The Ribwich Sandwich Recipe
Krusty Burger once released a sandwich so addictive that Homer Simpson followed it across the country like a boneless, barbecue-glazed cult leader. That sandwich was the Ribwich.
The original contained meat from an animal that no longer exists. This version uses pork. Same energy, fewer extinction events.
Quick Facts
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Difficulty: Medium
- Servings: 6 Ribwiches
- Addiction Potential: High
Ingredients
For the Patties: - 700g ground pork - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs - 1 egg - 2 tbsp BBQ sauce - 1 tsp smoked paprika - 1 tsp onion powder - 1 tsp garlic powder - 1/2 tsp liquid smoke - Salt and pepper to taste
For the BBQ Glaze: - 1 cup BBQ sauce (sweet and smoky style) - 2 tbsp brown sugar - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
For Assembly: - 6 soft sesame seed buns - Dill pickle slices - 1/2 white onion, sliced into rings - Extra BBQ sauce
Method
Make the Patties:
Combine ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and liquid smoke in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix until everything is evenly distributed. Don't overwork the meat or your patties will be tough.
Shape into 6 oblong patties, roughly the length of your buns. The Ribwich shape is more rectangular than round. Think of a rib rack, flattened and processed into submission.
Make the Glaze:
Combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside.
Cook the Patties:
Heat a grill or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through and slightly charred.
During the last minute of cooking, brush both sides generously with the BBQ glaze. Let it caramelize slightly on the heat.
Assemble:
Toast the buns lightly. Place the glazed patty on the bottom bun. Add pickle slices. Top with raw onion rings. Add another drizzle of BBQ sauce if you're committed to the cause.
Serve immediately. Napkins mandatory.
The Secret to Authentic Ribwich Flavor
The real trick is layering the smoky flavors. Smoked paprika in the meat, liquid smoke for depth, and a sweet BBQ glaze that caramelizes on the grill. These three elements create that processed-but-somehow-delicious fast food quality.
The glaze is key. It should be sweet, tangy, and thick enough to coat the patty without running off immediately.
Variations
The Spicy Ribwich: Add 1/2 tsp cayenne to the patty mix and use a spicy BBQ sauce.
The Pulled Pork Version: Skip the patties entirely. Slow cook pork shoulder, shred it, toss in BBQ sauce. Pile onto buns with pickles and onions. Different texture, same spirit.
The Actually Healthy Version: Use ground turkey. It exists. Homer wouldn't touch it.
Tips
The patties shrink during cooking. Make them slightly larger than your buns.
Oblong shape matters for even bun coverage. Round patties leave sad, empty bun corners.
Let the patties rest for a minute after cooking. This keeps the juices inside instead of running all over your plate.
Cheap sesame buns work better than fancy brioche here. The Ribwich is fast food. Embrace it.
The Episode
The Ribwich appears in "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can" (Season 14, Episode 12). Krusty Burger releases this limited-time sandwich and Homer becomes obsessed. When Springfield's supply runs out, he joins other addicts on a cross-country tour, following the Ribwich from city to city.
The episode parodies both the McRib phenomenon and general American food obsession. When someone finally asks what animal the Ribwich comes from, the Krusty Burger representative admits it's now extinct.
"The animal we made them from is now extinct."
"The cow?"
"The cow."
The cow is fine. But somewhere, some creature gave its entire species for the Ribwich. Worth it.
More Krusty Burger Menu Items: Try the classic Krusty Burger for the signature flame-grilled experience, or go full breakfast mode with the Good Morning Burger.
