Smoked Ribs that are fall-off-the-bone-tender!

The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

This Smoked Ribs recipe is juicy, succulent, and so flavorful. These smoked spare ribs are perfect for your next summer BBQ and cost just $1.85 per serving to make! 

For more smoked recipes check out this Smoked Brisket, Smoked Leg of Lamb, and this Smoked Chuck Roast recipe. 

My summers are always busy with family celebrations. Between my little family and my extended family, we have 5 birthdays and 2 wedding anniversaries to celebrate in one month. Basically, this means we party ALL. MONTH. LONG.

Now that summer is upon us, that means 3 things for our family celebrations:

• Good food.
• Great company.
• We’re most definitely grillin’!

Smoked Ribs

These ribs are at the top of my list for summer grilling. They are moist, tender, full of flavor, and like magic, they fall off the bone! Isn’t that how you want your smoked spare ribs to taste? I know I do! This Smoked Ribs recipe will help you achieve that EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!

There are a couple of secrets to making these smoked pork ribs. The first secret is the dry rub. This helps magnify the flavor when smoking the ribs. 

The next secret is to cook the Smoked Ribs on low and slow. This is key! You do not want to rush this process, otherwise, the ribs will be too tough and not the tender bite we are looking for. 

With a little bit of work, you can have amazing tender smoked spare ribs at home that taste like you just spent too much money on pork ribs at your favorite restaurant! 

Do you flip ribs when smoking?

Yes, you should flip the ribs after 1 hour of smoking them.  You’ll flip them every 30 minutes until they’re done. 

The only time you don’t have to flip ribs is when you use a rib rack. This is my prefered method because I can do other things besides make myself available to flip ribs every 30 minutes for HOURS! $24 for a rib rack is a great investment that will save you time! 

Why are my smoked ribs tough?

My guess would be that the ribs were cooked too fast at high temperatures. Cooking them at a high temperature for a short amount of time results in tough meat. 

It’s best to go low and slow when smoking ribs (low temperature for an extended amount of time). This will ensure that juicy fall off the bone meat that we all love. 

How do you check if ribs are done?

Ribs will be done when the meat starts to shrink away from the bones, and they’re dark brown and tender.

 

Cook’s Note – Sweet Smoked Spareribs:

• To achieve moist, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, it’s really important to plan ahead and allow yourself time to cook these smoked ribs “low and slow”.
• For this Smoked Sweet Ribs recipe, I like using either hickory, mesquite, apple, or cherry wood pellets. I find they compliment the ribs nicely.

Cook’s Tools:

• smoker (this is the one that I have)
• wood pellets
• grilling tools
• mixing bowl
• baking sheets
• rib rack – this is a great time saver for this recipe! 
• pastry brush

How much will this smoked spare ribs recipe cost to make?

RECIPE COST: $18.52

PER SERVING COST: $1.85

NOTE: The recipe prices are used calculating name brand products from Walmart’s website. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what your pantry is already stocked with and current grocery prices. 

***In recent weeks I’ve seen the price of ribs decrease by 50%. If you get the ribs on sale, then the price of this recipe will decrease substantially. 

• 2 large racks spareribs about 5 pounds each $17.40
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar $0.24
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder $0.16
• 2 Tablespoons paprika $0.20
• 2 Tablespoons salt $0.06
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin $0.10
• 2 cups barbecue sauce $0.36

Side Dishes to Serve with Smoked Ribs:

• Buttery Smoked Corn on the Cob
• Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans
• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
• Coleslaw
• Baked Mac and Cheese
• Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
• Cowboy Caviar Dip
• Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
• Easy Pasta Salad
• Food Truck Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Homemade Crispy Baked Oven Fries
• Oven Roasted Broccoli
• Panera’s Mac and Cheese

How to make the best Smoked Ribs:

This Smoked Ribs post first appeared on Food Folks and Fun on July 24, 2017. I have since updated the pictures, but one of the originals is below.