• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Paleo Leap
  • Recipes
    • Beef and Red Meat
    • Chicken and Poultry
    • Pork
    • Fish and Seafood
    • Eggs
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Sauces, Dips & Vinaigrettes
    • Drinks
    • Sweets and Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
  • Learn
  • Your Starting Point
    • Topic Index
    • Paleo 101
    • Paleo Meal Plan
    • Paleo Food List
    • Transitioning to Paleo
    • Am I Doing it Right? - Checklist
    • Mini-Course for Beginners
  • Popular Topics
    • Recipes for Beginners
    • Breakfast Ideas
    • Homemade Condiments
    • Legumes
    • Wheat & Gluten
    • Dairy
    • Nightshades
  • More
    • Compilations
    • Foods
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Snacks
  • Salads
  • Learn Paleo
  • Paleo Cooking Tips
  • Paleo Diet Foods
  • Paleo Recipe Compilations
  • Keto Diet Recipes
  • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
  • Paleo Drink Recipes
  • Paleo Egg Recipes
  • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
  • Paleo Sauces and Dips
  • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
  • Paleo Soup Recipes
  • Paleo Tips & Tricks
  • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Snacks
    • Salads
    • Learn Paleo
    • Paleo Cooking Tips
    • Paleo Diet Foods
    • Paleo Recipe Compilations
    • Keto Diet Recipes
    • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
    • Paleo Drink Recipes
    • Paleo Egg Recipes
    • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
    • Paleo Sauces and Dips
    • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Paleo Soup Recipes
    • Paleo Tips & Tricks
    • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Paleo Pork Recipes

    Cocoa Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs

    Last Modified: May 1, 2023 by Katie Hale · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    18 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    Cocoa cinnamon baby back ribs may sound like an odd combination, but trust me when I say it is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. With a perfectly balanced spice rub that brings together the flavors of cocoa, cumin, cinnamon, and allspice, these ribs are sure to satisfy any craving. Plus, with a preparation that includes boiling before baking, they're easy to keep moist and tender.

    slab of baby back ribs on wooden cutting board
    Jump to:
    • Baby Back Ribs
    • Ingredients
    • 📖 Recipe

    Baby Back Ribs

    With a recipe that's perfect for paleo and keto diets, these ribs are a great option for anyone looking to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor. The sweeter meat of pork pairs wonderfully with the spices to give you a dish that creates a delicious flavor.

    Baby back ribs are a great choice as the entree to your menu as they are loaded with protein and don't require a ton of extra ingredients to turn out perfect every time. Serve these alongside a keto broccoli salad recipe, or even a dill potato salad recipe for a perfect summertime picnic meal!

    Ingredients

    Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours

    • 2 racks pork baby back ribs, cut in half
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon allspice
    • 3 tablespoon cooking fat, beef tallow, lard, or bacon grease

    How to Make Cocoa Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs

    In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and allspice. Then set this aside.

    In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, place the baby back ribs and cover them with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and let simmer for 1 hour.

    After 1 hour, preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C. Then, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

    Remove the ribs from the boiling liquid and place them onto the lined baking sheet. Rub them with the cooking fat. Then, rub them all over, coating both sides completely.

    Turn the rib's arc side down on the baking sheet, then cover them with another layer of aluminum foil. Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Then, uncover the ribs and cook for 15 minutes. Turn the ribs over, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.

    More Paleo Rib Recipes

    Baby back ribs are a popular choice for everyone, whether you are following a specific dietary plan or not. This paleo rib recipe is a great choice for making and taking to your next summer barbecue event. Everyone will enjoy them, and you'll have a great alternative that fits your needs! Below are a few other rib recipes that are sure to please everyone at your next weekend barbecue.

    • Slow-Cooker Ribs with Pomegranate Sauce Recipe
    • Ribs with BBQ Apple Sauce Recipe
    • Mexican-Style Ribs Recipe
    • Slow-Cooker Barbecue Ribs Recipe
    • Spicy Honey-Glazed Ribs Recipe
    • Jamaican-Style Ribs Recipe
    • Ribs With Mixed Berry BBQ Sauce Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    slab of baby back ribs on wooden cutting board

    Cocoa Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs

    Looking for a paleo-friendly twist on classic ribs? Try our Cocoa Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs recipe for a sweet and savory flavor explosion!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 422 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Stockpot
    • 1 Baking sheet
    • 1 Mixing bowl(s)
    • 1 Measuring cups and spoons
    • 1 Whisk

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 racks pork baby back ribs cut in half
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon allspice
    • 3 tablespoon cooking fat beef tallow, lard, or bacon grease

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, mix together cocoa powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and allspice.
      1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoon sea salt, 2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon allspice
    • Next, prepare the ribs by placing them in a pot of boiling water, allowing them to simmer for an hour.
      2 racks pork baby back ribs
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F/160°C.
    • Arrange the boiled ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil and apply some cooking fat. Afterward, generously rub the ribs with the cocoa and cinnamon spice mix, and place them on the baking sheet arc side down, covering them with another sheet of foil.
      3 tablespoon cooking fat
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes before removing the top layer of foil and continuing to cook for another 15 minutes. Flip the ribs over and cook for a final 15 minutes

    Notes

    • Using bacon grease as the cooking fat will add an additional layer of richness to the ribs. 
    • For added flavor, you can also place applewood chips or similar on the baking sheet with the ribs as they bake. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4gCalories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 28gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 1290mgPotassium: 419mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 61IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword baby back ribs, Paleo Pork, pork, pork ribs
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Paleo Pork Recipes

    • closeup of Pig’s feet stew
      Pig’s Feet Stew
    • closeup of an orange casserole dish filled with Pork Liver and Heart Pâté
      Pork Liver and Heart Pâté
    • closeup of Liver and Onions on a white plate
      Liver and Onions
    • blue plate filled with Pork and lamb kidney hot pot
      Pork and Lamb Kidney Hot Pot

    Sharing is caring!

    18 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    Filed Under: Keto Diet Recipes, Paleo Pork Recipes, Paleo Recipes Tagged With: Baby Back Ribs, cooking: fast prep, diet: dairy-free, diet: egg-free, diet: nut-free, diet: shellfish-free, Paleo Dinner Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    paleo leap square logo

    Hi, I'm Rick! Paleo Leap is the oldest and biggest resource online, covering everything about the paleo diet. We have over 1500 recipes categorized and plenty of meal plans for you to try.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Featured
      Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Recipe
    • Almond Milk Custard
      Almond Milk Custard Recipe
    • Flourless Banana Pancakes Featured
      Flourless Banana Pancakes Recipe
    • Turban Squash Soup Featured
      Turban Squash Soup Recipe

    Recent Recipes:

    • closeup of a glass of Almond banana cinnamon smoothie on a wood table
      Almond Banana Cinnamon Smoothie
    • glass of Peach and chocolate green smoothie on a wood table with peaches in the background
      Peach and Chocolate Green Smoothie
    • closeup of two glasses of cinnamon and Coconut vanilla milkshake
      Coconut Vanilla Milkshake
    • Pumpkin smoothie in a glass on a wood table with cinnamon sticks in the background
      Pumpkin Smoothie

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    For your information only. The statements on this website are merely opinions. Paleo Leap does not provide medical or nutritional advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Read the full disclaimer.

    Copyright © 2023 Paleo Leap

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required