Barbecue ribs

Pork ribs rubbed with spices, cooked low and slow until the meat pulls cleanly from the bone, then glazed with tangy-sweet sauce. They are the centerpiece of American barbecue plates.

Barbecue ribs

Pulled pork, brisket, baked beans and mac & cheese from Martin's BBQ in Nashville, TN: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Slow-smoked pork has deep roots across the American South, with Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis and the Carolinas each developing their own rub and sauce styles. Today ribs are cooked in smokers, ovens and backyard grills nationwide.

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Recipe

Make Barbecue ribs at home

Serves 4-6Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 racks pork spare or baby back ribs (about 4 lb)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp each garlic powder and onion powder
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp cayenne
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup apple juice

How it's made

  1. Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs by lifting a corner with a knife and pulling it off with a paper towel.
  2. Mix sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne, and rub it all over the ribs.
  3. Heat the oven to 275 F (135 C). Wrap each rack tightly in foil with a splash of apple juice.
  4. Bake on a sheet pan for about 2 1/2 hours, until the meat is tender and has pulled back from the bones.
  5. Unwrap, brush with barbecue sauce, and broil or grill 5 to 8 minutes until sticky and lightly charred.
  6. Rest 10 minutes and cut between the bones to serve.

Variations

  • Memphis dry rub: heavy spice rub with little or no sauce.
  • Kansas City style: thick, sweet, tomato-molasses sauce.
  • Smoked: cooked over hickory or apple wood in a smoker at 225 F.

Cook’s tip: Ribs are ready when a toothpick slides between the bones with almost no resistance.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Pulled pork, brisket, baked beans and mac & cheese from Martin's BBQ in Nashville, TN: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)