Julie Clark
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Easy 3 Ingredient Pork Rib Marinade (Juicy and Tender)
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The best pork rib marinade balances fat, salt, and sweet-tangy acid, and this one hits all three with just three pantry staples: olive oil, soy sauce, and ketchup.
We’re all about shortcuts and the ketchup is our secret here. Ketchup brings the sugar, tomato, and tang that most recipes pull from separate bottles. You get a rich, balanced marinade in just 3 ingredients. Whisk it, pour it over the ribs, and let them soak for as little as 10 minutes or up to overnight.
This pork rib recipe came from my great aunt’s handwritten card, and it was my go-to marinade for years. It works on country-style, spare, or baby back ribs, and it’s just as good on chicken. Grill it in about 10 minutes or slow-roast it in the oven until fork-tender. It pairs well with our corn ribs!
What is the best marinade for pork ribs?
A good pork rib marinade needs three things: fat to carry flavor, salt to season, and a sweet & tangy element to balance the pork.
This one covers all three with olive oil, soy sauce, and ketchup. Whisk equal parts oil and soy sauce with a smaller amount of ketchup, and you have a marinade that tenderizes and builds flavor.
It’s the same mix my great aunt used for years, and I’ve never found a shortcut that beats it. It’s also good on chicken.
What are country style ribs?
Country style ribs might seem strange. We traditionally think of ribs as long rack of ribs with rib bones. Although country style ribs look like ribs in that they are long strips, they are a type of ribs that don’t have bones. And guess what? They actually don’t come from the ribs.
They are a budget-friendly cut of pork from either the blade end of the shoulder or the shoulder itself. I’ve seen some ribs labeled as “Pork Shoulder Country Style Ribs”, meaning they are cut from a shoulder steak.
Country style ribs are not only affordable but also very versatile. They have a great marbling which gives flavor and juiciness. They are excellent for braising or slow cooking, but can also be cooked quickly on high heat for a fast dinner option.
If you find country style ribs on sale, cut them up in slices or cubes and freeze for quick stir-frys and stews. You can also make ribs in your instant pot, too! Instant Pot Blueberry BBQ Ribs.
How long should you marinate pork ribs?
Marinate pork ribs for at least 10 minutes (while the grill is heating) or up to overnight.
10 minutes keeps this recipe great for a quick weeknight dinner. A longer marinade makes the pork extra tender and deepens the flavor.
Don’t marinade more than 24 hours or the texture of the pork can change.
How to Make Grilled Pork Ribs
- Mix up the three marinade ingredients in a small bowl and then pour it over your ribs. Let them marinate for the day if you’d like…or when you are in a bind and need an easy dinner, just marinate for 10 minutes or so while the grill is heating.
- Pop these ribs onto a hot grill and let them cook on each side for 4-5 minutes. Internal pork temperature needs to be about 145º Fahrenheit. It’s ok if there is a blush of pink inside.
- Allow the pork ribs to rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Will the marinade burn on the grill?
Marinade can burn if the grill gets too hot. The sugar in the sauces can caramelize quickly. The grill should be kept around 400ºF. Cook 4-5 minutes per side and turn down the heat if there are any flare-ups or over charring.
Can I make ribs in the oven instead?
If you’d like, instead of grilling, roast the boneless pork ribs in the oven. Use a dutch oven and add the pork ribs and this easy pork rib marinade. Toss to coat. Then cover and bake at 300ºF for about 3 hours until the ribs are fork tender.
You can also make crockpot ribs or crockpot beef short ribs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this pork rib marinade sweeter and tangier?
For a more classic bbq style marinade, whisk in 2 tablespoons brown sugar, a splash of apple cider vinegar and ½ teaspoon minced garlic. It makes the marinade a little extra special for a weekend cookout with family. Our bbq pork chops are popular, too!
Can I use this on spare ribs or baby back ribs?
Yes. This marinade works on any type of pork ribs.
For thicker, bone-in racks of ribs, marinate at least 2 hours or overnight and use our oven method for fork-tender ribs.
What can I serve with pork ribs?
This recipe is great with casserole dishes like hash brown casserole, but it also delicious with something simple like baked sweet potatoes or a roasted vegetables such as brussels sprouts.
For a picnic, try these side dishes:
3 Ingredient Pork Rib Marinade
A 3 ingredient pork rib marinade from my great aunt: just oil, soy sauce and ketchup. Juicy, tender ribs in 10 minutes on the grill or in the oven.
Servings 6
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- black pepper optional, to taste
- 3 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, soy sauce and ketchup. Add the black pepper, if desired. Mix well. Place the pork ribs in a pan. Pour the marinade over the ribs and allow them to sit for 10 minutes minimum, up to overnight. ½ cup olive oil, ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, black pepper, 3 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs
- Heat the grill to 400ºFahrenheit.
- Place the ribs on the hot grill and allow them to cook for 4-5 minutes. Turn the ribs, being careful not to puncture the ribs, which would let the juice escape.
- Grill the ribs for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the ribs reaches 145º Fahrenheit, then rest for 3 minutes. A blush of pink inside is ok.
- Allow the pork to rest for 3 minutes, then serve.
Notes
The calories shown are based on recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the pork. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1264mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg
This turned out really well. The pork was tender and juicy. Thanks!
What about in the oven
This is really great! Thanks :D. I actually left mine for about 24 hours and they really tender and juicy. Baked in the oven at 230C (446f) for about 45 mins.
I added some brown sugar and chopped garlic to the marinade!
Since it’s cold outside, I decided to do these in the oven. For the marinade I added 1 tbs. sweet chili seasoning, let the ribs soak 10 minutes, the put them in a slow oven @ 325 degrees. I covered the pan with foil and baked 2 hours. Then removed the foil and broiled until ribs were a little crisp. Tender and delicious. Thank you for this simple and tasty recipe. A keeper!
Simple and easy is what I like. I will be doing the grilled pork ribs for the first time tonight for dinner. Thanks for your recipe.
We’re grilling hot dogs, burgers, and pork ribs for our celebration…which is why I was so eager to see this recipe! I really like it, and think hubby will too…thanks for a great, simple marinade recipe
We will be grilling (for the first time in years) baby back ribs. well, my hubby will be doing the grilling (I am letting him grill for the first time in his life! Please cross your fingers for me!)