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Thai BBQ Pork Spare Ribs

By Danielle on June 27, 2019, Updated May 4, 2023 40 Comments

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Packed full of amazing flavors like fish sauce, soy sauce, peanuts, cilantro among other awesome ingredients, these Thai BBQ Pork Spare Ribs are also so incredibly easy to make! Marinated and then slow cooked, these pork spare ribs are perfectly juicy and tender.

I am #TeamSlow all the way when it comes to grilling ribs. I love a rack of BBQ pork spare ribs slow cooked over indirect heat for hours until they are just perfectly tender. And juicy. And delicious.

And forget that regular old BBQ sauce (nothing against it, but sometimes you want a little flair in your BBQ!), this Thai BBQ sauce is so incredible. SO INCREDIBLE.

Made with a mixture of peanut butter, fish sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce and cilantro, it really packs a punch. It's got awesome flavor. We spent the rest of the weekend finding things we could dip in the leftover sauce. Yes, there will be a little leftover sauce and you will LOVE it.

**if you like pork ribs, you may also like these sous vide pork ribs.

Why This Recipe Works

We use Fresh Pork Ribs, which come out perfectly tender and juicy.
While the cooking takes several hours, the process is incredibly easy, plus there are step-by-step instructions below.
Wrapping the ribs in foil while grilling helps to keep them juicy and avoids grill flareups.
Slow cooking over low heat allows a larger margin of error than cooking quickly over high heat. We are less likely to overcook our ribs this way!
Placing the ribs over higher heat after they have cooked low and slow allows the crust to caramelize (Maillard reaction) and develops a deep wonderful flavor.

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step By Step Instructions

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the ribs, flipping to make sure the surface of the meat is covered. Let sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or overnight (preferred).

Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine. Store in the fridge until ready to use.

Heat the grill to 250 degrees. Wrap the marinated ribs tightly with aluminum foil (use several layers of foil to prevent leakage) and place on the grill.

Cook for 2 ½ hours at about 250 degrees, flipping every 30 minutes to keep the ribs juicy. Remove the ribs from the grill and take the foil off. Turn the grill up to 400 degrees.

Brush the Thai BBQ sauce over the ribs and place them directly on the grill. Cook for about 7-10 minutes per side, or until sauce has caramelized.

ribs being brushed with bbq sauce on a grill

Remove from the grill, slice with a cleaver or kitchen shears, and serve brushed with additional BBQ sauce and crushed peanuts.

close up photo of grilled ribs garnished with chives

Grilling Instructions and Times

To slow cook spare ribs on the grill, you do need to commit some time (think about 3- 3 ½ hours). But don't worry, it's not hard at all.

The temperature needs to be low, about 250 degrees, for your ribs to cook to perfection. I turn my gas grill on pretty much as low as it goes.

I prefer to wrap the ribs in foil so when I flip them on the grill, the juices can redistribute back through the ribs instead of dripping into the fire. Plus, it helps to avoid flareups which can burn the ribs.

Every 30 minutes or so, flip the ribs over. Once they've cooked for about 2 ½ hours, remove them from the grill and let them sit for about 20 minutes. While the ribs are resting, turn up the grill to about 400 degrees.

Remove the foil and baste the ribs with BBQ sauce. Place the ribs back on the grill and let the sauce caramelize for about 5-10 minutes, being careful not to let it burn. Flip and repeat. Remove from the grill, let cool enough the cut them and enjoy!

side view of bbq pork ribs slathered in bbq sauce

Expert Tips

When slow cooking, always grill with the lid down;
Ribs should be grilled on indirect heat, i.e. place the ribs on the side of the grill opposite from the burner (or coals) that are on;
Check the grill periodically to ensure it is staying around 250 degrees. Cooking the ribs low and slow is the key to tender, juicy, perfect ribs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between spare ribs and baby back ribs? Spare ribs are longer than baby back ribs, and are cut from the belly of the animal. They have a higher percentage of fat, which tends to make them more flavorful than baby back ribs.
How long does it take to BBQ ribs? To slow cook ribs on the grill, it takes about 2 ½ hours on low heat to cook the ribs until they are tender and juicy. Then an additional 10-15 minutes to place directly on the grill with BBQ sauce to let them caramelize.
How do you know when ribs are done? You can take a toothpick and insert between the bones. If it slides in relatively easily, they are done. The meat is fully cooked when it reaches 145 degrees, but that doesn't always mean they are tender. Typically, the meat becomes tender enough when it reaches about 190-200 degrees. That means the collagen has had time to break down.

Did you make these BBQ Pork Spare Ribs? Rate the recipe and leave a comment to let me know how they turned out!

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