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Flavorful Brown Sugar Bourbon Smoked Baby Back Ribs

brown sugar bourbon smoked baby back ribs - featured image
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Sweet, smoky baby back ribs slow-smoked with a brown sugar bourbon glaze, delivering tender, juicy, and crowd-pleasing BBQ perfect for backyard gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks baby back ribs (about 2.5 to 3 pounds each), trimmed of silver skin
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup bourbon (mid-shelf, e.g., Buffalo Trace)
  • 2 tablespoons paprika (smoked or plain)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Applewood or hickory chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

Instructions

  1. Remove the silver skin from the back of each rack by sliding a butter knife underneath and peeling it off with a paper towel for grip.
  2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. Mix well to break up any sugar lumps.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the ribs, rubbing it evenly on both sides. Sprinkle the dry rub generously, massaging it into the meat. Pour bourbon over the ribs and coat evenly with your hands.
  4. Preheat smoker or grill for indirect heat at 225°F (107°C). Add soaked applewood or hickory chips to coals or smoker box.
  5. Place ribs bone-side down on grill grates away from direct heat. Close lid and smoke for 3 to 4 hours, checking every 45 minutes. Spray ribs lightly with apple juice or water if they start to dry out.
  6. Once ribs reach an internal temperature of about 195°F (90°C) and meat pulls back from bones, wrap tightly in aluminum foil and let rest on grill or warm place for 1 hour.
  7. Carefully unwrap ribs, slice between bones, and serve immediately with favorite sides.

Notes

Remove silver skin for tenderness and better flavor penetration. Maintain smoker temperature at 225°F for best results. Rest ribs wrapped in foil for 1 hour to redistribute juices and ensure fall-off-the-bone texture. Spray ribs with apple juice or water during smoking to keep moist. For oven method, bake at 275°F wrapped in foil for 2.5 to 3 hours, then broil to caramelize glaze.

Nutrition

Keywords: baby back ribs, smoked ribs, bourbon ribs, BBQ ribs, brown sugar ribs, smoked barbecue, backyard BBQ, easy ribs recipe

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/flavorful-brown-sugar-bourbon-smoked-baby-back-ribs-recipe-easy-perfect-bbq/