Costillitas Glaseadas con Chipotle y Piloncillo (Chipotle Glazed Pork Ribs)
Slow baked pork ribs finished under a sticky, smoky chipotle and piloncillo glaze.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time3 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.56 a head
- Oven150°C (130°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 150°C (130°C fan). Stir your ready made chipotle adobo sauce (see the base recipe) with the piloncillo, vinegar, orange juice, garlic, salt, oregano and cumin until the sugar dissolves. Pour a third into a small pan and keep it for the glaze.
- 2
Place each rack on a large sheet of foil in a roasting tin. Brush the rest of the mixture over both sides, then wrap tightly to make sealed parcels.
- 3
Bake for 2 hours 15 minutes until the meat is tender and pulling back from the bones.
135 min - 4
Pour the juices from the foil into the glaze pan. Boil for 5 to 8 minutes until syrupy.
7 min - 5
Heat the grill to high or the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Unwrap the ribs on a rack, brush with the glaze and cook for 5 minutes until sticky. Turn, glaze again and cook for 5 minutes more.
10 min - 6
Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into ribs. Serve with coriander and lime wedges.
Tips
- Boil the leftover juices hard for several minutes before using them as a glaze. They have touched raw meat and must be bubbling to be safe.
- Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs for a more tender bite. Grip a corner with kitchen paper and pull it away.
- Low and slow in sealed foil keeps the meat juicy. The grill at the end gives the sticky, charred finish.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a covered dish at {t180} until steaming hot all the way through. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Questions
What is piloncillo?
Piloncillo is unrefined Mexican cane sugar sold in hard cones. Dark brown sugar is a good UK swap, and a little molasses gives the same depth.
Can I cook the ribs in a slow cooker?
Yes. Cook the coated ribs on low for 7 to 8 hours, then glaze and grill. The meat will be softer.
How spicy are they?
Medium. For a milder rib use 60 ml of the chipotle sauce and add a spoon of tomato ketchup to the glaze.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Brownies de Chocolate y Chipotle (Chocolate Chipotle Brownies)
NFVBurritos de Hongos con Chipotle (Chipotle Mushroom Burritos)
DFEFNFTamales de Chipotle con Queso (Smoky Chipotle Cheese Tamales)
GFEFNFCamarones con Queso Chipotle y Arroz Verde (Chipotle Queso Prawns with Green Rice)
GFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.