The trick to making perfect grilled baby back ribs every time is to cook them low and slow in the oven before grilling them. Trust me, it works!
The Best Grilled Ribs Recipe
This weekend we’re packing the coolers, loading up the truck with big boy toys and heading out of town with friends to the mountains. It’s one of our favorite weekends filled with deep breaths in the stunning outdoors, leisurely morning coffee time on the aspen tree-lined deck, and way too much laughter. More than most could possibly bear.
After all, we’re a funny and sarcastic group. Or at least we think so.
Besides hanging, hiking, and harassing, it’s the perfect occasion to get together and cook. Our grocery list takes precedence over the contents of our weekend-packed bags. Memorial day calls for chillin’ and grillin’ and nothin’ says grillin’ like RIBS!
My husband has spent many a day trying various methods to create the most succulent pork baby back ribs to suckle and savor upon. So what’s his big secret?
Take them to the oven before they ever hit the fire. Most think baby back ribs need to be cooked over an open grilled flame, but using the grill as a finishing agent instead of your main cooker is the key.
We season then refrigerate, and bake the ribs low and slow until its time for an introduction to the open flame. Sounds like most dating gigs right?
What’s in Grilled Baby Back Ribs?
This grilled ribs recipe requires a handful of ingredients, many of which are spices. The key ingredients are the pork ribs, apple cider, barbecue sauce, and the pork rib rub.
This pork rub is from my brother-in-law, a Virginian cum Texan with a penchant and passion for grilling and smoking. We first tasted this pork rib rub over Easter two years ago and it’s been a go-to for us ever since. I think my husband dreams of this rub as he covets my brother-in-law’s ultimate smoker.
How to Cook Ribs on the Grill
If you’ve never grilled ribs before, don’t be scared! It’s a straightforward process anyone can master. Simply whisk together the homemade pork rub and rub it liberally over the surface of the ribs. Refrigerate the ribs for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Once the ribs have chilled, place them on a high edged baking sheet that’s been lined with a wire rack. Pour 1 cup of apple cider into the baking sheet and bake the ribs low and slow for 90 minutes. Add more apple cider to the ribs and bake for another 90 minutes before grilling them.
You’ll need to grill the ribs over medium-high heat for roughly 10 minutes per side. Remember: you’re just looking to get some color on them, they don’t need to cook any longer.
Can I Use Pork Spare Ribs Instead?
Most likely, yes. Pork spare ribs aren’t as thick as baby back ribs, so you may need to reduce the amount of time the ribs are in the oven. You’ll know the ribs are ready to be grilled when the meat easily pulls away from the bones.
What Barbecue Sauce Should I Use?
You can use your favorite barbecue sauce in this recipe. It doesn’t matter what style of barbecue sauce it is as long as you love the taste! If you’re itching to make your own barbecue, try making my Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce.
Tips for Making Ribs on the Grill
Make sure you’re using apple cider and NOT apple cider vinegar for this grilled ribs recipe. You want non-alcoholic cider that hasn’t been flavored with cinnamon or other spices.
It’s also important that you place a wire rack in the baking sheet, as you want some of the fat to drip off the ribs. Plus, you don’t want them cooking directly in the apple cider.
Finally, when grilling the ribs, heat them on the grill first, then baste with sauce. If you add the sauce too early you’ll be sure to end up with blackened crusty outtards thanks to the potential for burning the sugar in the barbecue sauce rather than the savory and delicious variety we all crave.
More Easy Grilling Recipes You’ll Love
- Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Swordfish with Smoked Paprika and Herb Fruit Salsa
- The Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
- How to Grill the Best Ribeye Steak
- Mediterranean Grilled Pork Chops with Tomato Salad
- The Best Grilled Salmon
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats.
Grilled Baby Back Ribs
The trick to making perfect grilled baby back ribs every time is to cook them low and slow in the oven before grilling them. Trust me, it works!
Ingredients
- 4 racks baby back pork ribs 9 to 12 pounds
- 2 cups apple cider*
- ¼ cup sweet paprika
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons pepper
- 1 tablespoon chile powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons celery salt
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Your favorite barbeque sauce
Instructions
Combine all dry ingredients and generously rub over surface of ribs. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place room temperature ribs on high edged baking sheet lined with wire rack. Pour 1 cup apple cider in baking sheet, place ribs on rack and cook for 1 ½ hours. Add another 1 cup cider and cook for another 1 ½ hours or until meat pulls apart from bones.
