Smoked Baby Back Ribs Recipes

BABY BACK RIBS, SMOKED TO PERFECTION

Steps:

• Place 3 fist-sized chunks of wood in a smoker and heat to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C).
• While the wood burns down, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin together. Apply the rub to both sides of the ribs.
• Add ribs to the smoker, bone-side down, once a thin blue smoke appears. Smoke for 2 hours. Wrap ribs lightly in aluminum foil to retain juices. Continue smoking for 1 1/2 hours at 225 to 250 degrees F (107 to 121 degrees C).
• Remove foil and continue to smoke until meat is tender but still stays on the bone, about 1 hour more, brushing lightly with barbeque sauce in the last 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Remove silver skin from the back of each rack. Rub each rack with 1 teaspoon salt and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Slather 3 tablespoons mustard on 1 rack, then shake 1/3 cup BBQ rub on top; rub in on all sides until evenly coated. Repeat on the second rack and refrigerate both racks, covered, 8 hours to overnight. Set aside remaining BBQ rub.
• Remove ribs from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes. Spread the remaining 1/3 cup rub over the ribs.
• Meanwhile, mix dry wood chips with charcoal in a smoker and preheat, according to manufacturer's instructions, until temperature is a steady 225 degrees F (107 degrees F).
• Place a water pan on the smoker (or use the smoker's water tray, if it has one) and add water to the depth of the fill line. Place ribs in the smoker and close the lid.
• Combine apple juice and beer in a spray bottle. Spritz ribs every hour, rotating each time you spray. Cook for 3 hours, then remove ribs and check temperature. Wrap ribs in aluminum foil, and return to the smoker.
• Smoke until meat pulls away easily from the bone, 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Remove from the grill and check temperature; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 170 to 180 degrees F (77 to 82 degrees C). The ribs will be very juicy but the outside will not be crispy.
• Remove the foil and return ribs to the smoker. Cook until crispy, 15 to 30 minutes; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 190 to 195 degrees F (88 to 91 degrees C). Remove from the grill and tent with foil to allow juices to resettle into the meat before slicing and serving.

BAKED BBQ BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Mix ancho chile powder, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cumin, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and chipotle pepper in a small bowl until combined.
• Place ribs meat-side down on aluminum foil. Prick back of rib rack several times with a knife.
• Generously apply coating of dry rub to all sides of rib rack.
• With rib rack meat-side down, fold foil around it to create a tight seal. Transfer to sheet pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until tender and cooked through, about 2 hours. Remove and cool 15 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Open foil, drain and discard any accumulated juices and fat. Brush barbeque sauce on all sides of rack.
• Place rack meat-side up and return to oven, leaving foil open. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven, and brush another layer of barbeque sauce on meat-side only. Repeat baking and brushing with sauce 4 more times, for a total of 50 minutes baking time.
• Cut rack into individual rib segments and serve with more barbeque sauce.