Copycat McRib
Forget waiting for the McRib is back jingle. This Copycat McRib brings you all that zesty BBQ flavor and tender pork straight from your kitchen. It’s even better than the original!
We absolutely love making copycat recipes. When you’ve been cooking for as long as we have, there’s really no need to go out and wait in line or wait for special seasons to enjoy your favorite flavors.
From copycat KFC chicken pot pie for dinner to Paula Deen’s ooey-gooey butter cake for dessert, and even homemade Hawaiian rolls for the holidays, our recipe collection is loaded with homemade versions of many classics.
Now, we’ve added this homemade McRib to the mix. It’s an easy recipe that comes together quickly and delivers the BBQ flavor we love from the McDonald’s classic. Served topped with classic white onions and dill pickles, alongside our Big Mac loaded fries, it’s a homemade fast-food feast!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: These zesty pork patties require only four simple ingredients.
- So Easy: A few simple steps and about 25 minutes are all you need to make this recipe.
- Classic Flavor: Every bite is full of the classic, sweet and tangy flavors of the original McRib, but better!
- Versatile: These sandwiches are perfect for dinner, parties, or potlucks.
- A Great Meal Prep Option: The patties are freezer-friendly, so you can make as many as you like for future use. Then, defrost them and follow the remaining steps when you’re ready to use them.
Key Ingredients
We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Ground Pork: Ground pork gives these patties their classic McRib flavor and texture.
- Sugar: A touch of sugar is the secret key to a very “McRib”- like flavor.
- BBQ Sauce: What’s a McRib without BBQ sauce?
Variations
- Ground Pork: Use ground sirloin for a beef version or ground chicken or turkey for a low-fat version.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. They all work well, and each one gives the sandwich a slightly different flavor.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the patty mixture for a spicy kick.
How to Make This Copycat McRib
This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Mix the pork and seasonings and form into 4 oblong patties.
- Cook the patties in a skillet until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Place the patties on a prepared baking sheet and slather with BBQ sauce. Then, broil until the sauce is caramelized.
- Serve topped with onions and pickles on buns, with fries on the side.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overmix the meat. If you overwork it, the proteins contract excessively during cooking, resulting in tough, dry patties.
- Refrigerate your onion for about 30 minutes before slicing to reduce eye irritation.
- Go heavy on the BBQ sauce for the authentic McRib experience.
Copycat McRib FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
The McRib is made of ground boneless pork shoulder. Our copycat version also uses ground pork for the most authentic flavor.
We keep things simple to deliver that classic flavor of the McRib. Our mixture combines sugar and garlic salt to give the patties a sweet, savory flavor we love.
Any BBQ sauce will work very well for this recipe. They all deliver the same overall sweet-and-savory flavor. However, each variety brings its own unique twist to the recipe.
Copycat McRib
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- large skillet
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground pork
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- Dill pickle slices
- White onion sliced thin
- 4 sub buns
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the ground pork with the sugar and salt.
- Form 4 equal patties.
- I like to make them oblong to fit on the sub rolls.
- Next in a large skillet over medium heat cook the pork patties about 4-5 minutes per side. You are looking for an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
- Once they are cooked I transfer them to a lined baking sheet.
- Brush them with the bbq sauce, as much as you like, but I would say go pretty heavy on the BBQ sauce if you want it to be exact.
- Place them under the broiler for about 5 minutes. You just want to the BBQ sauce to start to caramelize and get glazy.
- Place a patty on each bun and add pickle slices and onion slices.
- Serve with fries!
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- If your sub buns are longer than the patty just cut the ends off or cut a piece out of the middle of the bun and they will fit.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce.
- You can also add cheese, lettuce or tomato to these sandwiches.
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
