Ribs, admittedly, don’t appear at first glance to be an ideal baby/toddler food—quite the opposite, really. But if you’re willing to commit BBQ heresy, the end result of this recipe is a kind of porcine gummy candy that your child will gleefully inhale. The trick to making great ribs for kids is to embrace the “meat jello”—the pejorative term barbecue purists use for meat that falls easily off the bone when pulled with your teeth (and not the kind that gets stuck within your teeth). Most restaurants that feature BBQ ribs go this route—usually by boiling the meat first and then baking with sauce to finish—in order to produce the soft and sticky and very easy to eat product with which you are familiar. You’re not going to win any competition BBQ contests with this approach, but you can create a family signature that can easily be scaled up when friends and family come to visit.
Now, this ribs for kids recipe requires more time and steps than others on New Dad's Kitchen, but the actual amount of effort required is nothing compared to the joy you'll produce. But, if you're looking to keep it swift and simple, you could forgo making your own sauce, say, and use a store-bought one; you could skip the saucing and broiling part altogether and squirt the sauce over the top upon serving (or serve nothing at all). You can make this through and around your child’s schedule, too—I’m partial to doing the initial oven cooking during nap time, then the sauce and broiling about 15 minutes before dinner—or you could make it in advance and store it until you need it. Your baby’s never had ribs before—no judgment here on how you make it your own!
Check out other great meat recipes!
Q: Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can cook the ribs in advance and store them in the fridge; apply the sauce and broil just before serving.
Q: What if my child is allergic to soy?
A: Substitute soy sauce with coconut aminos or omit entirely and adjust the sweetness with a bit more jelly.
Q: Can I use a different meat?
A: Yes, short ribs or chicken drumsticks can be adapted using the same low-and-slow cooking method.
Q: How do I make it toddler-friendly?
A: Cook ribs until very tender and cut into small, manageable pieces. Avoid overly spicy or salty sauces.
"Low and slow" is the name of the game for these ribs for kids, which are intentionally cooked to produce a fall-off-the-bone texture that makes it easy for toddlers and infants to eat from or off the rack. For infants, just complete the initial cook and you're all set; spritz with a bit of lemon and you're golden. For toddlers and kids, baste the rack with sauce and broil until glazed and sweet.
If he membrane hasn't already been removed from the meat, flip the rib rack(s) over so that the underbelly faces up and look for the thin white web of fat that traverses the length of the underside. Find a spot at one end and pull back on it to lift it up; then run a knife or your finger underneath it to stretch it away from the rib; pull it off and discard.
Flip ribs back over Sprinkle salt all over. (Be judicious with how much you put on, but rest assured: you will not harm your child.) Slather mayo (or oil) all over top and sides of the rib rack.
Cook the ribs for 30 minutes at 350, then lower oven temperature to 250; cook for an additional 1 hour and 40 minutes. Remove from the oven at time and allow to rest for a few minutes before discarding the foil.
(Note: for a smaller/leaner rib rack, cook at 250 for more like 75-90 minutes.)
Turn your oven’s broiler to High and move an oven rack to the top position inside your oven. Remove rib rack from foil and pan.
Sauce time. If making your own, follow the instructions in the next section to put it together; otherwise, feel free to use whatever BBQ sauce you have lying about. Using a spoon or sauce mop, cover the top and sides of the ribs with sauce until the entire surface is glazed.
Return ribs to pan and place on top rack of oven. Watching the oven carefully, cook until the sauce glaze is no longer runny but the top has no blackened/burnt parts, roughly 2-3 minutes. Moving or rotating the rack to ensure all parts of the rib caramelize on top.
For a sweeter and more lacquered appearance, pull the ribs from the broiler after 90-1200 seconds and slather on a second application of sauce; return to broiler for 45-60 seconds.
In a small or medium saucepan—use a medium sized one if making two or more racks at a time—cover the bottom of the pan in a shallow mix of the soy and vinegar, with a ratio of about two-thirds soy to one-third vinegar. Place a copious spoonful of jelly in the center of the pan and swirl around so that jelly clumps are dispersed throughout.
Cut a few ribs from the middle of a rack and pull most of the meat from the bones; select for your child’s plate those pieces of meat with little or no fat and skin but which feel juicy and soft to the touch. Serve with a little sauce if needed, as well as a bone on which your child can gnaw. I tend to keep any accompanying dishes light: vegetables and fruits.
If you’re sensitive about your child’s salt or sugar intake, or you're making for an infant or young toddler, skip the saucing and broiling steps and just pull the meat from the bone, spritz with lemon and/or dust with no-salt seasoning and serve. I’m a fan of a bit of mustard, cilantro, and the dust from the bottom of a peanut jar myself.
Servings 6
Serving Size 2 ribs
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
I’ve made this recipe with heritage pork from a respected butcher, and I’ve made it with commodity pork I bought in a “buy one-get-two-free” deal; both came out excellent. Use whatever product you want. If you do buy from a butcher, definitely ask them to remove the membrane for you: will allow you to skip the first prep step—and some grief.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
