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Recipes » Main Dishes » Dr Pepper Ribs

Published: Aug 5, 2022 by Krystle Smith · This post may contain affiliate links

Dr Pepper Ribs

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Tender fall of the bone ribs in a sticky sweet Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. This easy recipe comes out great every time!

baby back ribs in a dr pepper bbq sauce on a wooden cutting board.

My must-have picnic foods are  Burnt Ends, Mexican Street Corn Salad, orange fluff, and of course these Dr. Pepper Ribs!

This easy recipe will provide your family with a uniquely flavored dish everyone loves. Whether you’re looking for meals to serve guests during backyard BBQ events or you’re looking for something new to serve on these hot summer days this recipe will satisfy. 

Table Of Contents hide
1 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
2 Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
3 How To Make Dr. Pepper Ribs
4 How To Tell When They’re Done
5 Leftovers
6 How Many Ribs Per Person?
7 Tips
8 More Meaty Mains To Try
9 Dr. Pepper Ribs

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Dry Rub: Lock in flavor by using a dry rub which will form a wonderful crust.
  • Homemade BBQ Sauce: It is sticky, sweet, and tangy. It is lick your fingers good!
  • Super Tender: Marinating and using soda lead to tender juicy meat every time.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

  • Dr. Pepper: Dr Pepper tastes amazing, but it also helps break down the fibers in the meat to make it super tender. You can use your favorite soda here such as Coke or Root Beer.  Diet soda can also be used.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: This fermented condiment brings a great umami flavor. Look for it near the ketchup in the store. It also goes great in burgers and casseroles.
  • Grenadine: This pomegranate syrup adds a hint of fruit flavor. Look for it near the mixers and tonic water.  Use the leftovers in drinks like the Shirley temple or the tequila sunrise.
  • Liquid Smoke: Liquid smoke is made from condensing wood smoke. This smoky ingredient can be found in the spice aisle. It tastes great on brisket and burgers alike.
  • Baby Back Ribs: Baby back ribs are made from the meat attached to the pig’s backbone. These ribs are called ‘baby’ because they are shorter than spare ribs. Baby back ribs generally measure 6 inches in length and taper down to 3 inches or so on the shorter end. Each rack typically contains 10-12 ribs.

baby back pork ribs with a dry chipotle seasoning rub.

How To Make Dr. Pepper Ribs

  1. Make the Sauce: Cook ingredients in a saucepan for around one hour.
  2. Marinate: Rub ribs with chipotle seasoning and pour over soda.
  3. Cook: Cook for an hour and a half.
  4. Brush With BBQ Sauce: Brush with your sauce and cook for 30 more minutes.

This recipe can also be made in the Instant Pot.

 

a rubber pastry brush spreading dr. pepper bbq sauce on grilled ribs.

How To Tell When They’re Done

According to USDA, ribs are done when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, I like to cook them until they’re around 190-200 degrees. Ribs have a lot of tissue and fat to break down, so cooking them until they’re around the sweet spot leads to the most tender meat ever.

You’ll also notice that the meat begins to crack when you pick them up with tongs. If it it beginning to fall off the bone, that is a good sign.

 

Leftovers

  • Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat at 250 degrees for around 20-30 minutes. Brush with more sauce as needed.

How Many Ribs Per Person?

Plan on around ½ rack or 5-6 ribs per person when served as the main dish.

Tips

  1. Keep an Eye on Your Sauce: The BBQ sauce can burn quickly. Be sure to cook over very low heat, and to stir it often.
  2. Remove the Membrane: Also, called the silverskin; be sure to remove this before cooking. I like to loosen it with a butter knife and pull it off using a paper towel. It will not break down and lead to a tough end result.
  3. Placement Matters: Place ribs bone side down to avoid overcooking.
  4. Low and Slow: Don’t crank up the heat to cook your ribs faster; this will dry them out.
  5. Add Sauce at the End: Don’t be tempted to slather your ribs in BBQ sauce before cooking. It is high in sugar and will likely burn.
  6. Let Them Rest: Seal in juices by letting them rest for ~10 minutes before serving.

baby back ribs in a dr. pepper bbq sauce garnished with parsley.

