Maple Dijon Rib Marinade Recipe

5 from 18 votes
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The other weekend we were at our cabin in Wisconsin and bought 2 giant racks of baby back ribs from a local farmer and it was on like Donkey Kong 😆 Typically we’re huge fans of dry-rubbing pork, but wanted to switch things up a little bit and go for a rib marinade. Since we were at our cabin, we had limited ingredients, which is why this glorious recipe only calls for 5 things!

This maple dijon rib marinade recipe is perfectly savory and sweet with only 5 ingredients — maple syrup, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.

Rack of baby back ribs being marinated.
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If you’re big into grilling like us, you know that having good marinade recipes on hand is clutch because they infuse your meat with juicy flavors. Our steak marinadegrilled shrimp marinade, and pork tenderloin marinade are all ones to keep in your back pocket for summer grilling!

Why you’ll love this rib Marinade recipe!

So much flavor: when we say so much flavor, we mean it! This rib marinade recipe is basically a flavor bath for your ribs, and pairs perfectly with baby back ribs, grilled ribs or even sous vide ribs .

Saves time: in this recipe, we’re recommending that you marinate your chicken overnight, which will ultimately save you time when you’re ready to cook.

Juicy + fall of the bone ribs: speaking from experience, your baby back ribs are going to come out so juicy and tender.

Rib marinade in a bowl with a whisk.

What You Need for this Rib Marinade

All you need for this amazing rib marinade is 5 ingredients! The combination is a perfectly sweet and savory marinade that complements baby back ribs in the very best way. You need:

  • Maple syrup (you can sub brown sugar)
  • Dijon mustard
  • Worcestershire sauce 
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Minced garlic cloves
Rib marinade ingredients in bowls.

How to Marinate Ribs

Making this rib marinade is easy and can be done in less than 5 minutes.

  1. Mix: measure out all of your ingredients and place them into a medium bowl. Whisk together to combine.
  2. Transfer ingredients: transfer marinade into a gallon-size plastic or baking dish and submerge the rack of ribs. Make sure it’s all covered in the marinade.
  3. Marinate: marinate for around 12-18 hours for best results (overnight). If you’re short on time, we suggest no less than 2 hours.

WHAT CUT OF MEAT DO YOU NEED FOR marinating RIBS?

Make sure to pick up baby back pork ribs for this recipe (not spare ribs). This cut can be called baby back ribs or pork ribs in the grocery store. If you aren’t sure, ask the butcher!

How long should I marinate baby back ribs?

We recommend marinating your baby back ribs for 12-18 hours for the best results. If you’re short on time, we recommend no less than 2 hours. The longer you marinate your ribs, the more flavorful they will be.

bbq ribs and corn on the cob with bbq sauce.

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Baby Back Ribs

Use this rib marinade on our amazing baby back rib recipe. You’ll love it!

Rib marinade ingredients in a bowl.

FAQs

Should ribs be marinated before cooking?

We recommend it! Marinating ribs before cooking them helps tenderize the meat, and makes them easier to pull off the bone. A win win!

How long should you marinate ribs?

For optimal flavor, we recommend marinating ribs overnight. If you’re in a time crunch, never marinate the ribs for less than 2 hours.

What should you marinate ribs in?

Use our rib marinade recipe, of course! It features ingredients that enhance the flavor of the meat rather than cover it up.

Storage

Make sure to store your marinating ribs in the fridge to prevent food borne illness. Marinating ribs will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours — then it’s time to cook them!

Rack of baby back ribs in a rib marinade.
5 from 18 votes

Rib Marinade Recipe

This classic rib marinade recipe is perfectly savory and sweet and made with only 5 ingredients — an amazing complement to your baby back ribs.
Prep: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • First, prepare the rack of ribs. Remove the membrane from the ribs. To remove the membrane, slide a knife under the membrane (which is a white film layer) on the backside of a rack of ribs and then pull the membrane off with your fingers.
    a person holding a piece of meat on a tray.
  • Massage the kosher salt and pepper into the ribs and set aside.
    a piece of raw meat sitting on top of a wooden cutting board.
  • Make the rib marinade. Add all of the ingredients for the rib marinade to a bowl and whisk until combined.
    a hand holding a whisk in a bowl of brown liquid.
  • Transfer the ribs to a gallon-sized bag or a 9×13-inch pan. Pour the marinade over the ribs. Be sure the ribs are covered in marinade. Flip the ribs meat side down, cover, and refrigerate the ribs for at least 1 hour or overnight for more tender and flavorful ribs.
    a piece of meat sitting on top of a pan covered in sauce.
  • When you're ready to cook your ribs, follow our baby back ribs recipe or our grilled ribs recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 69 kcal, Carbohydrates: 16 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 0.3 g, Fiber: 0.4 g, Sugar: 13 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.

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About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

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champlin
champlin
January 4, 2024 1:03 am

5 stars
Ribs are my favorite kind of meat, delicious. My favorites are with honey and garlic sauce
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