Get ready to bite into these awesome low carb pork ribs with a keto rib rub! Southern-style spice with gluten-free whole food basics. Who doesn’t love pork?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved pork ribs. As a child I remember looking forward to that messy sticky goodness. In fact, I took great pride in cleaning off those bones!
Perhaps I imagined myself marooned on an island. In order to survive I got my kill and roasted it over the fire. I held the bones to my mouth and chewed off the delicious succulent meat.
I’m a bit of a romantic, but you get the idea. Make it a little more realistic with a store-bought rack of ribs and a grill or oven. No matter what way you look at it, pork ribs are enticingly mouthwatering.
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I take life with a slice of bacon, a slab of ham, and a rack of ribs.
– Unknown
The Grill vs. the Oven
How do you cook your meat most often?
For me, it depends on the season. I fully admit I’m a wimp and have no desire to get out and grill in the snow. Actually, I love to heat up the oven and the kitchen in such weather.
On the other hand, in summer who doesn’t love to get outside and grill? Keep the heat outside, chat with the neighbors, and fully revel in the act of grilling meat. Make it a party, or one with yourself.
Because it may be necessary to make keto rib rub and pork ribs in any season, I’m going to give you directions for both the grill and the oven.
Right now, we’re in the midst of snowy cold winter. Therefore, the pictures you see are from the oven version, but it works just as well on the grill. So take your pick and let’s get cooking!
It’s time to barbeque some pork!
TO MAKE PORK RIBS WITH KETO RIB RUB YOU’LL NEED:
- baking sheet pan or grill
- stock pot or Dutch oven
- a spatula
- whisk or fork
- measuring cups and spoons
- basting brush or spoon
- aluminum foil
When the going gets tough, the tough eat ribs.
– Nora Roberts
HOW TO MAKE PORK RIBS WITH KETO RIB RUB
To begin, we need to prep the pork ribs before putting on the rub. As usual, get out all your ingredients and kitchen utensils before you begin.
First, place the pork spare ribs in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Cover them with water and add one teaspoon paprika, two teaspoons salt, and the bay leaves.
Next, bring it to a boil then reduce the heat for it to simmer for 15 minutes. Then, remove the pot from the heat and take out the ribs.
Keto Rib Rub
While the ribs are simmering, make your keto rib rub.
Tip: When you buy spices, make sure to read the ingredients. It should list the spice but NOT a lot of added ingredients. Also, I like to buy organic whenever possible.
When you make your own rub or spice mixture, you can control what goes in. So often, premade mixes have preservatives or anti-caking ingredients. I don’t want to up my carbs or add unhealthy ingredients when I don’t have to.
So, to make the keto rib rub, first take out a small to medium-sized bowl. Second, measure in the brown Swerve (or other sweetener), paprika, chili powder, black pepper, salt, and the cayenne pepper.
Note: The amount of cayenne you put it can greatly vary the spice level. One teaspoon is the amount I like. However, for kids you might tone it down a little, or if you really like spice, bump it up.
Next use a fork to combine everything until everything is evenly mixed. A fork makes it easy to smash down the sweetener and get it to blend with the spices.
Now, turn back to the ribs. Pat them nearly dry with a paper towel or tea towel and rub them well with the spice mixture. Depending on the size of your ribs you may use it all or not.
Generously spread the rub on all sides of the ribs. After that, we’re ready to cook!
Keto pork ribs on the grill
If you’re going to grill the ribs, begin by prepping the barbeque grill to cook. Lightly oil the grill rack and then preheat it on low to 250 – 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then arrange the pork ribs on the rack and cover them with foil. With your favorite grilling apron on, cook the ribs, turning every twenty minutes until tender, for about an hour.
After two turns, or forty minutes, baste the ribs with a keto-friendly barbeque sauce.
Keto Barbeque Sauce
I like to make my own keto sauces and bbq is no exception. You can use a recipe like this sugar-free bbq sauce. Also, if you’re in a hurry, there are more and more bottled keto bbq sauces that will work.
