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Savory Brown Sugar Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs Recipe Perfect for BBQ Lovers

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Tender baby back ribs coated with a caramelized brown sugar dry rub and finished with a smoky, spicy chipotle BBQ sauce. Perfect for easy oven or grill cooking, delivering a crowd-pleasing balance of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 full rack baby back ribs (about 2 to 2.5 pounds or 900–1150 grams)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark) (50 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 to 1.5 teaspoons chipotle powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Chipotle BBQ Sauce (about 1 cup or 240 ml):
  • ½ cup tomato sauce (120 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (30 ml)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons minced chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (15 ml)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: splash of liquid smoke for extra smoky flavor

Instructions

  1. Prep the ribs (10 minutes): Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs using a butter knife and paper towel.
  2. Make the dry rub (5 minutes): Combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and mix well.
  3. Apply the dry rub (5 minutes): Pat ribs dry and coat both sides generously with the dry rub. Let sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes if possible.
  4. Prepare the chipotle BBQ sauce (10 minutes): In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup or honey, minced chipotle peppers, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. Simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste and remove from heat.
  5. Cook the ribs (2 to 2.5 hours): Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Place ribs on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet. Cover tightly with foil and bake until tender and meat pulls back from bones.
  6. Baste and broil (10 minutes): Remove foil, brush ribs with chipotle BBQ sauce, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until sauce caramelizes and becomes sticky. Alternatively, finish on a hot grill for a few minutes.
  7. Rest and serve (10 minutes): Let ribs rest loosely covered with foil for 10 minutes. Slice between bones and serve with extra BBQ sauce.

Notes

Remove the membrane for tender ribs. Cook low and slow for best texture. Let ribs rest after cooking to lock in juices. Watch broiler carefully to avoid burning. Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated. For extra smoky flavor, add liquid smoke if not grilling. For gluten-free, verify Worcestershire sauce brand. For sweeter or sugar-free variations, substitute brown sugar with maple syrup or coconut sugar.

Nutrition

Keywords: baby back ribs, dry rub, brown sugar, chipotle BBQ sauce, BBQ ribs, oven ribs, grilled ribs, smoky ribs, easy ribs recipe

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/savory-brown-sugar-dry-rub-baby-back-ribs-recipe-perfect-for-bbq-lovers/