How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This post Learn How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill was sponsored by Smithfield as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #SmithfieldGetGrilling#IC

Are you ready for your Labor Day BBQ? Labor Day is approaching and even though it marks the official end of summer, what big plans to you have for your grill? Our family loves ribs. We don’t eat them very often because they are pretty expensive to order them at restaurants but you can feed a crowd when you make them at home. In the past we have triedbaking ribs first then grilling and today I am going to share just how easy it is to smoke ribs on a gas grill.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (1)

Ribs really are not that hard to make, you really just need a long window about 3-4 hours that you are around to allow them to smoke on the grill. That may seem like a long time, but trust me the end result is worth it. While the grill is heating up and you are preparing your rub mixture, it is a good idea to bring the the ribs to room temperature.

Dry rubs are simple to make and we had all the spices on hand for this recipe. You can always use a store-bought dry rub, but homemade rubs allow you to know exactly what is going into your rub mixture and can adapt to your own tastes.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (2)

When smoking meats, the wood chips are a big factor in the flavoring of your meat. My husband likes apple wood chips but there are a lot to choose from.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (3) How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (4)

We chose to grill Smithfield® Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Spareribs that were reasonably priced at our Food Lion store. More importantly, Smithfield Ribscontain no artificial ingredients and they are enhanced to be as juicy and tender as possible. This is so important when your ribs are going to slow cook for a long time, who wants dried out ribs?

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe

SET UP THE GRILL:

My husband has a grill that has a small smoker feature so this was the perfect recipe to use on his grill.

To prep the grill for smoking, soak your wood chips for at least 30 minutes, we prefer fruit trees, and then place them to the side of the grill. This is where you will have your heat source. The grill should really not get above 300 degrees. If you don’t have a smoker element on your grill, simply put them in a tin container on the far side of your gas grill.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (5)

PREP THE RIBS:

First the prep of the ribs, there is a membrane on the back of each rib, you just need to get your finger underneath and pull it off.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (6)

Next massage your BBQ rub onto both sides of your ribs. Don’t be shy, rub in the spices, with clean hands of course.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (7)

SMOKE YOUR RIBS

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (8)How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (9)

Don’t open your grill very often. Every once in a while you need to check your chips and add more, and be sure the temperature of the grill does not raise, other than that the grill is doing all the work. BOY does it smell good.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (10)

Boom you are done for 2.5-3.5 hours depending on how many racks and how large they are.

Time to lather the smoke ribs with the your favorite BBQ Sauce. If you would like a homemade recipe, check out our homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe, otherwise I think we all have a favorite sauce in the grocery store.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (11)

You are almost done. I basted both sides liberally with the sauce. Rotate your slabs of ribs half way thru and reapplied more sauce.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (12)

Allow your ribs to sit 20 minutes if you can resist the temptation to grab a rib and gnaw on it right there. Cut and serve.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (13)

Smoking ribs really is not that hard, just a little time consuming. Set your table in festive colors, serve a side of baked beans and root beer floats and you have the perfect Labor Day Meal.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (14)

Be sure to take advantage of the $1.00 off Food Lion coupon on Smithfield Extra Tender Ribs and buy some extra racks to cook later this fall.

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (15)

Now do you think you will smoke ribs on the grill?

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (16)

Smoked Ribs and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Learn how to make Smoked Ribs and with a Homemade Dry Rub REcipe

Ingredients

  • 2- to 4- tablespoons Dry Rub, see recipe below
  • ½ cup Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce, we fell in love with Sticky Sweet
  • Two, 2- to 3- pound racks of baby back ribs
  • 3 cups wood chips, or 4 to 5 chunks, soaked We prefer fruit trees and used apple
  • DRY RUB RECIPE
  • 1/4 cup sweet paprika
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons celery salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

Instructions

  1. 1.Pull off the thin membrane from the underside of the rack of ribs. Blot each rack of ribs with a paper towel to dry. Massage the spice rub into the ribs on all sides. Leave the ribs at room temperature for up to 1 hour before grilling.
  2. 2. Prepare a grill for indirect cooking by layering soaked wood chips and charcoal. We used a gas grill and filled a tin pan with soaked apple chips.We kept the burners off the area where the ribs lay.
  3. (for coal grilling) When the coals are ashed over, spread them out in one part of the grill so the food can cook to the side and not directly over the coals. Cover the grill and bring it to between 225°F and 235°F. (monitor your gas grill)
  4. 3.Cook the ribs bone side down with the grill lid closed, for 2.5 to 3.5 hours, or until the meat just starts to shrink back from the ends of the bones. To ensure even cooking, set an oven thermometer next to the ribs.
  5. 4. Finish by basting the ribs on both sides with your barbecue sauce of choice, and placing them back on the grill for 5 to 10 minutes. You don't want to burn them. Once completed, set the rib racks on a baking sheet and cover with foil; let them rest for 10 to 20 minutes, then slice and serve. Serve with additional sauce if desired.
Nutrition Information

