The secret ingredient to this tender, delicious barbecued ribs recipe known as Grandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs? Coca-Cola soda and some time! Perfect for your next family party.
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Why we love this recipe
My all-time favorite recipe for tender, delicious, perfect every time ribs is this one for Grandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs, which are just what you think they are.
Juicy ribs marinated in, among other things, a bath of Coca-Cola soda (or Dr. Pepper, if you prefer), which gives them an amazing consistency and an even more amazing taste.
(Oh, and if you want an amazing Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Pot Roast recipe, we’ve got you covered on that too!)
A little easy breezy coleslaw on the side, and you are in for the perfect summer supper! Make sure you build in some time for these, because while they are super easy to make, they do need time to marinate and then time to cook low and slow in your oven before you finish them on your grill.
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitions
- Ribs: We always use baby back pork ribs for this recipe. They are the right size and contain the right amount of lean vs fat ratio, and (bonus points!) they are very affordable.
- Soda: You can use any dark soda from Coke to Dr. Pepper to your friendly neighborhood store brand…just make sure it is the regular variety and not the diet version. You need the sugar as well as the carbonation in the soda to tenderize your ribs.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
Here’s how you make this recipe
STEP 1: Place 4 pounds of bone-in pork ribs to a large glass or ceramic baking dish and pour 2 cups of Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper over them. (Save the third cup of the soda for a sauce to be made later.) Cover the pan securely with plastic wrap and let the ribs marinate in the fridge overnight.
STEP 2: Pour that remaining cup of soda into a blender or food processor and add 3 cups of ketchup, one cup of brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of chili powder, 4 tablespoons of ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons dry mustard, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. (Whew!) Blend until smooth.
STEP 3: Take the ribs out of the pan they have been marinating in and toss that soda. Put the ribs in a roasting pan that has been coated with cooking spray, brush liberally with part of the sauce.
STEP 4: Cover the roasting pan with a lid or some foil and roast the ribs in a 225 F oven for about 2 1/2 hours or until very tender. A paring knife should go in easily. You can check them for done-ness with a thermometer – they should be about 200 degrees.
STEP 5: When you are ready to eat, preheat your grill to medium high heat and grill the rib, basting with some of the leftover sauce and turning once or twice until the outside is crispy, about 10-15 minutes.
STEP 6: While the ribs are cooking, send someone reliable in to simmer the remaining sauce over medium-low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes until a little thick.
STEP 7: Stand back while the dinner crowd goes crazy for your ribs! See that smile? It happens every single time you cook up these ribs!
Equipment we used for this recipe
These are some of my favorite kitchen tools! These are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little something if you buy through my links at no extra cost to you. (Which helps pay for all that bacon I keep buying! 😄) And I only share things I use and love. I’m so grateful for your support!
- Roasting Pan: This affordable roasting pan is nice and sturdy.
- 9 x 13 Casserole: Perfect for marinating those ribs (and for making my favorite cheesy cauliflower casserole recipe!)
- Measuring Cup: We love these angled measuring cups – they come in all different sizes!
- Food Processor: One of the few appliances that is allowed to stay on our counter 365 days a year.
- Measuring Spoons: We love these magnetic spoons that let you use one at a time.
- Basting Brush: This silicone brush is our go-to for any and all basting!
- Thermometer: Always the best way to check for done-ness.
Recipe FAQs
You can, all the way up until the grilling part. You can do the oven portion of the recipe up to a day ahead of time.
You can drink some while you make these ribs, but you need the sugar in the regular Coke to make this recipe as wonderful as it needs to be!
We do recommend baby back pork ribs for this recipe, but you can use beef ribs if you want to. Keep in mind that beef ribs are usually bigger and more dense so they will need more time in the oven (you want them to get to a temperature of about 200 degrees), and will have a stronger flavor – but if it’s a flavor you like, then go for it!
Pop your question in the comments section below and I will answer pronto!
What to serve with this recipe
We love us some vinegar coleslaw with these ribs, and a hearty BLT potato salad is perfect as well. Some butter biscuits are always a hit, and for dessert? We’ll have some banana cream pie, please!
Other grilling recipes we love!
We want to know what you think! 🤔
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
PrintGrandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs
The secret ingredient to this tender, delicious barbecued ribs recipe? Coca-Cola soda and some fatherly love! Grandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 150 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American, Southern
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 4 lbs bone in pork ribs
- 3 cups Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper
- 3 cups ketchup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons chili powder
- 4 tablespoons ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the ribs to a large glass or ceramic baking dish and pour 2 cups of Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper over them. Reserve the third cup of the soda for a sauce to be made later. Cover the pan securely with plastic wrap and let the ribs marinate in the fridge overnight.
- Pour the remaining 1 cup of soda into a blender or food processor and add the ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, pepper, dry mustard, and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.
