Who doesn’t love Smoked Spare Ribs?! We order them at festivals or BBQ joints. Why not make them at home? You don’t have to have a smoker to make luscious ribs! I make them on the grill and in the oven! Delicious, easy dinner for any night of the week!
We make these spare ribs a lot during the spring, summer and fall but…. we love to do a few batches in the middle of winter! It’s so convenient to do the ribs inside when the weather is hideous!
You can do them all year around! They are really quite addicting, too! If you don’t have a smoker, don’t despair! You can can cook tasty Smoked Spare Ribs on the grill or in the oven!
What you need
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How to make smoked spare ribs
- Dry ribs thoroughly with paper towel. I start with the rub first. There are some good rubs you can buy but I like to make my own. That way I can control the sodium. We also like a lot of cumin and a bit of heat.
- Liberally rub the pork on both sides with the rub. Mix two parts vinegar to one part oil and put it in a clean kitchen spritzer. Alternatively, you can brush on lightly so the rub doesn’t get lost.
- If you are using a smoker, preheat to 200-225°F. We love to use green apple wood when we smoke, it gives the pork a great flavor but you can buy hickory in bags, pre-dried. Soak whatever wood you use for at least 4-5 hours or overnight. Place the meat on the racks and spray with the oil and vinegar mixture. Spray once an hour until pork is done. For full sized ribs 6-8 hours. Baby Back ribs will only take about 5-6 hours.
- If you use the grill or the oven to smoke your ribs, preheat to 200-225°F. Place on rack set on top of large, rimmed baking sheet. Spritz them once every hour for about 1/2 of the time they will need to cook. (See approximation of time in #4).
Once you can see the pork pulling up on the bones, brush the pork with your favorite sauce. If smoking, loosely wrap ribs with aluminum foil and place back in smoker another 30 minutes. If grilling or oven, cook another 30 minutes uncovered.
What wood should you use for smoking?
Many different woods work well for smoking. The key is to soak your wood for at least 4 hours or overnight. The other option is to use fresh cuts of wood, if you have access. Soak fresh cuts for at least a couple hours.
- apple
- cherry
- mesquite
- hickory
- oak
- maple
- pecan
- peach
Other recipes with pork
Tools I use for smoked spare ribs
I hope you enjoy this recipe for Smoked Ribs, no matter how you cook them, they are so much better with the addition of smoke!
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Enjoy! And have fun cooking!
Xoxo,
Smoked Spare Ribs; Smoker or Oven
Ingredients
- 1/8 c oil
- 1/4 c cider vinegar
- 1 rack pork ribs either baby back or spareribs
- Either store bought dry rub or home made
- Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
- Wood for smoking (hickory, apple, peach, cherry, pecan) soaked in water for at least a few hours or overnight
Instructions
- Preheat smoker or oven to 220 degrees F.
- Place soaked wood in a metal tray for oven and smoker. Place a tin of water along side the wood tray. (If water runs out during cooking, add more water to the pan)
- Mix oil and vinegar together.
- Rub ribs on both sides with dry rub.
- If using oven, loosely cover with aluminum foil.
- If using smoker, place directly on racks.
- Spray or mop ribs with the oil and vinegar mixture.
- If using smoker, spray or mop ribs every hour or so to keep moist.
- When the bottom of the rib meat pulls up and exposes the bone on the end, the ribs are ready. Internal temperature of at least 190 – 200 F.
- Brush on your favorite BBQ sauce.
- We finish them on a very hot grill to get a nice dark color. This step is optional.
- Baby back ribs will take 5-6 hours and spareribs will take 6-8 hours, depending on the size.
Notes
Nutrition
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Originally Published 8/12/2016
I love ribs and have been REALLY craving them lately. Your recipe looks outstanding and I love how juicy the ribs look! I can’t wait to try them. (p.s. – I love ButcherBox too.)
Oh! Me too! Their quality is outstanding! We had the filets the other day, and I am definitely getting more! They were far superior to the ones we bought locally! And these ribs were unbelievable! Thanks so much Elaine!
These look seriously mouthwatering! Love the reminder that you can enjoy these all year round!
A lot of people don’t realize that! Thanks for stopping by, Kacey!
Oh my goodness this sounds incredible! I’m hoping to get a smoker this year and will definitely be experimenting with this recipe!
You don’t need the smoker! You can use the oven!
This looks so good! I love ribs.
I know, right? Who doesn’t! 🙂 Thanks Erika!
This recipe is the only one I ever use now to make ribs. They’re tender, full of flavor, and mmm mmm good! Yum!
Oh! I am so glad you love it! That’s great! Have a great weekend, Jenn!
This is absolutely delicious! I love that it’s such a crowd pleaser for the whole family
Me too! Everyone just loves them! Thanks for stopping by Shadi!
Oh Beth, I am so terribly sorry to hear about losing your sister – it is never easy loosing immediate family but gues this is how things go and sometimes we get hit unfairly with young people passing away – not fair.
These ribbs look a real treat and I love making the rubs too because I always know what is in it. Superb shots of those absolutely delish ribs! waw, feel like grabbing some of the screen.
Thank you so much, Ramona! I really appreciate that! That is funny! I wish I could grab some out the screen too!
Oh my! I can only imagine what a hit these would be at a party! You’d be the talk of the neighborhood. What a great recipe!
Hahaha! They are pretty much a hit with everyone who tries them!
I LOVE ribs and also cook them in the oven sometimes. Yours look to-die-for delicious. I like the ingredients in your homemade rub!
Thanks so much Jacqui! It is a really tasty rub!
We don’t have a smoker so great to see alternative ways to cook these. The rub sounds great!
Thanks Caroline! Glad to be of help! I am sure your family will love them, however you decide to cook them!
These ribs look fantastic Beth, it’s good to know I could make them in my oven! Whatever you say your pictures are amazing and my mouth waters just looking at them, craving for some ribs now thanks!!
Haha! Thanks so much Patty! I really appreciate that! When you come to visit me, I’ll make you some!!
These look fabulous, and even I, who absolutely hates eating meat off the bone, would gladly stick these in my face.
Haha! That’s a first! I never heard of anyone not wanting to eat meat off of the bone! Thanks Crystal!!
These ribs look so mouthwatering! It’s so great to know that I can make them on the grill or in my oven! Totally adding this to my must make list!
Thanks Jessica. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! Have a great weekend!
what a mouth watering post of smoked ribs. I love how tender these look! Now I am wishing for some
They really turn out melt in your mouth! Thank you Claudia!!
Wow, these look delicious! I wish we had a smoker, but alas. Will be following the grill instructions! Thanks!
It’s really pretty easy on the grill and you get the same smoky flavor you get in the smoker! Thanks Nancy!
It must have been a stressful month for you! My condolences to you. You’ve made such a beautiful meal, those ribs have me absolutely drooling here. Thank you for sharing !
Thank you so much Shinta! i really appreciate your comment! Have a wonderful weekend!
Now you make me crave ribs so badly! They look AMAZING!!
They are addictive, aren’t they? We love them too! Thanks Marie!
Oh my gosh Beth! If I ever come to your house, you need to make me these and something venison! Your ribs look so delicious. Gorgeous photos and awesome recipe!
Thank you so much Elaine! That is very nice of you and I would love it if you came over for a visit! That would be a blast!
So sorry about your sister and sounds like a lot of difficulty getting that heavy machinery moved, but glad you can enjoy some time with your son over these delicious looking ribs!
Thank you so much Mama Harris! Yes difficult for us all but I’m so thankful he was home! He loves ribs!! 🙂