Citrus Free Paleo BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Slow-baked baby back ribs with a smoky, caramelized crust are the kind of meal that makes everyone gather around the table fast. Most store-bought BBQ sauces sneak in orange juice, lemon juice, or citric acid, which makes finding a safe option genuinely frustrating — this recipe solves that by building a rich, tangy sauce from scratch using tomato paste, honey, apple cider vinegar, and coconut aminos. The result is deeply savory with just the right amount of heat from cayenne and smoked paprika, and zero citrus anywhere in the ingredient list. The dry rub gets pressed into avocado-oil-coated racks and sealed in foil for a long, low bake that breaks down the collagen and makes the meat pull cleanly from the bone. A final blast at high heat caramelizes the homemade sauce into sticky, slightly charred perfection. These ribs are also grain-free and refined-sugar-free, leaning on coconut sugar and honey for sweetness, so they fit a paleo approach without any compromise on flavor. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or meal-prepping for the week, this is the kind of recipe that earns serious repeat requests.

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