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More Meaty Mains To Try

BBQ Pork Tenderloin

Carne Asada Fries

Sweet Tea Chicken

Dr. Pepper Ribs

Tender fall of the bone ribs in a sticky sweet Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. This easy recipe comes out great every time!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 844kcal
Author: Krystle Smith

Ingredients

  • 18 Ounces Cherry Dr. Pepper One and ½ Cans
  • 1 Cup Ketchup
  • 6 Ounces Tomato paste
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 Teaspoon Grenadine
  • ½ Teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ½ Teaspoon Liquid Smoke
  • ½ Teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
  • 2 Racks Baby Back Ribs
  • Chipotle seasoning
  • ¼ Cup Cherry Dr Pepper
Don't lose this recipe. Pin for later!

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan combine the Cherry Dr. Pepper, Ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and seasonings.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Simmer over low for 1 hour stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken and will reduce by almost half.
  • Cool and store in the fridge until ready to use.
  • Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil. Place ribs into the pan and rub with chipotle seasoning on all sites. Pour over ¼ cup of the soda.
  • Cover with foil and marinate in the fridge for around 2 hours.
  • Heat grill to 325 degrees F. Place foil-wrapped ribs on the grill and cook for 1 hour.
  • Rotate and cook for around 30 more minutes.
  • Coat with BBQ sauce and grill for 30 more minutes.

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
  • Dr. Pepper: Dr. Pepper tastes amazing, but it also helps break down the fibers in the meat to make it super tender. You can use your favorite soda here, such as Coke or Root Beer.  Diet soda can also be used.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: This fermented condiment brings a great umami flavor. Look for it near the ketchup in the store. It also goes great in burgers and casseroles.
  • Grenadine: This pomegranate syrup adds a hint of fruit flavor. Look for it near the mixers and tonic water.  Use the leftovers in drinks like the Shirley temple or the tequila sunrise.
  • Liquid Smoke: Liquid smoke is made from condensing wood smoke. This smoky ingredient can be found in the spice aisle. It tastes great on brisket and burgers alike.
  • Baby Back Ribs: Baby back ribs are made from the meat attached to the pig’s backbone. These ribs are called ‘baby’ because they are shorter than spare ribs. Baby back ribs generally measure 6 inches in length and taper down to 3 inches or so on the shorter end. Each rack typically contains 10-12 ribs.
Tips
  1. Keep an Eye on Your Sauce: The BBQ sauce can burn quickly. Be sure to cook over very low heat, and to stir it often.
  2. Remove the Membrane: Also, called the silverskin, be sure to remove this before cooking. I like to loosen it with a butter knife and pull it off using a paper towel. It will not break down and lead to a tough end result.
  3. Placement Matters: Place ribs bone side down to avoid overcooking.
  4. Low and Slow: Don't crank up the heat to cook your ribs faster; this will dry them out.
  5. Add Sauce at the End: Don't be tempted to slather your ribs in BBQ sauce before cooking. It is high in sugar and will likely burn.
  6. Let Them Rest: Seal in juices by letting them rest for ~10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 844kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 1196mg | Potassium: 1382mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 1098IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? I want to see!Mention @BakingBeautyBlog or tag #BakingBeauty!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Juliane says

    August 07, 2022 at 11:17 pm

    5 stars
    This is SOOOO good!

    Reply
  2. Catalina says

    August 07, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmmmm I am drooling over these ribs! They will be my new favorite for sure!

    Reply
  3. Erin says

    August 07, 2022 at 5:16 am

    5 stars
    Looks beyond delicious! My family would love this!

    Reply
  4. Sandra says

    August 05, 2022 at 11:37 pm

    5 stars
    Can’t believe how flavorful and tender this turned out! So good!

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    August 05, 2022 at 4:35 pm

    5 stars
    I’ll have to give this a try. I’ve made steak with Coke before, so I already know that cooking with pop works well. Looks delicious!

    Reply

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