Easy Smoked Ribs Recipe

This simple Smoked Ribs Recipe demonstrates how effortless making tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs at home can be. These ribs are seasoned and smoked to perfection.

If you enjoy barbecue, you might also like our delicious 4-ingredient BBQ sauce and grilled barbecue chicken wings.

Recipe Details

This Smoked Ribs recipe is a favorite because of its simplicity. You can prepare it in advance and let it smoke, leaving you time to focus on other dishes. It’s a delightful dish to share with loved ones.

• TASTE: Traeger ribs offer a delectable hickory smoked flavor, akin to that of barbecue restaurants, especially when paired with barbecue sauce.
• TEXTURE: These ribs are incredibly juicy and tender, practically melting in your mouth due to the perfect smoking process.
• TIME: While the preparation time is quick, smoking requires patience as low and slow cooking is key for smoked ribs. Allow at least 6.5 hours in total.
• EASE: This recipe is straightforward. Simply remove the membrane, season the ribs, and let the smoker do the work.

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

• Rack of spare ribs– Acquire these from places like Costco.
• Seasonings- Utilize kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper or a blend of both.
• Barbecue sauce- Use your preferred sauce (optional).
• Hickory pellets– For smoking.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Substitute other meats- Experiment with chicken breasts, thighs, legs, beef brisket, or pork for this recipe.
• Add other sauces or sweeteners- After smoking the ribs, consider tossing them in teriyaki or hoisin sauce. You can sweeten them with apple juice, honey, or brown sugar.
• Add different seasonings- Enhance the flavor by trying different seasonings like cayenne pepper, sage, lemon pepper, berbere spices, paprika, or curry powder.
• Use other pellets- Change the smoked meat’s taste by trying different pellets such as cherry wood or apple wood.

How to Make Smoked Ribs

• Prep the pork ribs. Begin by drying the ribs, removing the membrane, and seasoning them generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat your smoker. Add hickory pellets to the smoker, bringing the temperature to 225°F. Place the ribs meat side down and smoke with the lid closed.
• Cook. Smoke the ribs for about 4 1/2 hours until they develop a burnt orange color.
• Foil wrap the rack of ribs. After smoking, wrap the spare ribs in foil and return to the smoker for an additional 2 hours. Optionally, add barbecue sauce 30 minutes before completion.
• Rest the ribs. Allow the meat to rest in foil for at least an hour to retain juices and enhance tenderness.
• Serve. Finish by serving hot with additional barbecue sauce.

Pro Tip: For best results, add the barbecue sauce in the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent it from drying out or becoming sticky on the ribs.

Recipe Tips

• Perfect seasoning- For optimal flavor, consider using a seasoning blend available at local barbecue spots.
• Cook until the ribs are orange/red colored- Ensure the ribs develop a nice burnt orange/red color before proceeding with the cooking process.
• Wrap the ribs before finishing the smoking process- Wrapping the ribs enhances flavor, color, and moisture while reducing cook time.
• Let it rest- Resting the ribs post-cooking enables the meat to reabsorb juices, resulting in exceptional tenderness.

FAQs

How long to smoke ribs?

The total time to smokeThe ribs are cooked for about 6 1/2 hours, split into two stages. Initially, they are smoked for around 4 1/2 hours until they achieve a reddish-orange hue. Subsequently, they are wrapped and returned to the smoker for an additional 2 hours to ensure they are well-cooked and tender.

The ideal temperature for smoked ribs when they’re done ranges from 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit, reaching up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. While the standard temperature for pork is typically 145 degrees, it is not high enough for the collagen in the ribs to melt into gelatin, which attributes to the ribs’ delightful texture and tenderness. Smoking them at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 6 1/2 hours brings them to this optimal temperature range for smoked ribs.

Serving Suggestions: These succulent ribs make for a perfect summer meal. Pair them with sides like fries, veggies, bread, or other delectable meats.

– Vegetables: Serve with Corn on the Cob, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Avocado Corn Salad, or Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, among various other options.
– Bread: Cornbread is a popular choice, consider Southern Hot Water Cornbread, Cornbread Muffins, or Moist Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe.
– Other meats: BBQ Wings, BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Legs, Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Sandwiches, or Crispy Air Fryer Bacon are all excellent accompaniments.
– Fries: Pair the Smoked Ribs with Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Crispy Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or Air Fryer Potato Wedges.

Make This Recipe in Advance: Since smoking the ribs takes quite a few hours, it’s recommended to prepare them earlier in the day. Store them wrapped in foil until you’re ready to serve.

Storing: Keep the smoked ribs in the refrigerator wrapped in foil or in an airtight container for optimal freshness; they will keep for 3-5 days. To reheat, wrap the ribs in foil and heat them in a 225-degree Fahrenheit oven or return them to the smoker until they are heated through. Unwrap the ribs, apply barbecue sauce if desired, and serve.

Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the ribs in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating and adding more sauce.

More Tasty Smoked Meats: Explore a variety of other mouthwatering smoked meats such as Smoked Pork Chops, Smoked Tri Tip, Smoked Chicken Thighs, and Smoked Chicken Wings.

Full Recipe Instructions
Title: Smoked Ribs Recipe
Description: This easy and delicious recipe features tender smoked spare ribs that are incredibly juicy and easily fall off the bone.
Image: [Image of the smoked ribs]

[Additional styling and image tags omitted for brevity]