Applebee’s Riblet Plates and Platters are among their most popular menu items and are raved about on many online forums. The chain released riblets as a limited-time offering in the 1990s but made them a permanent fixture shortly after. Diners love how rich and tender these ribs are. They also love indulging in something different from your standard rack of ribs. The riblets are often part of Applebees’ all-you-can-eat promotions, which makes sense given the cost-effectiveness of this meat cut.
We experimented in the kitchen to create our Applebee’s Riblet Recipe, which features petite riblets tossed in a homemade sauce. The ribs are slow-cooked in the oven using a steaming method that infuses each bite with a smoky flavor. This recipe is perfect for football season, board game night, or just because. Enjoy the riblets on their own, or pair them with french fries or coleslaw for an Applebees-style feast. If you want all the flavor of ribs without the mess, try our Applebee’s Riblet Recipe.
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A Brief Intro to Riblets
Everyone’s heard of ribs, but few are familiar with riblets. This cut of meat is taken from the lower portion of the pig’s rib and is lower in cost than whole racks of ribs. Like many things, riblets gained popularity once restaurants saw their value. You’ll find riblets featured at many sit-down restaurants, such as Applebees. Though riblets are budget-friendly, there is a learning curve to the cooking methodology. Riblets can have more gristle than larger cuts, so it’s best to slow-cook, steam, or braise them as we do in this recipe.
Once you get the hang of cooking riblets, you can customize them in many ways. You can add different sauces and dry rubs or even experiment with overnight marinades. Many prefer theming their ribs with a Kansas-style muddy finish or a Korean rib aesthetic. BBQ pitmasters may even want to try their hand at smoking riblets for a unique texture. And, of course, if you want a fix-it-and-forget-it meal, you can always cook your riblets in the crockpot. With their low cost, you can afford to try a few riblet cooking techniques to see which you like best.
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Cost to Make Our Applebee’s Riblet Recipe
If you grab a plate of riblets from Applebees, you’ll spend about $14. This plate includes 3-4 riblets and one small side. In contrast, you can make our Applebee’s Riblet Recipe for just $16.35. Our version generously serves 4-6 people, making DIY riblets a no-brainer.
Keep in mind that this total may vary based on your location and ingredient availability. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Ketchup: $0.20
- Apple juice: $0.19
- Worcestershire sauce: $0.10
- Brown sugar: $0.13
- Grated onion: $0.13
- Garlic powder: $0.10
- White pepper: $0.10
- Olive oil: $0.30
- Pork rib tips: $14.00
- Beef broth: $1.00
- Liquid Smoke: $0.10
Grand Total: $16.35
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How to Make Applebee’s Riblets
Keep reading to learn how to make Applebee’s Riblets from scratch.
Step One: Make the BBQ Sauce
Preheat the oven to 275℉. To make the barbecue sauce, combine the ketchup, apple juice, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, grated onion, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large bowl. Refrigerate to let the flavors mesh.
Step Two: Sear the Ribs
Liberally season the ribs on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. We prefer using a griddle as it creates the perfect sear marks. Add the meat and let it sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until the meat is golden brown. Set aside and repeat the process until all of the riblets are seared. Alternatively, you can use a grill to get the same charred effect.
Step Three: Cook the Riblets
Place the riblets in a broiler pan with a rack. Add the beef broth and liquid smoke to the bottom of the pan. Cover the broiler pan with aluminum foil and let the ribs cook for at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours. Pro tip: The longer your ribs steam, the more tender they’ll be!
Step Four: Add Sauce
Remove the ribs from the oven and immediately baste with your homemade BBQ sauce. At this point, you can serve them immediately (for a saucy, messy riblet) or return them to the oven for 10 minutes to let the sauce tack up, as seen in the photo below.
What to Serve With Our Applebee’s Riblets Recipe
You can enjoy our Applebee’s Riblets Recipe as is or add side dishes like mashed potatoes, cornbread, and steamed green beans.
Storing Leftover Applebee’s Riblets
You can store leftover Applebee’s Riblets in the fridge for up to five days or freeze them for up to five months. If reheating from frozen, you may want to make an additional batch of homemade barbecue sauce to keep the riblets juicy.
The Smoky BBQ Applebee’s Riblet Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Riblets
- 2 pounds pork rib tips/riblets
- 1 count salt to taste
- 1 count pepper to taste
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275℉. To make the barbecue sauce, combine the ketchup, apple juice, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, grated onion, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large bowl. Refrigerate to let the flavors mesh.1 cup ketchup, ¼ cup apple juice, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup grated onion, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Liberally season the ribs on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. We prefer using a griddle as it creates the perfect sear marks. Add the meat and let it sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until the meat is golden brown. Set aside and repeat the process until all of the riblets are seared. Alternatively, you can use a grill to get the same charred effect.2 pounds pork rib tips/riblets, 1 count salt, 1 count pepper
- Place the riblets in a broiler pan with a rack. Add the beef broth and liquid smoke to the bottom of the pan. Cover the broiler pan with aluminum foil and let the ribs cook for at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours. Pro tip: The longer your ribs steam, the more tender they’ll be!3 cups beef broth, 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- Remove the ribs from the oven and immediately baste with your homemade BBQ sauce. At this point, you can serve them immediately (for a saucy, messy riblet) or return them to the oven for 10 minutes to let the sauce tack up (for a sticky-sweet riblet.)