- Take the ribs out of the pan they have been marinating in and toss that soda. Put the ribs in a roasting pan that has been coated with cooking spray, brush liberally with part of the sauce, cover the pan with a lid or foil and roast in a 225 F oven for about 2 1/2 hours or until very tender. A paring knife should go in easily, and/or you can measure them for doneness with a cooking thermometer – they should be around 200 degrees.
- To finish, grill the ribs over medium-high heat, basting with some of the leftover sauce until the outside is crispy, about 10-15 minutes. While the ribs are cooking, simmer the remaining sauce on the stove over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes until a little thick.
- You can either cut the ribs into one rib pieces or serve them up in sections. Enjoy!
Notes
-
- Ribs: We always use baby back pork ribs for this recipe. They are the right size and contain the right amount of lean vs fat ratio, and (bonus points!) they are very affordable.
-
- Soda: You can use any dark soda from Coke to Dr. Pepper to your friendly neighborhood store brand…just make sure it is the regular variety and not the diet version. You need the sugar as well as the carbonation in the soda to tenderize your ribs.
Tonia Le Febre-Johnson says
I have made these ribs more times than I can count. They are perfect every time.
Tonia Le Febre-Johnson says
I even made them for my wedding…
Tonia! That is so very special, and I know that would mean so much to my dad! :)
That warms my heart to hear – my dad would love this too. :)
Cathy Tibbles says
I made this last night with a few less Tbsp chili powder and everyone loved it!
Well YAY! Love that your family loved one of our all time family faves. :) xo
Brianna says
I madetbese ribs forester dinner on Sunday. They were spectacular!! Fall off the bones and so yummy!!! I had leftover barbecue sauce and used it last night on our barbecue chicken. So delicious!! Definitely my new favorite barbecue sauce!! Thank you much for the delightful recipe ?
Brianna says
Absolutely delicious!! My new favorite bbq sauce! Had the ribs for Easter dinner last night and the leftover sauce on barbequed chicken tonight. Scrumptious!!! Thank you so much for the recipe ?
Hi Brianna! I’m so glad you loved this one – it’s one of our top family faves!
Susan says
Your BBQ rib recipe is delicious! This is now my “go-to recipe” every time I make ribs. Thanks to your dad and to you for sharing this no-fail method.
Susan, thank you so much – my dad would be so happy to hear this!
Amber says
This BBQ sauce is amazing! I had some left over and used it for other recipes! Thank you for sharing!! These ribs were delicious!
Amber! I’m so glad you liked it – happy summer!
Cyp says
Hi!
Thank you for the recipe. It was a great inspiration. I got a rack of ribs and wanted to cook them on the bbq and I knew that this time I want to use coke. I tweaked your original gospel but your combination of spices and flavours was my main framework. It worked perfectly! My wife and our little boy were both impressed. Thank you again!
I’m so glad!! The family seal of approval is the best, right? :)
Prepperdaddy says
Kate, when you marinate the ribs do you use enough of the sauce to cover the ribs (doesn’t sound like it), or just enough to coat?
Just enough to coat, although if you add some extra that would still work out just fine!
Cynthia Hand says
Trying this for Memorial Day weekend dinner tonight. They look SOOOOO good.
Cynthia! I’m so glad – we had them last night and we don’t even have any bones left! (we do have happy dogs!)
Cynthia Hand says
These were ah-mazing. Best ribs I’ve ever had!
patrick says
Hi Kate ,
Please tell your dad his spare ribs were a big hit over here in Belgium ! made it for the family and friends and the folks they simply loved it !
Patrick, thanks so much for telling me this – glad to hear they are an international success! :)
Nicole says
I don’t have a grill and would like to make these. How long would I have to cook them in the stove instead?
Hi Nicole! Cook them at 225 degrees for 2 1/2 hours until very tender. And instead of finishing on a grill: Preheat your oven broiler. Arrange the ribs in a single layer on a foil lined cookie sheet, brush with a little sauce and broil, turning once. Watch carefully so they do not burn! And then enjoy. :)
Paul says
Hi,
Can you use chicken drumsticks instead of ribs for this recipe?
Thanks
Diane says
How many hours do you cook in oven if not grilling ?
Hi Diane! The ribs are pretty much cooked once they go on the grill – they are being grilled just to get that nice crispy exterior. If you run them under the broiler after the oven time in the recipe (and watch them carefully during the broiling part!) you should get a similar crispy effect. Hope this helps!
Joni says
I am trying this tomorrow. I am about to do the marinade and let the ribs soak overnight. I will let you know how much my family enjoys them. Looks delicious!!
Thanks Joni! Can’t wait to hear if your family loves them as much as mine does. :)
Ben says
I made these ribs for my family the other night… Delish!!! I can’t wait to make them again. The best part, I have plenty of sauce left for other projects.
I’m so glad! Sounds like we have families with similar taste! :)