Easy Keto Maui Ribs Recipe | Low Carb and Gluten Free!

Maui Ribs are a summer time tradition in my backyard! Easy to make, bursting with a sweet and salty flavor and fast to grill, these thin slices of beef heaven will become a favorite in your grilling rotation! If it rains, these Maui style beef short ribs are just as easy to cook in the oven.

Easy Keto Maui Ribs Recipe

Maui Ribs are extremely popular where I live here on the Canadian West Coast. So much so that you can walk into any supermarket or butcher shop and you are pretty much guaranteed to see either inhouse made pre marinaded beef short ribs or pre-marinaded and packaged products called Original Maui Ribs.

I used to buy them and they are delicious! And a huge hit at summer gatherings.

The big problem?  You guessed it.  Loaded with brown sugar!  But it’s so easy to make your own with some simple ingredient swaps for Keto.

What do You Need to Make Maui Style Ribs Keto Friendly?

• Beef short ribs, thinly sliced across the rib bone.  This cut is also called Kalbi ribs, Korean style, or Flanken cut. They are thin sliced 1/2 inch thick.  The butchers around here know exactly what you want when you ask them to cut your ribs for Maui Ribs. (See image for reference)

• Brown sugar substitute (Swerve Brown Sugar is my favorite sub for this)
• Fresh ginger
• Fresh garlic
• Soy Sauce substitute like Tamari, coconut aminos, braggs liquid seasoning
• Sesame oil
• Fresh green onions and white sesame seeds to garnish

Does Soy Sauce Have Gluten?

Yes actually it does.  Traditional Maui Ribs are made with soy sauce as the main ingredient in the marinade.  If you are ok with that, it is the cheapest way to go.

But if you want these to be gluten free, then use one of the soy sauce alternatives that I have suggested in the list above.

Is Sesame Oil Keto?

Sesame Oil is naturally gluten free and has zero carbs.  So technically it is ok on a Keto diet.

But many people who do Keto are very much against seed oils and Keto police might come to arrest me!  I rarely use seed oils and with sesame oil, a little goes a long way. A tablespoon sesame oil divided among 6 servings once in awhile is something that I can live with. So I personally say yes to it.

If you can choose an organic sesame oil that is cold pressed then that is the best route to go on this one!

Tips for the best Maui Ribs!

• Marinade long and cook short! I suggest allowing the beef short ribs to marinade in the sauce for 24 to 48 hours!  They will be a rich dark color when you remove them from the marinade.
• Use a large gallon size plastic ziplock bag to marinade the meat and place the bag in a large bowl or shallow pan in the fridge.  Every few hours, turn the bag over in the bowl.
• When ready to grill, bring the bag of meat to room temperature for a couple hours before putting onto a hot grill. Discard marinade after removing the meat from the bag.
• Whether cooking on the grill or in the oven, use a medium heat or medium high heat setting so as not to burn the ribs.  They are very thin and will cook fast.
• When cooked, mound ribs on a nice plate and sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.  Your delicious ribs will be gone in a flash, I promise!

Printable Recipe Card for Keto Maui Ribs

Pin these awesome Maui Style Ribs for later!