Preheat grill to medium high. Grill ribs for 7-10 minutes each side, basting with barbeque sauce. Remove and serve.
Recipe Notes
- *Make sure you're using apple cider and NOT apple cider vinegar for this grilled ribs recipe. You want non-alcoholic cider that hasn't been flavored with cinnamon or other spices.
- Recipe from Ardie Davis and Paul Kirk
Summer Side Dishes to Make
Ribs, they’re the main event, right? But we all need a little somethin’ extra to complement the Q. Here’s a complete Q-fest menu, ready to be prepped, rattled and rolled into your awaiting belly.
Kathryn says
Gosh, thank you so much for including my galette in your bbq menu – I’m honoured to be in such great company! Ribs are such are favourite in my family but my dad always complains that it’s impossible to find good ribs here in the UK, I don’t think he’s going to let me get away with not making these for him!
Ali @ Gimme Some Oven says
Will have to give this oven-first method a try! These look SO delicious!!!
Carrie says
Lordy! Have I mentioned lately that I have a crush on YOU? Or at least your blog. Holy COW this all looks amazing.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
fabulous! Love all that you do!
Erin says
I learned the hard way that it is best to slow cook the ribs before grilling. When I was first married, we invited some friends over and decided to slurge and grill up some baby back ribs. I asked the guy at the meat store what the best way to cook them would be. He said to just grill them up. Later that night, we put the ribs on the grill and started visiting with our friends. A few minutes later my friends eyes got really big and she said, “Your grill is on fire!” I turned around to see a major inferno. We turned off the propane and blew the flames out that were dancing on the ribs. They were seriously charred. I offered to order up a pizza, but our friends insisted on eating the ribs as they were and even tried to offer up a few compliments, but they were seriously bad. Since then I do the slow cook in the oven and finish them off on the grill. Can’t wait to try the sauce!
GrillBeast says
Hi Erin! Just read your comment and got a good chuckle out of it!! Same here, before getting into grilling and starting up our GrillBeast.com site, I thought ribs would be barbecued the same way any other meat would have been – I used to think “.. just light the grill, and throw it on, grab a beer then eat!” Oh no, how wrong we both were!! LOL At least your friends didn’t mind so much! (by the way, try using indirect heat as well so you don’t have to pre-cook them before grilling, works wonders and you can find a lot of helpful videos on barbecue ribs on youTube as well – basically, this just means put the hot coals over to one side, and your meat, ribs, etc on the other side, and use a water pan underneath them to keep them nice and moist during the slow cook).
Cookin' Canuck says
The first time I ever made ribs, I did the whole thing on the grill and ended up with charred, tough ribs. The oven to grill method really is the best and I like your idea of baking them in a little apple cider. I hope you guys have an amazing time in the mountains. I am here to vouch for you…you are indeed sarcastic and funny!
Cassie says
Sharing this with my husband…he does the grilling in our house and he adores BBQ sauce. He will love this!
sippitysup says
You have a crush on my corn? I am so thrilled. Thanks, GREG
Rocky Mountain Woman says
love ribs in the summer! I will pass this on to my son who is in charge of the ribs for my grandson’s birthday next month…
Singrit says
I have been looking for a good recipe for ribs. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love that it uses the oven and grill.
Karylle says
Thank you for the tips you have shared here and I just hope I can make this perfectly on my husband’s birthday.. I am sure he will love this..
[email protected]'s Recipes says
Fantastic! Grilled ribs are my favourite!
Sue says
Oh yum, this sounds and looks fantastic! Thanks for posting!
Randall H. Forsyth says
Amazing recipe! I must try this one, looks yummy!!
[email protected] says
So looking forward to getting reacquainted with my grill. Thanks for the inspirations. That blueberry vodka might drive me to drink!
GrillBeast says
We COOK w/ WINE, and sometimes we even put it in the food ;-)
Maria says
Josh would love these ribs! Have fun in the mountains! Enjoy your weekend!
Val says
Can’t wait for the Memorial Day barbecuing to being. That corn looks amazing! I’m planning to make these bourbon barbecued chicken sandwiches and I think they’d be the perfect counterpoint to the apple slaw.
http://www.tipsonlifeandlove.com/recipes-2/rachael-ray-book-of-burger-recipe-bourbon-bbq-pulled-chicken-sandwiches-and-green-apple-slaw
Ingrid says
This may be a silly question, are the ribs touch the vinegar? As it says place on rack. Thanks :))
Robin says
its not Vinegar IT IS APPLE CIDER
Kristen says
Those are some seriously good looking ribs!
