Description
A quick and easy weeknight grilling hack for fall-off-the-bone tender baby back ribs with a smoky, sticky BBQ sauce, ready in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 rack pork baby back ribs (2–3 lbs)
- 1 cup wood chips (hickory or applewood)
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter (optional)
- Chopped cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Remove the silverskin membrane from the bony side of the ribs using a paper towel or knife.
- Mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat ribs dry and generously apply the dry rub to both sides, pressing it into the meat.
- Soak wood chips in water for 20 minutes. Place soaked chips in a foil packet with holes poked in it over one burner on a gas grill (or directly on coals for charcoal) and turn that burner to high to create smoke.
- Turn off the burner under the wood chips (or move charcoal to one side) to create indirect heat. Place ribs bone-side down over the indirect heat, close the lid, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Remove ribs and place on heavy-duty foil. Brush with optional butter or a little BBQ sauce, then wrap tightly in foil to create a sealed packet.
- Return the foil packet to the grill over indirect heat, bone-side down, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove the foil packet and unwrap the ribs. Place them back on the grill meat-side up.
- Brush generously with BBQ sauce, close the lid, and cook for 5 more minutes to caramelize the sauce.
- Remove ribs and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting between the bones and serving.
Notes
Ensure you remove the membrane from the back of the ribs for tenderness. Soak wood chips for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning. Keep grill temperature around 300-350°F. Ribs are done when internal temp reaches 190°F or when meat pulls back from the bones.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 rack
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: BBQ ribs, weeknight dinner, grilling hack, baby back ribs, smoky ribs, easy dinner, summer grilling, 5pm dinner