Yield 6Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 865Total Fat 54gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 34gCholesterol 166mgSodium 2209mgCarbohydrates 47gFiber 6gSugar 22gProtein 49g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Do you love ribs? Be sure to pin this recipe for LaborDay!

Find Us On Social Media

Looking For Something?

How to Smoke Ribs on the Grill and Homemade Dry Rub Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you put anything on ribs before dry rub? ›

You can coat the ribs with olive oil or mustard first to help it stick. Then, use your hands to spread it evenly on the surface of the ribs. The thick coating of the rub will keep the meat moist and tender while giving it a flavorful exterior.

What is the secret to smoking ribs? ›

Smoke your ribs low and slow - Smoking your ribs at a low temperature (around 225-250 degrees) and for a longer time (around 4-6 hours) will help to tenderize the meat and infuse it with smoke flavor. Use the right wood - Different woods will give your ribs a different flavor.

What helps dry rub stick to ribs? ›

Once you've removed as much moisture as possible, cover your food with the sticking agent of your choice, like egg, olive oil, or mustard, to help the rub bind to the meat.

Should you put mustard on ribs before smoking? ›

A very popular technique in the BBQ community is to rub your ribs in mustard before applying your rub. It is said to help the rub adhere to the meat. This may be a turn off for some folks, the thought of ribs marinating in mustard may not sound the most pleasant.

What is the best technique for grilling ribs? ›

Oil the grill grates. Place the ribs bone-side down, on the cooler part of the grill (indirect heat). Cover and cook, rotating the ribs once, until the meat is tender and pulls away from the bones, about 2 hours.

Do you wrap ribs in foil when smoking? ›

Place ribs bone-side down in smoker at 225 F /110 C and cook for three hours. Remove ribs from the smoker and wrap tightly in aluminum foil to form an airtight seal. Return to the smoker bone-side up and smoke for two hours. Unwrap the ribs and return to the smoker bone-side down for one more hour.

What is the best way to pre cook ribs before grilling? ›

Baking ribs in the oven before grilling them is a great method for achieving fall-off-the-bone tenderness.

How do you keep ribs moist when smoking? ›

Start by placing your ribs directly on the grill grates of the smoker for 3 hours to infuse the meat with that good, smoky flavor. 2 hours wrapped. Next up, wrap those smoky ribs in foil (usually with brown sugar, apple cider, butter, and other goodies) for 2 hours to add more flavor and keep that rib meat juicy.

What is the secret to juicy ribs? ›

We like our ribs lean, tender, and beautiful. Cook them low and slow. Two pounds or less will take 4 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F. In the smoker is best.

Do you smoke ribs meat side up or down? ›

Preheat with the lid closed, for 15 minutes. Then, place the ribs meat-side up on the grill and smoke them for three hours (or when your MEATER wireless thermometer tells you that the internal temperature of the ribs has reached 165℉).

What is the 3 2 1 method for smoking ribs? ›

Essentially, 3 2 1 ribs go like this: 3 hours of smoking the ribs directly on the pellet grill. 2 hours wrapped in foil, still cooking on the grill. 1 hour of cooking, unwrapped and slathered in barbecue sauce.

What are the rules for smoking ribs? ›

Start smoker on the smoke setting for 5-10 minutes. Increase heat to 225 F degrees. Smoke the ribs, meaty side up, for 3 hours. Leave smoker on at 225 F degrees and place ribs on foil sheets.

Is mustard or olive oil a binder for ribs? ›

Yellow or dijon mustard – You will often see this listed as the binding agent, especially for smoked brisket, pulled pork, and pork ribs This is my preferred binding agent and I even use it on ribeyes and beef ribs.

When to put brown sugar on ribs? ›

(Also, it's best to apply it the night before, so it can really seep into the meat and give it incredible flavor. Make sure you securely wrap the ribs in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.) After smoking for a couple hours, the honey, butter, and brown sugar are added.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5716

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.