Copycat McRib Sandwich – Truly Amazing and we’re loving it!!!

January 7, 2022 Stan

Who doesn’t love a McRib Sandwich????? Not sure why the sandwich is only available a few days a year. I’m now kind of glad it isn’t available all the time because we might not have tried to make this Copycat McRib at home and would not have known;

it’s easy to make ‘
taste amazing (better than the real one!!!!)
I’m sure it has less calories!!!

Copycat McRib Sandwich - Truly Amazing and we're loving it!!!

A Little History about the McRib

McDonald’s introduced the McRib in 1981 because there was chicken shortage. They needed an substitute for the Chicken McNuggets. So why not a pork sandwich!!!! It wasn’t really a hit so they pulled it four years later. In the 2000’s they brought it back for a limited-time. So every Fall the McRib is available for a few weeks.

Hey, I like the idea of having a McRib any time! Bonus, I can pick a great cut of pork and use my favorite BBQ Sauce.

The McRib sandwich is really simple to make with very few ingredients: Pork, BBQ sauce, pickles and onions on a hoagie bun. So simple and oh so good!!! We like to make additional and leave some in the freezer so we have a really quick sandwich any time we are hungry for this BBQ deliciousness

How to make this mouthwatering McRib

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 used Country Ribs or Boneless Pork Chops. They both work great and taste great!

The first step to make this copycat McRib sandwich is to grind up the pork. We used country ribs so we 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 chopped pieces of pork.

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

First step is to roughly chop the pork then place in a food processor. Cut of any large pieces of fat. The fat doesn’t add any flavor only calories. The flavor comes from the pork and the great spices!

Add the water and spices to the pork. Finely chop the pork, spices and water in a food processor. A meat grinder and also be used but make sure to really work the spices evenly into the meat.

After chopping the pork divide it 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 to use a nice soft hoagie buns. But a hamburger bun works great also. Heck two slices of bread would also be great. Just use whatever you have in the house.

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 spareribs. 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 are 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 freeze them for quick dinners. So when we are hungry for a sandwich just pull them out of the freezer 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

Once the McRib 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 325 degrees for about 20 minutes. Make sure the pork is at least 145 degrees.

When the meat is cooked let it cool for a few minutes dip it in 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!

Toppings!!!!

This could not be easier to build. chile the McRib is in the oven prepare the toppings. Chop Onion in thin slices, place the pickles on a place, and place extra BBQ Sauce in a bowl. I like to heat my buns in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. This softens the buns and I believe makes the bun so much better. Once the McRib is cooked they can be placed on a plate and everyone can build their own sandwich.

Build the McRib Sandwich and Enjoy!!!!

Place the BBQ McRib on 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. There are no additional toppings to this sandwich. It is so simple to make and so darn yummy!!!

McRib Sandwich – Copycat

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Keyword: BBQ, McRib, Pork

Calories: 496kcal

Author: Belly Laugh Living

Ingredients

1 Pound Country Ribs, Pork Chops or Pork Loin
3 Tablespoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Cup BBQ Sauce
16 Dill Pickles
1 Onion
4 Hoagie Buns

Instructions

Cut the Pork into chunks.
1 Pound Country Ribs, Pork Chops or Pork Loin
Add the Pork, Water, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Sugar to a food processor. Process until the mixture is mostly smooth. Takes about 1 minute.
3 Tablespoon Water, 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 Tablespoon Sugar
Line a cookie sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray lightly with olive oil spray. Divide the pork mixture into 4 equal portions. Place the patties on the pan.Shape each pattie into a flat shape the size of the hoagie bun. Using your fingers or the handle of a table knife. Make 2 impressions in each patty. About halfway through the patty.
After forming all the patties place the cookie sheet into the freezer for 2 to 3 hours until frozen. NOTE: Once frozen the patties can be placed in a freezer bag and saved for future.
When ready to cook preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the cookie sheet with the patties in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pork is done.
Coat the McRib Patties generously with BBQ Sauce. Place back in oven cook for an additional 6 minutes, until the sauce is nice and sticky!
1 Cup BBQ Sauce
Slice the onions in thin slices.
Place the McRib on the bottom Hoagie Bun. Add some additional BBQ sauce if you want more zip to the sandwich.
Top the McRib with pickles an onions.
1 Cup BBQ Sauce, 16 Dill Pickles
Top the McRib with the Bun and ENJOY!!!!
4 Hoagie Buns