Easy Cajun Keto Ribs (Oven Baked)
Fall off the bone tender these keto ribs are rubbed with seasoning before being baked in the oven in a sweet and savory braising liquid. The perfect low-carb dinner recipe.
These keto ribs are easy to prepare and make your house smell delicious. Before being baked in the oven, they’re rubbed in a flavorful Cajun seasoning that has a sweet and spicy flavor.
They’re then cooked in a braising liquid at a low heat to make the ribs extra tender. This technique makes the best-tasting ribs that almost caramelize because the flavors are so perfectly infused.
Use this keto recipe as a tasty Sunday night dinner or serve them up as-is or with a sauce to dip for a game-day appetizer. They’re so tasty that you’ll have everyone asking for second servings.
Ingredients You Need To Make Cajun Ribs:
There are two parts to these keto ribs: the dry rub and the braising liquid. Though it may seem like a lot, most of the ingredients are seasonings and fridge staples you’re sure to have.
For The Dry Rub:
Boneless pork ribs: when buying your ribs, make sure to look for a pinkish-red color. This is an indication of how fresh they are. There should also be some fat running through them. If using frozen pork ribs, make sure to thaw them fully first.
Swerve brown sugar substitute: this is what will pair with the spicier ingredients to make the most delicious flavor blend.
Cajun seasoning: you can always add a bit more of this if you love spice but know that it is a potent blend.
Spices: chili powder, paprika, and salt are added to enhance the Cajun seasoning. Add the salt as per your personal taste preferences.
For The Keto Ribs Braising Liquid:
Swerve brown sugar substitute: with keto sweeteners, a little goes a long way. Know that before you adjust anything.
Minced garlic: you can buy the pre-made minced garlic or mince your own. Just make sure it’s in tiny pieces so that it mixes well with the sauce.
Worcestershire sauce: adds an umami flavor you don’t want to miss out on.
Apple cider vinegar: this helps to break down the proteins in the ribs making them ultra-tender.
White cooking wine: as part of the braising liquid, wine helps bring a savory taste to the meal.
How to Make The Keto Ribs:
- Whisk together the braising liquid ingredients.
- Sprinkle the pork ribs with the dry rub and use your hands to rub it in.
- Make a tinfoil packet from large pieces and place it onto a large baking sheet.
- Place the seasoned ribs in the packet and fold the sides up but leave the top open.
- Pour the braising liquid into the foil packet over the top of the ribs and then pinch the packet closed.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 3 hours.
Expert Tips To Make It:
If you like a bit of a broil on the top of your keto ribs, after they’re done cooking baste them with braising liquid and place them briefly under the broiler making sure to keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn.
To ensure the pork ribs cook evenly, try to buy rib racks that are even in size so that one doesn’t cook faster than the other.
These Cajun baked ribs have a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavor. However, you can adjust this as per your personal tastes by adding on more or less seasonings.
Store leftover ribs once they’ve cooled in an airtight container in the fridge. Like this, they’ll last up to four days. You can reheat them in the oven or microwave.
What To Serve With Ribs:
Keto ribs pair beautifully with just about everything. From full-course dinners to easy appetizers, these Cajun baked ribs will be delicious.
A few side dishes that we like to use are:
- Keto coleslaw
- Keto potato salad
- Cucumber salad
- Crispy cauliflower bites
If you’re serving these oven-baked ribs as an appetizer, you can set them out as-is or with a side of sauce to dip in. Anything from a tangy barbeque sauce to a ranch dressing will pair well with this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keto Ribs:
Q. Do you cover pork ribs when baking in the oven?
A. Though it’s not necessary, covering pork ribs when baking in the oven helps the meat from drying out. The result is tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.
Q. What’s the secret to juicy ribs?
A. The secret to cooking juicy ribs is to bake them low and slow covered in tin foil. The tinfoil helps to keep the moisture in and baking them at a very low temperature helps to infuse the flavor from the braising liquids.
Q. Why do you add vinegar to ribs?
A. Adding vinegar to the braising liquid when cooking ribs helps make them tender. Vinegar breaks down the proteins in the meat and if cooked for a long time will create the most tender ribs you’ve had.
Q. How much is one serving of ribs?
A. If you’re trying to gauge how many ribs you need for dinner, know that one serving equates to roughly 6 ribs per person.
Oven Baked Pork Cajun Keto Ribs
Ingredients
For The Dry Rub:
- ½ Cup Swerve brown sugar substitute
- 1 ½ Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
- 4 lb. Boneless pork ribs
- 2 tsp. Paprika
- 1 Tbsp. Chili powder
- Salt to taste
For The Braising Liquid:
- 3 tsp. Minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp. Swerve brown sugar substitute
- 2 Tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
- ⅔ Cup White cooking wine
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
- Start by mixing all the ingredients for the braising liquid together. Whisk well to make sure it is fully combined.
- Add the ribs to a large mixing bowl, then coat them with the dry rub ingredients. Using your hands rub the seasonings into the ribs.
- Take a large piece of foil and lay it on a baking sheet.
- Layer the ribs in the center of the baking sheet on the foil.
- Fold the ends of the foil up and together pinching closed, but leave the top center open.
- Carefully dump the braising liquid over the ribs in the foil pocket.
- Now pinch the tops of the tin foil packet closed. Make sure it is closed tightly.
- Bake the ribs in the center of the oven for 3 hours.
- When done, remove from the oven and carefully open the packet. Baste with the braising liquid in the packet. Then place the ribs under the broiler and brown/crisp to the desired coloring.
Estimated Nutrition Facts
Know that estimated nutrition facts are just a guideline and will vary depending on any variation you make or brand you use from what we have listed.
