs with harden the sauce and add an amazing finish to these ribs.

Garnish your dish with fresh green onions or sesame seeds, if desired.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Hint:

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our smoked st. louis style ribs, Beef Ribs Recipe or our Slow Cooker Pork Riblets recipe.

Storage

Store leftover sweet and sour ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze

Allow the ribs to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Be sure to remove any excess air from the bag to avoid freezer burn.

Reheat

For refrigerated ribs, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet, and heat for 10-15 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If you have frozen ribs, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before following the same reheating steps.

Alternatively, you can reheat your ribs in a microwave on a microwave-safe plate. Use a medium heat setting, and heat for 2-3 minutes, checking for even heating and stirring the sauce as needed.

What to Serve with Sweet and Sour Ribs

• Check out our post on what to serve with short ribs for some great ideas. I refer to it myself when needed.
• Sweet and sour ribs pair nicely with steamed white rice, fried rice, or noodles. Add a side of stir-fried vegetables, slow cooker corn on the cob or a simple green salad for a complete meal.

Tips

When preparing sweet and sour ribs, follow these tips to achieve the best flavor and presentation possible.

• Choose the meatiest spare ribs or baby back ribs you can find.
• Broil the ribs before cooking to seal in the juices and add flavor.
• Taste sauce as you make it and adjust flavor as desired.
• Use cornstarch or flour to thicken it as necessary. Mix in bowl and add gradually while continuously stirring to avoid lumps.
• Ask your butcher to remove the membrane and clean up and trim your ribs or do it yourself for best results.

FAQ

Do you have questions about Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about them.

Video

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Easy Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.