Ohhh yes 🍖🔥 Barbecue Pork Ribs—tender, juicy, and packed with smoky, sticky, sweet-savory flavor. Here’s a step-by-step recipe that works whether you’re using an oven, grill, or smoker.
🍖 Barbecue Pork Ribs
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
Ribs
- 2–3 lbs pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)
- 1–2 tsp salt
- 1–2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Optional: 1/2 tsp cayenne for heat
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Optional: 1 tsp hot sauce for kick
Optional Marinade / Mop
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or apple juice (for moist ribs during cooking)
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare ribs
- Remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs (this helps them become tender).
- Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne. Rub evenly over both sides of the ribs.
- Optional: let ribs marinate for 1–2 hours or overnight for deeper flavor.
2️⃣ Preheat oven or grill
- Oven method: preheat to 300°F (150°C)
- Grill method: set up indirect heat for 275–300°F (135–150°C)
3️⃣ Cook ribs low and slow
Oven:
- Wrap ribs in foil, place on a baking sheet, and bake 2–2.5 hours until tender.
- Optional: add 2–3 tbsp apple juice or cider to foil packet for moisture.
Grill:
- Place ribs over indirect heat, cover, and cook 2–3 hours, maintaining 275–300°F.
- Use apple juice in a spray bottle to mist occasionally to keep moist.
4️⃣ Add BBQ sauce
- Unwrap ribs (oven) or move to direct heat (grill).
- Brush generously with barbecue sauce.
- Cook 10–15 minutes more, basting occasionally, until sauce is caramelized.
5️⃣ Serve
- Let ribs rest 5 minutes before slicing between bones.
- Serve with extra barbecue sauce, coleslaw, or cornbread.
Pro Tips
- Tender ribs: cooking low and slow is key.
- Crispy edges: finish under the broiler (oven) or over direct grill heat to caramelize sauce.
- Flavor boost: add a dry rub layer under the foil and a wet sauce layer at the end.
- Smoky flavor: use wood chips on a grill or smoker for authentic smoke taste.
🔥 Variations
- 🍯 Sweet & Sticky: brush with honey or brown sugar glaze in the final 10 minutes
- 🌶️ Spicy BBQ Ribs: add cayenne, chili powder, or hot sauce to rub and sauce
- 🍺 Beer-Braised Ribs: bake ribs wrapped in foil with beer and onions for extra tenderness
- 🍊 Citrus BBQ: add orange or lemon juice to sauce for tangy flavor
I can also give a “fall-off-the-bone, restaurant-style barbecue ribs” recipe with a dry rub, layered smoke flavor, and perfectly caramelized sauce 😏.
Do you want me to do that?