As far as pre-made versions go, most often I use Primal Kitchen’s BBQ sauce and like it a lot. However, here are a few other options as well.
Turn the ribs twice during the last twenty minutes of cook time. After that, remove them from the grill and serve with the keto-friendly barbeque sauce on the side.
Baked keto pork ribs
Now, let’s take a look at the baked keto pork ribs method.
Prep the ribs the same way and and rub with the keto rib rub. Then, place them on a baking sheet and put it in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes to sort of set the spicy rub.
Next, use a basting brush or a spoon to spread on a homemade or bought keto-friendly barbeque sauce.
Once they’re sufficiently smothered, wrap them in two layers of foil, to be as air-tight as possible. After that, put the foil package back on the baking tray and return it to the oven for another 50 to 60 minutes.
Then remove it from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Be very careful removing the foil so as not to burn yourself!
Take them out of the foil package and put them on a serving platter to present for a magnificently messy dinner.
Serve it all up with the keto-friendly barbeque sauce on the side. I like to have keto pork ribs with a salad or another veggie side like this grilled garlic parmesan zucchini.
Keto meat recipes
I do love good meat! While I can’t go full-out carnivore (and I’ve tried it!), I do adore my bacon, ham, and ribs. It’s a balance for me: veggies, meat, sweets.
You might as well enjoy what you eat and make it as healthy as possible at the same time. That means buy quality ingredients and know what exactly goes into your food.
So join me in my love of ribs and have your own messy family dinner.
It’s time for a barbeque!
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Want more keto dinner recipes?
- Creamy Garlic Keto Pork Chops
- Keto French Onion Soup
- Keto Jambalaya
- Best Low Carb Keto Turkey Meatloaf
Printable Recipe:
Keto Rib Rub | Pork Ribs
Southern-style keto rib rub on deliciously messy pork ribs. Grilled ribs or baked, a spicy dry rub makes the perfect seasoning.
Keto Pork Ribs
- 3 lbs pork spare ribs
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3 bay leaves
Keto Rib Rub
- 2 tbsp brown Swerve ((or other sweetener))
- 1 ½ tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (more or less for spice level preference)
- 1 tsp salt
Place the pork spare ribs in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Cover them with water and add the paprika, 2 tsp salt, and bay leaves. Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain.
Keto Rib Rub
In a small bowl, use a fork to combine the brown Swerve, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, 1 tsp salt, and the cayenne pepper. Mix until everything is evenly dispersed.
Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel and rub them well with the spice mixture.
Pork Ribs Grill Method
Lightly oil the grill rack on a barbeque grill and preheat on low to 250 – 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange ribs on the rack and cover them with foil.
Cook the ribs, turning every twenty minutes until tender, about an hour. Before the last twenty minutes of cooking time, baste ribs with a keto-friendly barbeque sauce and turn twice.
Remove from the grill and serve with the keto-friendly barbeque sauce on the side.
Pork Ribs Oven Method
After rubbing the ribs with the keto rib rub, place them on a baking sheet in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes.
Use a pastry brush or spoon to spread on a keto-friendly barbeque sauce. Wrap them in two layers of foil, to be as air-tight as possible.
Put the foil package back on the baking tray and return to the oven for another 50 – 60 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let rest for 5-10 minutes and serve with the keto-friendly barbeque sauce on the side.
Nutrition Facts
| Servings 6.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| Calories 355 | |
| Total Fat 30 g | |
| Saturated Fat 9 g | |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | |
| Sodium 412 mg | |
| Potassium 22 mg | |
| Total Carbohydrate 1 g | |
| Dietary Fiber 0 g | |
| Sugars 0 g | |
| Protein 19 g | |
| Net Carbohydrate 1 g | |
*Nutrition Facts per MyFitnessPal.com. For most accurate facts, calculate your own with the exact ingredients you use in the recipe.