Gluten-free BBQ Pork Ribs in the Oven

These gluten-free bbq pork ribs are melt-in-your-mouth and fall-off-the-bone delicious! You won't stop at just one!

Ribs are a MUST in our house all year long; they do not get relegated to just the summer months because our entire family loves them. I mean, who doesn't love a stack of finger-licking good ribs?

My husband used to be obsessed with Famous Daves ribs before we got married, but this southern girl knew I could make them better. I started making him these gluten-free bbq ribs, and once I did, he was a happy man because he knew he could still get all the BBQ he wanted at home whenever he got in the mood.

You will also love my BBQ Pulled Pork and Gluten-free Chinese BBQ Pork recipes.

Jump to:

• What are the different types of pork ribs?
• Ingredients
• Gluten-free BBQ rub seasoning for pork and chicken.
• Steps.
• Alternate cooking methods.
• Tips and tricks.
• My go-to gluten-free BBQ Sauce
• More gluten-free BBQ Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

What are the different types of pork ribs?

When I make BBQ ribs, I will always use pork ribs. There are a few varieties of pork ribs, including baby back ribs, also known as loin ribs or back ribs. There are also pork spare ribs, which are larger and tend to be fattier. Then there are St. Louis ribs, which are meatier between the bones. I tend to use St. Louis or baby back ribs.

Ingredients

It doesn't take a lot of ingredients to make the best gluten-free ribs.

• Ribs - This recipe is for making pork ribs. You can use any cut of pork ribs that you prefer.
• Brown Sugar - Brown sugar acts as a binder for our dry rub spice mixture to stick to the ribs, as well as adding a bit of sticky sweetness that makes them even more delicious.
• Gluten-free BBQ Rub - A dry rub is just a combination of spices. You can see my favorite bbq spice blend to use on pork and chicken below, or use your favorite gluten-free bbq seasoning.
• BBQ Sauce - A little brush of gluten-free bbq sauce to finish off the ribs is the final touch of flavor that takes these over the top.

Gluten-free BBQ rub seasoning for pork and chicken.

This dry rub is a recipe I use on a lot of BBQ; it's genuinely my go-to combination for good southern BBQ flavor.

• ⅔ Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Salt
• 1 Tablespoons Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Paprika
• ½ Tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Ground Mustard
• 1 Teaspoon Celery Salt
• 1-2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (depending on if you like a little kick or not)

Mix everything together and store it in an airtight container.

Steps.

1. Trim your ribs as needed.
2. Mix the dry rub and brown sugar together and rub them all over your pork ribs.
3. Wrap the bbq pork ribs tightly in foil.
4. Bake the pork ribs in the oven for about three hours or until they are fork-tender.
5. Brush the ribs with some of your favorite gluten-free bbq sauce.
6. Slice and enjoy!

Alternate cooking methods.

Smoking ribs.

I suggest using the 321 method for smoking ribs.

1. Preheat your smoker to 180-200 degrees.
2. Place the prepped ribs directly on the grill grates in the smoked for 3 hours.
3. After the 3 hours, tightly wrap the ribs in foil and place them back into the smoker for an additional 2 hours.
4. Once that is up, remove the ribs from the foil and brush them with your favorite gluten-free bbq sauce for 1 hour or until the meat falls off the bone.

Slow cooker ribs.

1. Lightly grease your crockpot and add a small layer of chopped onion to the bottom.
2. Rub your bbq spice rub over your ribs and then brush them with some gluten-free bbq sauce.
3. Place the ribs into the crockpot.
4. Cook the ribs on low for 7-9 hours or on high for 3-5 hours.
5. Once they are done, remove the ribs from the crockpot and brush them with more of the bbq sauce.
6. Finish them off on the grill or under the broiler in the oven for about 10 minutes until they begin to char and get crispy edges.

Tips and tricks.

• Remove the membrane from the ribs before cooking. - Run a fork or knife under the membrane over the bones at one end of the pork rib rack. Carefully lift the membrane away from the bone until it begins to tear. Use a paper towel to make it easier to grab the membrane and pull it off of the ribs. Note: Sometimes, it will come off in one piece; other times, it will come off in sections.
• Try not to peak. - It doesn't matter if you are using the oven, making dutch oven ribs, smoking, or even in the crockpot. Try NOT to open the ribs a lot during cooking. Let them go for as long as possible undisturbed. This will help them maintain heat and not get temperature shock which can seize the ribs and make them tough.

My go-to gluten-free BBQ Sauce

There are a few good gluten-free BBQ sauces on the market right now, but I still prefer to make my own. This recipe is the classic gluten-free BBQ sauce that I use and keep in the house often.

Ingredients:

• 1 14 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
• ½ C Brown Sugar
• ¼ C Molasses
• ½ C Honey
• 2 TBS Dijon Mustard
• ¼ C Coconut Aminos
• ⅓ C Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1-3 teaspoon Liquid Smoke (Depending on how smokey you like it)
• ¼ C BBQ Dry Rub Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Garlic
• ¼ C Sriracha Sauce (when I want it a little less sweet and a little hidden heat)

1. Combine everything into a small pot on the stove over medium heat, and let it come to a simmer.
2. Let it cook for about 10 minutes for the flavors to come together. Let it cool before putting it into a container in the fridge, or use it immediately.

I usually put it in a mason jar, and it will keep in the fridge for a month unless my kids eat it all sooner.

More gluten-free BBQ Recipes

No matter what you're serving, these gluten-free side dishes make the best companion dishes for delicious gluten-free bbq recipes. If you really want to impress with your bbq skills, check out my homemade gluten-free cherry bbq sauce.

📖 Recipe