Smoked Baby Back Ribs

These pork baby back ribs are slowly smoked to absolute perfection. The low and slow cooking method gives them that incredible smoky flavor, they are coated in our tangy BBQ sauce made from scratch. Trust me, you are going to love them!

Smoking ribs really brings out the tenderness and flavor of the meat. You can smoke them with a smoker or you can even smoked them on the grill (more on that below). I like my ribs extra saucy and my homemade BBQ sauce is the perfect pairing. I generously slather on the sauce throughout the smoking process and also serve it with extra sauce just for good measure.

Baby Back Ribs vs Pork Spare Ribs

Baby back ribs and spare ribs have their similarities. They are both pork ribs and both are meaty and great for smoking. Spare ribs are larger and have a bit more fat on them, which makes them extra juicy when smoked for long periods of time. They are flatter and come from the front of the pig, closer to the belly. Baby back ribs, on the other hand come from the back ribs of the pig. They are more meaty and have less fat. They are usually more curved and smaller in size than spare ribs. Which one is best? It really comes down to personal preference. Personally, I like baby back ribs best because I prefer leaner meats but that’s just me.

How to Smoke Baby Back Ribs

1. Room temperature – Set the ribs out at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before grilling. Season with salt and pepper. Then start up the smoker and set to high smoke.
2. Smoke – Place each rack of ribs on the smoker and smoke for six hours.
3. BBQ sauce – About one hour before the ribs are done cooking, make the BBQ sauce and set aside a cup of the sauce in a small bowl.
4. Baste and serve – During the last 30 minutes of grilling time, baste generously with a small bowl of sauce. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.

Steps for Smoking Baby Back Ribs

Get ready to fill the air with the best-smelling smoked ribs! In just a few steps your ribs will be smoking to a tender and juicy meat. Let the smoker do all the work while you enjoy your friends and family time!

1. Bring to Room Temperature – Set the ribs out at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before grilling. Season with salt and pepper. Then start up the smoker and set to high smoke.
2. Smoke – Place each rack of ribs on the smoker and smoke for six hours.
3. Make the BBQ sauce – About one hour before the ribs are done cooking, make the BBQ sauce and set aside a cup of the sauce in a small bowl.
4. Baste and serve – During the last 30 minutes of grilling time, baste generously with a small bowl of sauce. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.

Tips and Suggestions

Follow these simple tips to making easy smoked ribs tender and juicy in every bite! We love using a few or all of these tips to help make smoking easier as well as getting the perfect flavor on the ribs every time:

Get the right type – Try and find fresh and high-quality types of ribs. Baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs are usually the best and still affordable.

Remove the Membrane – If there is a silvery membrane, remove it before adding the dry rub. There is a thin white membrane that is attached to the back of the ribs. Removing that will help the seasoning adhere better as well as tenderize the ribs while smoking.

Preheat – Make sure the smoker is on and preheated before adding the ribs to it. The ribs will begin cooking right away.

Wrap in Foil – An option to ensure tenderness is to wrap the ribs in heavy-duty aluminum foil after they have been cooked for a few hours. This will help lock in the flavors and continue to be tender. Add apple juice to the foil for added flavor and moisture.

Let them Rest – It is best to let the easy-smoked ribs sit at room temperature before cutting into them. They will be tender and juicy and will probably fall off the bone.

Make it Gluten Free – To make this recipe GF, all you need to do is make sure you have a GF soy sauce (yes soy sauce has gluten in it). With that easy swap, you should be good to go!

Best Homemade BBQ Sauce For Ribs

The sauce we like to use for this recipe is a Kansas City-style BBQ sauce. It is thick and sweet and perfect for slathering on ribs. Combine ketchup, cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, oil, garlic, chili powder, and Tabasco sauce. Stir all the ingredients together and heat until thick. Use this BBQ sauce as a baste while smoking or serve on the side for dipping, or both!

The homemade BBQ sauce can be used on more than just these ribs. We make the sauce all the time for other recipes too. Try it with pulled pork, shredded chicken, or grilled chicken for a burst of barbecue flavor.

How to Smoke Baby Back Ribs on a Grill

If you don’t have a smoker, no problem! Before we owned a smoker we were able to smoke our ribs on our traditional grill. There are a few supplies you will need: a smoker box and Hickory wood chips soaked in water for at least 30 min.

You simply add the soaked hickory chips to the smoker box and place it on the grill. Grill the ribs with the bone side down, and meat side up, over indirect medium heat until the meat is very tender and has pulled back from the end of the bones (about 1 ½ to 2 hours). During the last 20 minutes of grilling time, baste generously with the homemade BBQ sauce.

“Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!”

-Allyssa

Storing the Leftovers

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers from your smoked rib recipe, don’t worry, they can easily be stored and reheated. Wrap the ribs in plastic wrap, then place ribs in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. They will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Leftovers can also be frozen. Wrap the ribs in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil or in a resealable plastic freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To re-heat, that in the refrigerator overnight and then let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place the ribs on a sheet of foil and baste them with leftover barbecue sauce. Tightly seal the foil, then bake at 250 for about 30 minutes.

What to Serve with Smoked Ribs

These ribs are great with our yummy BBQ side dishes. There are all types of salads to choose from for summer BBQs and get-togethers. I love serving ribs with baked potatoes, corn, coleslaw, and baked beans. You can also serve with macaroni salad or potato salad.

More BBQ Recipes

There are so many ways to enjoy food on the barbecue. With these delicious recipes below, you won’t need any more incentive to fire up the grill.

Grilled Honey BBQ Chicken
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Dutch Oven Chicken and Sausage
Tri Tip Steak with Homemade BBQ Sauce
BBQ Hot Dogs
Blue Cheese Smoked Brisket Burgers
Grilled Tri Tip Roast