Hoisin-glazed Char Siu pork ribs are a delicious fusion of tender, smoky, and sweet flavors. Inspired by the classic Cantonese Char Siu pork, this dish transforms meaty ribs into a melt-in-your-mouth experience, with a sticky hoisin glaze that’s savory, sweet, and full of umami. The glaze is the key to giving the ribs that irresistible glossy finish, while the slow-cooked pork becomes incredibly tender, making each bite a flavorful adventure.
The process starts with marinating the ribs in a mixture of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Chinese five spice powder, honey, garlic, and a touch of rice vinegar. This marinade infuses the meat with deep flavor, and the sugar content in the hoisin and honey helps achieve that signature caramelization when cooking. To enhance the traditional Char Siu flavor, you can also add a bit of red food coloring, which gives the ribs that classic red hue often seen in Char Siu pork.
After marinating for a few hours (or overnight for maximum flavor), the ribs are slow-cooked, either by baking or grilling. The low and slow method ensures the meat becomes tender, juicy, and full of flavor, while the glaze turns sticky and beautifully caramelized. A final brush of the hoisin glaze during the last few minutes of cooking helps to deepen the flavor and achieve that perfect finish.
Hoisin-glazed Char Siu pork ribs are best served with a side of steamed rice or Asian-style slaw to balance the richness of the pork. You can garnish with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of extra hoisin sauce for an added burst of flavor. The ribs are perfect for a family dinner, BBQs, or any special occasion where you want to impress guests with a dish that’s both impressive and incredibly tasty.
These ribs deliver on all fronts, tender meat, smoky flavors, and a beautifully sticky, sweet glaze. The combination of savory, sweet, and aromatic elements makes Hoisin-glazed Char Siu pork ribs a standout dish that’s sure to become a favorite at your dinner table. Whether you’re grilling them outside or cooking them in the oven, they’ll leave everyone craving more.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork ribs St. Louis-style or baby back
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green onions sliced, for garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, oyster sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, minced garlic, and minced ginger to create the marinade.
- Season the pork ribs with salt and pepper, then coat them with the marinade. Allow them to marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for deeper flavor.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Grill the marinated pork ribs for about 1.5 to 2 hours, turning occasionally, until they are tender and cooked through. Baste with additional marinade during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- During the last 10 minutes of grilling, brush the ribs with more of the marinade for extra glaze.
- Once cooked, remove the ribs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Slice the Hoisin-Glazed Char Siu Pork Ribs between the bones and arrange them on a serving platter.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve the flavorful and tender ribs as a delicious lunch option during your weekend culinary adventure!
- Savor the authentic Chinese flavors with these irresistible pork ribs!
For reals, this is the best rib recpie I’ve tried! My fam loves it!
Pork ribs are usually too fatty, kinda turned me off. But these were really flavorful.
So good! But what is char siu? I thought it was just pork?
What the heck is hoisin sauce? Can I use barbeque sauce instead??
Hoisin sauce is like a sweet soy sauce! Barbecue sauce is good but it won’t taste the same. You might miss out on the authentic flavor.
I dunno what hoisin sauce is either! Just use BBQ, it’ll work fine I think.
Holy moly, best thing I ever grilled! The hoisin sauce gives it a sweet taste.
Excellent flavors, but I forgot to baste! Still turned out pretty good, next time will be better.
I tried making these ribs but they ended up really dry. Maybe I overcooked them? Not sure if I’ll try again.
Yum! Made these for a BBQ and they were gone in minutes. The garlic and ginger really make it pop!
Ugh, my ribs burned! I guess I turned the heat up too high. Never grilling again.
Oh no! That’s a bummer! Maybe try lower heat next time? Ribs are the best when done right!
Grilling can be tricky! But it’s not all bad, just give it another shot! 😄
These ribs are amazing! So tender and full of flavor.
YUM!!! Best ribs I’ve ever made! My whole family loved them, I’m a BBQ master now!
I followed the recipe step by step, but mine turned out really dry. What did I do wrong?
These ribs were a huge hit at my BBQ! The hoisin glaze is Delicious!!!
Does anyone know if I can use BBQ sauce instead of hoisin? I don’t have any.
I followed the recipe, but the ribs turned out tough. I think I cooked them too long. Not sure if I’ll try again.
I added some chili flakes for a kick. So good! A bit too sweet for my taste, but still yummy.
Chili flakes sound like a great addition! I might try that next time. I like sweet stuff, but I get what you mean about the sweetness. What brand of hoisin do you use?
Never made anything like this before. It was ok, but I don’t think I’ll use so much honey next time.
Yeah, I think you forgot to mention how long to grill them…
Nah, I think it’s self-explanatory. Just grill until they look done. I mean, how hard can it be? 🤷♂️
Thanks for pointing that out! I guess it’s easy to forget details when you’re excited about a recipe. Maybe I’ll just start the timer for 2 hours to be safe?
I tried it with chicken since I didn’t have ribs… still turned out pretty good!
Why does it call for oyster sauce? I don’t eat shellfish! Can I substitute? Just curious.
These ribs are out of this world! The marinade brings such a rich flavor. Definitely a hit with my family.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! The marinade really makes a difference. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Too many steps! Can’t I just dump sauce on some meat and call it a day?
The five spice powder messed me up at the store. Couldn’t find it anywhere!
Too sweet for my taste. I think the honey and hoisin overwhelmed the meat. Not what I expected.
The cooking time was spot on! So excited to find a good ribs recipe!
I don’t know, this seems too complicated for ribs. Can you just bake them?
These ribs were a hit at my BBQ! The hoisin adds so much flavor, my friends couldn’t get enough.
Hoisin sauce? Is that really necessary? I was thinking of just using BBQ sauce. Hope it ain’t too sweet!
I’m so glad to hear that! Hoisin really does magic on meats! Can’t wait to try it myself.
I tried making these, but the ribs ended up kinda tough. Maybe my grill wasn’t hot enough?
Best ribs! Even my father who hates everything liked them. Awesome!
Glad to hear that! These ribs truly are a crowd-pleaser. Thanks for sharing your success!
I was skeptical at first, but I followed the recipe to a T and wow! Definitely making this again for sure.
Absolutely delicious! My kids loved them. Will make again.
Just what I needed for my weekend dinner! The kids loved it too. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, these ribs are amazing! So tender and flavorful. Definitely going to make this again!