Best Smoked Ribs Recipe
User Reviews
4.8
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
6 hrs
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Additional Time
15 mins
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Total Time
6 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
154 kcal
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Cuisine
American
Best Smoked Ribs Recipe
Description
Best Smoked Ribs Recipe focuses on achieving tender, flavorful ribs through a careful combination of seasoning, smoking, and braising. The rub, made from ground black pepper, paprika, celery salt, onion powder, kosher salt, and garlic powder, thoroughly coats the ribs, creating a seasoned crust. After prepping, the ribs are smoked at 225°F for 3 hours using soaked wood chips to infuse smoky flavor.
Following the initial smoke, the ribs are wrapped tightly in foil with a mixture of brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and cubed butter. This step braises the meat for 2 hours, ensuring tenderness and moisture retention. The final stage involves unwrapping and either continuing to smoke the ribs uncovered for a crispy exterior or saucing them as desired.
These ribs serve well as a hearty main dish paired with barbecue sides. The combination of smoky, sweet, and tangy elements gives them depth without overpowering the natural pork flavor. Allowing the ribs to rest after cooking helps redistribute juices before serving.
Ingredients
For the rub:
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper or ground white pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp paprika sweet Hungarian paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
For the bath:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup apple juice or cider
- 4 tbsp butter cubed
For the Ribs:
- 1 baby back ribs reduce cook time if using spare or St. Louis Style ribs, rack
Instructions
- Pre-soak wood chips in water for 1/2 hour.
- Preheat wood chips in smoker to get to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove ribs from any packaging and pat dry.
- Remove silver skin and trim off any excess sloppy bits from ribs.
- Mix rub ingredients well, cover completely over ribs.
- Let ribs come to room temperature while wood begins to smoke and smoker comes to temperature.
- Smoke ribs on smoker for 3 hours.
- Lay out foil and lay ribs on top, adding butter, juice, cider, and brown sugar into foil and wrap ribs tightly in foil.
- Cook in foil for 2 hours.
- Open foil and baste ribs in cooking liquids.
- Remove the ribs from the foil and use the instructions below based on if you want your ribs without sauce or with sauce.
For ribs without sauce:
- Baste another 2-3 times with cooking liquids, total time for final smoke will be one hour.
- When ribs are crunchy to your preference, remove and let rest at least 15 minutes before slicing or serving.
For ribs with sauce:
- Baste a thin layer of your favorite BBQ sauce over ribs and cook for about 15 minutes more. Sauce will be sticky, not runny.
- Repeat with another thin layer of sauce two more times. Total time for final smoke will be one hour. Let ribs rest at least 15 minutes before slicing or serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 154 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 154kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 1260mg | 53% |
| Potassium | 161mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 2082IU | 42% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 29mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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