Nealey @ Dixie Caviar says
Wow, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen ribs look so good! I think these look like the perfect recipe to take the new gas grill out for a spin.
Julia says
So this might be dumb, but it occurred to me (as I was drinking a beer cider, apple flavor), does ‘apple cider’ mean the juice stuff, or the beer stuff? And I love the mason jar in the back aaaaand I’m pretty sure I’m making these for father’s day.
heidi says
I used Apple Cider as in the juice stuff as but you could always add in the booze. What could it hurt :)
Karin J says
Did anybody notice the ambiguity – kosher salt on pork ribs? lol
Eric says
I noticed the heading of this article; “…baby back spare ribs.” That is like saying ,”I have a ribeye strip steak.” Baby back ribs are cut from the loin, near the spinal portion of the rib cage, while spare ribs are the bottom portion of the ribs, near the belly(close to bacon) The point of my comment: there is no such thing as a baby back spare rib! That just sounds silly! Foodie…pssh
timmy says
Looks great… is that 250 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius?
heidi says
That would be Fahrenheit, thanks for checking.
Cheryl says
Crap! I’m making this now and I used Apple Cider Vinegar instead of Apple Cider! Misread the directions. Will let you know how it turns out….
Well, OMG, this recipe is amazing. This is the first time I’ve used a ‘rub’. The ribs came out with a nice crust and a sweetness that made them so delectable that you could eat them without the sauce.
I didn’t have mustard or paprika or garlic powder, so I just rubbed the ribs with freshly crushed garlic first. I mixed the remaining ingredients and added about 2 tsp of ground ginger.
I cooked at 275 for three hours (because I had to do two pans of ribs for 4 slabs because they were so long) for 3 hours. I did NOT need to put these ribs on the grill, though I totally expected to do so because I normally cook ribs this way. They were beautiful colored (browned with a little redness—from the chili powder and brown sugar, I guess) and tender and juicy.
So….I didn’t ruin the ribs with the apple cider vinegar. Although…..after I found out I screwed up, instead of using the apple cider vinegar in the next 1 1/2 hours of cooking, I used just plain water. Next time I’ll use apple cider. :-)
5 STAR recipe. I usually make great ribs, but my husband thought these were the best ever. He raved about them for hours after the meal. LOL
Lorrie says
Do I wrap the ribs in foil while cooking or just lay on top of the rack with the apple cider below?
Lorrie says
Do I wrap the ribs in foil while baking?
heidi says
No, you don’t need to wrap them at all. Just pop them in the oven.
Ray Summers says
Looks like a great recipe for this weekend after the practice. Grilled Spare ribs? Check. Grilled Corn? Check. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.
BBQ Sonoma County says
Can you cook these ribs on a BBQ as well?
GrillBeast says
Definitely! Just use indirect heat so you won’t burn’em up and keep a water pan underneath to keep them nice and moist – the GrillBeast
Melissa says
Do the ribs submerge in the cider use a high wire rack?
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Will Clay says
Theis rub recipe sounds awesome. Ill definitely give it a try next time im grilling ribs.
Kristina says
Wow, looks delicious! Something this article didn’t mention was what grilling is. I just learned the difference between grilling and barbecuing here: http://bbqsmokehousecatering.com/?p=73 Who knew!
Eurowindow River Park says
The first time I ever made ribs, I did the whole thing on the grill and ended up with charred, tough ribs. The oven to grill method really is the best and I like your idea of baking them in a little apple cider. I hope you guys have an amazing time in the mountains. I am here to vouch for you…you are indeed sarcastic and funny!!!
Tay Ho River View says
Want to eat everyday! Look so delicious!
Recipes.com says
Nice post! Thanks a lot for the kind of perfect topic.I like your post. Thanks for sharin
BBQ Queens says
This rub recipe is great. I will do this guide for next time im grilling ribs.
Son vu says
Nice post, I Want to eat everyday
Charlie says
Delissssh Heidi!! We tried the recipe but with ginger beer and it was amazing! We going to try the apple cider next!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
YUMMMM! Thank you Charlie!
chung cu hanjardin ngoai giao doan says
I will admit to simultaneously salivating and bookmarking FoodieCrush for their perfect BBQ ribs and more post. But before we head into the next abundance of garden
Clara Holtz says
What a surprise to find that baby back ribs can cook so quickly and still be tender and tasty! Thank You
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
So nice! Thanks Clara.