The Secret to Perfect BBQ Ribs (2024)

For those who subscribe to the “Hail to the Pig!” philosophy, there is nothing more fabulous than perfectly cooked pork ribs. However, many people shy away from cooking them at home, instead preferring to trek to their favorite local BBQ joint, knowing the ribs there will be perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone tender. After all, cooking ribs is a science that can’t be mastered at home. Home-cooked ribs are typically tough and lack flavor, right? Wrong! Read on to learn the secret to cooking perfect BBQ ribs in your outdoor kitchen.

STEP ONE: THE RIBS

There are a number of different cuts, but if you’re cooking at home, your best options will be spareribs, St. Louis cut ribs or babyback ribs. Babyback ribs are smaller, leaner and include delicate loin meat, which makes them a little pricier. Spareribs are cut from the ends of babybacks down to the breast bone. The flavor of the meat is typically richer because of increased marbling, but the texture is less delicate. St. Louis cut is simply spareribs with the rib tips cut off, which can be a little more manageable for both cooking and eating.

STEP TWO: THE RUB

Lay aluminum foil on a baking sheet — at least double the length of the rib rack — and place your ribs meat-side down for rubbing. There’s no one recipe for a good dry rub. In fact, feel free to buy a prepared rub or experiment with different flavor profiles. The key is to use only dry seasonings and use way more than you think you’ll need. Liberally coat both sides of the ribs and pat it in. For a basic foolproof homemade rub, try sprinkling sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and coriander on your ribs. You CAN overdo it with the salt and cayenne pepper, but be generous with the others. For best results, sprinkle all seasonings on the underside, pat everything in at once, then flip and repeat. Remember…use lots of rub!

STEP THREE: THE WRAP

Completely wrap your ribs in the foil. Now do it again. Now a third time. Why so much foil? Simple — you want to tenderize the meat by allowing it to steam in its own juices, so a tight wrap is important to the process.

STEP FOUR: THE BAKE

Nope, that’s not a typo. You will finish the ribs on the grill to get that smoky flavor, but first you want to cook them low and slow in the oven. Bake them at 300 degrees. The time will vary depending on the type, thickness and quantity of ribs. Babybacks will typically cook more quickly, and a single rack will usually be ready for the grill in about 2 hours. For two racks, you might want to add about 10-15 minutes. Spareribs or St. Louis ribs will need to cook for about 2.5 hours for a single rack, adding 10-15 minutes for a second rack. To test the ribs, unwrap a section and test the meat with a fork. You don’t want it falling off the bone yet, but it should be fully cooked (no pink juices) and barely starting to pull away from the bone slightly–still firmly attached to the bone, but tender. If the meat is still tough and pink, close the foil tight and add some more baking time. If you’re planning a tailgate party, you can actually do up to this step the day before and then refrigerate everything until you’re ready to grill.

STEP FIVE: THE SEAR

Unwrap your tenderized ribs and transfer them to a hot grill for about 10-15 minutes on each side. Whether you’re using charcoal or gas, you’ll want to add wood smoke, if possible. Cherry or pecan, in particular, will add an excellent flavor. Sear both sides of the ribs until you create a nice brown outer layer on each side. If you like wet ribs, coat with your favorite BBQ sauce before the last five minutes of cooking time. Otherwise, leave them dry and serve the sauce on the side for those who like to dip. You’ll know your ribs are ready when they have a nice brown coloring and the meat easily pulls away from the bone.

STEP SIX: THE MEAL

Remove your ribs and let them rest for a few minutes so the juices don’t run when you cut them. Then, slice and serve with your favorite fixins. You’ll never go back to that BBQ joint again.

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BBQ ribs recipe grill recipes outdoor cooking outdoor living recipes

Christi Simoneaux

Christi is a professional writer who has been writing about outdoor living and design for magazines, websites and blogs since 2009. A lifelong resident of south Louisiana, she is immersed in a culture that is a gumbo of music, food and outdoor activities. With her husband Pierre, she especially enjoys spending time with their two sons in their Belgard backyard. The Simoneauxs regularly entertain guests in their outdoor kitchen where the specialties are craft co*cktails, grilled meats, garlicky dressings, and Cajun and Creole creations. Thanks to the local climate, there's always something interesting in their herb garden to enhance the recipes.

Peyton

Apr 12th, 2016 at 06:15 pm

No heard of triple wrap on the ribs, but it makes complete sense. Cooking meat in a slow cooker produces some of the most tender meat I have ever eaten, so it is understandable that the ribs should be completely wrapped.

Scott Chambers

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How to Roast a Rib of Beef Video

May 5th, 2016 at 10:18 pm

This is a perfect way to cook ribs. One important reminder: There will be a lot of grease inside the foil so be careful when unwrapping the ribs and do not to let the grease drip into the hot grill. Flare ups and fire will happen.
I like lots of sauce on my ribs so I pour BBQ sauce in a disposable aluminum pan and add my cooked ribs to that, searing afterwards.

Outdoor Living By Belgard

May 6th, 2016 at 09:15 am

Excellent tips!! Thanks for sharing.

Monica Chavez

May 23rd, 2018 at 09:19 pm

Thanks for pointing out that there’s no one recipe for a good dry rub. My husband has been trying to perfect his ribs for a few weeks now. We’re having some friends over in a couple weeks for a fun barbecue, and he wants to some really ribs. I don’t know if he’s quite happy with his results, his meat always comes out pretty dry. It would probably be best if we just took our friends out to a good restaurant to get some delicious food so my husband doesn’t have to stress too much.

Outdoor Living By Belgard

May 24th, 2018 at 12:32 pm

The secret to keeping ribs from drying out or being too tough is to cook them slow in the oven triple wrapped in foil, which causes the meat steam itself. You’ll never order ribs in a restaurant again. The cooking time can vary depending on how thick the meat is, so it’s best to give yourself extra time, just in case. You know their ready for the pit or the broiler when the meat starts to pull away from the bone. Then, sear the outside, let them rest for a few minutes before cutting them, and they’ll be fabulous. Good luck!

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