These fall off the bone pork ribs are seasoned Dominican-style with sofrito, sazon, and adobo before slow roasting in the oven for melt-in-your-mouth results. The BBQ glaze goes on at the end for that sticky, caramelized finish. No smoker needed — just your oven and a little patience.
Pro Tips
Pull the silverskin membrane off the back of the ribs before marinating — this is the number one thing that separates tough ribs from fall-off-the-bone ribs. Don’t skip the overnight marinade; the sofrito and sazon need time to penetrate the meat. When you add the BBQ sauce at the end, crank the heat to 375°F uncovered so it caramelizes instead of steaming.
Did You Know?
Sofrito is the flavor base of Caribbean cooking — a blend of peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs that adds depth no dry spice blend can replicate. Using it as a rib marinade instead of just a sauce base is a Dominican technique that sets these ribs apart from your standard American BBQ method.
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional information may vary based on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used.
Storage & Meal Prep
Leftover ribs keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat without drying them out, wrap in foil and warm in a 300°F oven for 20 minutes. These also freeze well for up to 3 months — freeze individual portions for easy weeknight meals.
What to Serve With
- White rice and pink beans (classic Dominican pairing)
- Tostones or fried plantains
- Coleslaw or cucumber salad to cut the richness
- Corn on the cob
- Baked mac and cheese
FAQ
Q: Do I have to marinate overnight?
Overnight is ideal, but even 2–4 hours makes a big difference. The longer the sofrito sits on the meat, the deeper the flavor.
Q: Can I use baby back ribs instead of spare ribs?
Yes — reduce the oven time to about 1.5 hours at 325°F since baby backs are leaner and thinner than spare ribs.
Q: Can I make these in a slow cooker?
Yes. Cook on low for 6–8 hours, then broil with the BBQ sauce for 5–10 minutes at the end to caramelize the glaze.
Love this Dominican-style BBQ? Try my Glazed Ham Recipe or my Korean Pork Ribs for two more crowd-pleasing ways to cook pork low and slow.
Ingredients
Method
- Season your ribs with all of the ingredients except the bbq sauce.
- Let the ribs marinate overnight in your fridge.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and roast for 2 hours.
- Remove ribs and brush the bbq sauce over.
- Raise oven to 375 degrees and roast for another 30 minutes.
- Result: soft, juicy ribs with a nice coat of bbq sauce.
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