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simple, succulent bbq baby back ribs

(2 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Brad Nichols
Pleasantville, NY

This is an easy way to consistently make very tasty fall-off-the-bone BBQ Ribs. As a BBQ enthusiast, of course, I will never admit to condoning this approach over the purist slow, smoking cook that yields the world's best BBQ ribs (and if you tell my friends I provided this recipe I will of course deny it :) !)...BUT...for anyone who doesn't have the time, equipment, skill, or desire to spend 2.5+ hrs to smoke/BBQ ribs the 'proper' way, this recipe will give you a great outcome that only the most hardcore BBQ fanatics would object to. And even then, only until they get a taste!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

An easy recipe for BBQ ribs if you don't want to wait for them in a smoker. The ribs get tender and still get that taste of ribs right off the pit. The meat just falls off the bone. A kicked-up BBQ sauce really enhances the flavor of the meat. We did add the chili flakes for that extra bite, but these would be just as good without it. Great for your next cookout!

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
yield 9 half-racks of 4-5 Ribs - should serve 4-6 adults depending on appetite
prep time 10 Min
cook time 1 Hr
method Barbecue

Ingredients For simple, succulent bbq baby back ribs

  • 3
    full sides of back ribs
  • 1 tsp
    Montreal steak seasoning
  • 1 bottle
    your favorite bbq sauce
  • 1 tsp
    liquid smoke flavoring
  • 1 Tbsp
    apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp
    chili flakes (optional)
  • 1 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 2 Tbsp
    Montreal steak seasoning

How To Make simple, succulent bbq baby back ribs

  • Rack of ribs on a cutting board.
    1
    Cut the sides of ribs into 'racks' of 4-5 ribs each.
  • Boiling the ribs.
    2
    Boil water in a large pot. Add racks of ribs and boil for 45 minutes.
  • BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, cider vinegar, chili flakes, and steak spice mixed together.
    3
    While waiting for the ribs to boil, mix the BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, cider vinegar, chili flakes, and about 1 tsp of the steak spice.
  • Ribs sprinkled with seasonings.
    4
    Preheat BBQ. Remove ribs from water and sprinkle both sides liberally with the steak spice and garlic powder.
  • Ribs on the grill brushed with BBQ sauce.
    5
    Add ribs to BBQ and brush top side with sauce immediately.
  • Ribs flipped and sauced.
    6
    Flip ribs over and sauce the other side.
  • Continuing to cook the ribs on the grill.
    7
    Cook ribs on BBQ turning 1/4 turn at 2 min mark and flip again at 4 min mark. About 8 mins total for both sides.
  • BBQ Baby Back Ribs on a platter.
    8
    NOTE - my times are approximate here - You are only doing this to caramelize the sauce and put some BBQ char marks on the ribs - so use your eyes to decide when they look good - and feel free to baste with more sauce before serving so they have that 'wet and shiny' look! Remove from BBQ and enjoy!
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