Baked or Grilled Baby Back Ribs

6 servings servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 2 h 30 m Total: 2 h 45 m Intermediate
5.0/5 (1)
Baked or Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Tender baby back ribs marinated in Crystal Lite lemonade with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and Tabasco. The lemonade acts as a tenderizer while the sweet and savory rub creates fall-off-the-bone ribs that can be baked or grilled. Marinate 1-2 days for best results.

Ingredients

6 servings servings
  • 5 lbs pork baby back ribs
  • 2 tsp garlic powder to taste
  • sesame seeds, roasted
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • small amount of Worcestershire sauce
  • Tabasco sauce to taste
  • Crystal Lite lemonade (diluted, used for tenderizer)

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare enough Crystal Lite lemonade to cover the ribs in a bowl.
  2. Mix the remaining ingredients (garlic powder, sesame seeds, soy sauce, black pepper, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco) together and sprinkle or rub onto meat.
  3. Place the meat into the lemonade marinade and cover container.
  4. Marinate 1-2 days prior to cooking in the refrigerator.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 2 hours, loosely covered with foil. Uncover and bake for additional 30 minutes until ribs are tender and caramelized. Ribs can also be grilled over medium heat for 1.5-2 hours, turning occasionally.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why use Crystal Lite lemonade instead of regular lemonade?

A: Crystal Lite is sugar-free, so the citric acid tenderizes the meat without adding extra sweetness that could burn during cooking. Regular lemonade works too but may caramelize more quickly.

Q: Can I shorten the marinating time?

A: You can marinate for as little as 4 hours, but 1-2 days allows the citric acid to fully tenderize the meat and the flavors to penetrate deeply. The longer marination makes a noticeable difference in tenderness.

Q: My ribs turned out tough. What happened?

A: Most likely they needed more cooking time. Baby back ribs should reach an internal temperature of 190-203°F for fall-off-the-bone tenderness. If baking, keep them covered longer or reduce oven temperature to 300°F and cook for 3 hours.

Tips and Techniques

The lemonade marinade works because the citric acid breaks down tough connective tissue in the ribs. For grilling, finish over indirect heat to prevent the sugar in the rub from burning. You can also boil the ribs in the marinade for 30 minutes before baking or grilling for extra tenderness.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Crystal Lite lemonade: regular lemonade, pineapple juice, or apple cider
  • baby back ribs: spare ribs or St. Louis style ribs
  • sesame seeds: omit or use crushed red pepper flakes

Equipment Needed

  • large bowl or container for marinating
  • aluminum foil
  • baking sheet or roasting pan
  • grill (if grilling instead of baking)