Char siu ribs are super tender and bursting with flavor! These sweet and sticky Chinese-style ribs will quickly become your top choice for serving at cookouts and family dinners. Pair them with rice and stir-fried vegetables for the perfect meal.

Char Siu Ribs

What is Char Siu?

Char siu is Cantonese-style barbecued pork. It’s typically made using pork loin, although some cooks prefer pork belly, ribs, or pork butt. The meat is coated in a flavorful sauce with umami and sweet notes. Red food coloring gives this BBQ pork its distinct color. Char siu is usually baked or slow-cooked in an indoor oven and served with starches like noodles and rice. This dish is cherished throughout Asia, with variations in Southeast and East Asia. Char siu is also available in restaurants across the United States, including various Chinatowns and popular tourist destinations in Hawaii.

Grill Set Up for Char Siu Ribs

Grill set-up: While char siu is typically cooked in an oven, we will be taking these barbecued pork ribs to a charcoal grill. We recommend cooking these low and slow, with a target cooking temperature of 250 degrees F. Set up for indirect cooking with a two-zone cooking area. Place an aluminum drip pan with a 1/2 cup of water underneath the ribs to mitigate any flare-ups. The sauce is sugary, and when dripping occurs, it can burn quickly.
Ribs: This recipe requires two racks of baby back ribs cut into individual ribs. This allows for a better coating of sauce and caramelization on your char siu ribs. However, you can leave the slabs whole when using the oven method.
We recommend having a reliable meat thermometer nearby to help you pull these ribs at just the right moment.

Marinade and Glaze

Marinating: This char siu ribs recipe calls for both a marinade and a glaze. The two-part combination is truly delicious. Marinate the pork ribs between 2-6 hours. For best results, aim for at least 4 hours.
The Glaze: The secret to these char siu ribs lies in the glaze. It’s not just any glaze; it’s the one that gives these ribs their signature char siu flavor. The glaze is made with essential ingredients like Hoisin sauce, rice wine (or rice) vinegar, five-spice powder, sesame oil, and red food coloring.
Saucing the ribs begins after they reach an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees F. Aim for an overall doneness temp of 185 degrees F.

charsui-ribs-plated2 — derrickriches.com

Ingredients

2 racks of baby back ribs
Green onions
Toasted sesame seeds
Hoisin sauce
Soy sauce
Rice wine vinegar (sub with rice vinegar or sherry)
Garlic minced
Chinese five-spice powder
Brown Sugar
Sesame oil
Red food coloring

Making Grilled Char Siu Pork Ribs

Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs.
Cut the racks into individual ribs with a sharp knife. Place ribs into two resealable plastic bags.
Combine marinade ingredients and split the mixture in half.
Coat ribs with marinade. Move ribs around to make sure they are well coated. Seal the bags and place them into the refrigerator.
Marinate ribs for 2-6 hours.
Preheat the grill and prepare for a 1 1/2-2 hour indirect cook. Plan on a cooking temperature of 250 degrees F.
Let ribs stand at room temp for 15-20 minutes while grill heats.
Place ribs on the grill, bone side down. Cook for 2 hours over the indirect space.
Combine glaze ingredients in a medium bowl.
Baste the ribs during last 30-40 minutes of cooking or once the ribs reach an internal temperate of 170 degrees F.
Baste several times on the meat side of the rack. Watch for burning.
Take ribs of the grill, once they reach an internal temperature of 185 degrees F., and the baste has set up nicely.
Place them onto a large clean cutting board or serving platter.
Garnish with green onion and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Char Siu Ribs Recipe — derrickriches.com

Making Char Siu Ribs in the Oven

Remove membrane from ribs.
Leave the racks of ribs intact (do not cut into separate pieces like the grilled version)
Combine marinade ingredients and split the mixture in half.
Place ribs into a large glass dish (bone side down)
Pour equal portions of the marinade onto each rack of ribs.
Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.
Preheat your oven for 250 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
Place ribs bone side down onto the pan.
Bake in your oven for 1 1/2-2 hours, rotating the pan halfway through cooking time.
After 2 hours, increase the heat of your oven to 300 degrees.
Brush on the char siu sauce every 15 minutes until the ribs take on a dark red hue and register an internal temperature of 185 degrees F.
Remove from the oven. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes. Cut into individual ribs, garnish with green onion and toasted sesame seeds, and serve.

