Homemade McRib Sandwich: An Easy & Delicious Recipe

The McRib sandwich is known for its mouth-watering taste. It’s a real bummer that it is only available for a short period each year. On the bright side, this motivated us to experiment with making our version of the McRib at home. During the process, we discovered a few interesting things:

Making the McRib Sandwich at home

1. Making a McRib sandwich at home is incredibly easy. You only need a few ingredients and a little time. 
2. The homemade version of the McRib sandwich tastes even better than the original. The juicy pork and tangy BBQ sauce are a perfect match, and the taste is simply irresistible. 
3. We believe the homemade McRib sandwich may be healthier than the original one. It’s made with fresh ingredients, and you can control the amount of sauce and seasoning you use. 

Overall, making a McRib sandwich at home is an excellent idea for anyone who loves this fast-food classic. Not only is it easy and delicious, but it’s also a healthier option that you can enjoy any time of the year.

A Little History About the McRib

McDonald’s introduced the McRib in 1981 because of a chicken shortage (WHAT?!?!).  They needed a substitute for the Chicken McNuggets, so why not a pork sandwich!!!!  It wasn’t a hit, so they pulled it four years later.   In the 2000s, they brought it back as a limited-time menu item, and it is now available for a few weeks every year. 

Hey, I really like the idea of being able to enjoy a McRib sandwich anytime I want. Bonus: I can pick my preferred cut of pork and use my favorite BBQ sauce to make it even more delicious  

As I mentioned, the copycat McRib sandwich is straightforward to make with a few ingredients:  Pork, BBQ sauce, pickles, and onions on a hoagie bun.   So simple and oh-so-good!!!  We like to make extra and leave some in the freezer so we have a really quick sandwich any time we’re hungry for this BBQ deliciousness.

What cut of meat is best?

OK, the McRib is not actually made with spare ribs; it’s made with chopped pork (yes, I know spare ribs are pork!! HaHa. We use Country Ribs or Boneless Pork Chops. They both work great and taste great!

How to make this mouthwatering McRib

The first step to making this copycat McRib sandwich is to grind up the pork. We like to use country ribs: Cut off any large pieces of fat. The fat doesn’t add any flavor, only calories. The flavor comes from the pork and the great spices! Then cut the pork into about 1-inch chunks. If we just tossed the entire rib into the food processor, it might not grind evenly, and we would end up with some larger pieces and some over-minced pieces of pork.

Add the chopped pork to the food processor with the spices and water. This will create a sticky mixture and make it easy to shape the pork into “rib-looking” patties.

Finely chop the pork, spices, and water in a food processor. You can use a meat grinder; just make sure to really work the spices evenly into the meat.

Divide the pork mixture into even portions (about 4 ounces per portion).  Form the pork into a shape like the shape and size of the bun you are using.  We prefer soft hoagie buns, but a hamburger bun also works great.  Heck, two slices of bread would be excellent.  Just use whatever you have in the house.

Shape the Copycat McRib Sandwich

Once the pork is shaped in the size you want, take your fingers and press down on the pork so it looks like the shape of spare ribs. See the picture below (this is our version of fake ribs!!). I’m pretty sure McDonald’s has a machine that will shape the pork. Only a guess on my part, but I don’t think they’re making the McRib by hand forming. HaHa

Place the pork on a tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Then in the freezer, they go!! Freeze the patties until they’re frozen solid, which should take about two hours. We love to make extra and just keep them in the freezer to have on hand for quick dinners. So, when we’re hungry for a sandwich, just pull them out of the freezer, bake, and BAM, dinner is ready in a few minutes with very little effort!!! If you make extra, once the patties are frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.

Cooking the McRib Sandwich

Once the McRib sandwich patties are frozen, the rest of building the McRib is really simple. Leave the patties on parchment or foil, place the tray in the oven, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until done. Make sure the internal temperature of the pork is at least 145 degrees.

When the patties are done, let them cool for a few minutes and dip them into your favorite sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. Place the ribs back in the oven for an additional few minutes to heat the sauce and to have it get nice and BBQ sticky!

Classic McRib Sandwich Toppings!!!!

This could not be easier to build the Copycat McRib Sandwich!!!  While the McRib is in the oven, prepare the toppings.  Thinly slice an onion and place some pickles on a plate. Also, prepare a bowl of extra BBQ sauce. I prefer to heat the buns in the microwave for 15-20 seconds as it makes them softer and more enjoyable. Once the McRib is done, place it on a plate and allow everyone to build their own sandwich. It’s a lot of fun!!!

Build and Enjoy!!!!

Place the BBQ McRib on the bottom bun. We like to add additional BBQ sauce to the patty so it is dripping in sauce. Top the patty with pickles, sliced onions, and then the top of the bun. It is so simple to make and so darn yummy!!! Another copycat sandwich we love is the Burger King chicken sandwich.

LOOKING FOR MORE RECIPE OPTIONS? WE HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT ENJOY!