Honey Glazed Pork Ribs – A Family Favourite

There's something about Honey Glazed Pork Ribs that makes them impossible to resist - especially for my kids. The moment they know that's what's for dinner, they're at the dining table before I can even call their names. These ribs are tender without falling apart and absolutely packed with flavour. You get the natural sweetness of honey, the deep umami from fish and oyster sauce, the aromatic blend of garlic, ginger and shallots, the subtle heat from paprika and pepper and the nutty finish of sesame oil and seeds. It's got everything you want in a rib dish - sweet, savoury, smoky and moreish.

My husband wasn't home when I made these tonight, and somehow 1kg pork ribs vanished in a blink - courtesy of just the two kids. I barely managed to grab a couple for myself before they ended up in their bowls! But that's exactly what you want to see when you've cooked something - they couldn't get enough.

Easy to make, even on a busy day

The best part? Honey Glazed Pork Ribs are surprisingly easy to make. I used the air fryer this time for convenience, but you can absolutely use your oven too if you prefer. The real star of this recipe is the marinade. Get that right, and you're already halfway there.

I like to prepare the marinade around lunchtime and leave the ribs to soak up all that goodness until dinner time. That gives the flavours plenty of time to develop and the result is tender ribs with a beautifully sticky glaze.

What goes into the marinade

The marinade is a lovely balance of sweet, savoury and a gentle heat. Here's what I use:

• Sauces: a mix of oyster sauce and fish sauce gives the ribs that rich savoury base.
• Aromatics: garlic granules (or fresh minced garlic), ginger powder and finely chopped shallots add depth and aroma.
• Spices: ground pepper and paprika bring just the right amount of warmth. This version is kid-friendly, but if you like it spicier, feel free to add chilli flakes or a touch of chilli powder.
• Oils: I prefer sesame oil for its nutty note, but vegetable oil works too.
• Honey: and of course, plenty of honey to give it that signature sweetness and glossy glaze.
• Sesame seeds: I like to sprinkle these on at the end for a bit of texture and extra nuttiness.

I always cut the ribs into individual pieces before marinating to make sure every bit is coated evenly. The longer you marinate, the more flavour your ribs will have.

Cooking the ribs - Air fryer or oven

When it's time to cook, arrange the ribs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This helps them cook evenly. I brush them with the leftover marinade juice, then air fry at 180°C for about 10-12 minutes. After that, I mix a bit of honey with oil and brush that on the ribs. Fry for another 5 minutes, flip them over, brush again and fry for a final 5-7 minutes until they're golden and beautifully glazed.

If you're using an oven, the process is the same - just keep an eye on them and adjust the timing slightly depending on your oven.

How to serve Honey Glazed Pork Ribs

I usually serve Honey Glazed Pork Ribs with a bowl of hot steamed rice, some crunchy pickled vegetables and sweet chilli sauce on the side. They also make a great appetiser or party dish - finger food that both kids and grown-ups will love.

Will you give this one a go? I'd love to know how your family likes it. And if you're looking for more pork ideas, why not check out my other pork recipes here?

Happy cooking!