Variation: Char Siu Pork

Pork tenderloin: Use this char siu recipe on pork tenderloin for the perfect Chinese BBQ pork.
Use 3 tenderloins (about 1 pound each) and the same marinade and sauce (glaze) measurements.
Grill or bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours over 250 degrees F., or until you reach your desired target temperature. We recommend at least 150-155 degrees).
Baste the meat halfway through cooking time.
Remove from the heat, let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes.
Slice, garnish and serve.

Side Dish Recommendations

Char siu is typically served with soup noodles or stir-fried noodles, steamed vegetables like bok choy, plain white rice, or fried rice.
Serve 2-3 ribs per person.

Want it saucier? Double the glaze recipe and apply more sauce to the ribs.

Storing leftover Char Siu Ribs

Store your leftovers char siu ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat in a 350 degree oven until warmed through. You can freeze these ribs for up to 1 month. Let them thaw for 6-12 hours in your refrigerator before rewarming them in the oven.

More recipes!

Char Siu Ribs

Char siu ribs are incredibly delicious! These sweet and sticky, Chinese-style ribs will quickly become one of your favorite dishes. Serve these ribs with rice and stir-fried vegetables for the perfect meal.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: char siu, Chinatown ribs, chinese BBQ ribs, pork ribs

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 2

Total Time: 2 20

Servings: servings

Calories: 529kcal

Ingredients

2 racks baby back ribs 3 1/2 pounds
1/4 cup green onion finely chopped (garnish)
1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (garnish)

Marinade:

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
3-4 cloves garlic minced
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder

Glaze:

1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

Instructions

Remove membrane from the back of the ribs.
Cut the racks into individual ribs. Place into two resealable plastic bags.
Combine marinade ingredients and split the mixture in half. Coat each set of ribs with marinade. Move ribs around to make sure they are well coated.
Secure ribs in bags and place them into the refrigerator for 2-6 hours.
Preheat grill and prepare for a 1 1/2-2 hour indirect cook. Plan on a cooking temperature of 250 degrees F. Set a water-filled drip pan underneath where the ribs will go.
Remove ribs from the refrigerator and stand for 15 minutes at room temperature. Keep in the bags until ready to grill.
Remove ribs from marinade and place them onto the grill, bone side down. Cook for 2 hours over the indirect space (cooler).
Combine glaze ingredients in a medium bowl.
Start basting the last 30-40 minutes of cook time or once the ribs reach an internal temperate of 170 degrees F.
Baste several times on the meat side of the rack. Watch for burning.
Once ribs reach an internal temperature of 185 degrees F., and the baste has set up nicely, remove from the grill and place them onto a large clean cutting board or serving platter.
Garnish with green onion and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350-degree oven until warmed through.
*See notes for oven cooking method

Notes

Oven Method

Remove membrane from baby back ribs.
Leave the racks of ribs intact (do not cut into separate pieces like the grilled version)
Combine marinade ingredients and split the mixture in half.
Place ribs into a large glass dish (bone side down)
Pour equal portions of the marinade onto each rack of ribs.
Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.
Preheat your oven for 250 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
Place ribs bone side down onto the pan.
Bake in your oven for 1 1/2-2 hours, rotating the pan halfway through cooking time.
After 2 hours, increase the heat of your oven to 300 degrees.
Brush on the char siu glaze every 15 minutes until the ribs take on a dark red hue and register an internal temperature of 185 degrees F.
Remove from the oven. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes. Cut into individual ribs, garnish with green onion and toasted sesame seeds, and serve.