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    Home » Recipes » Pork » Grilled Baby Back Ribs

    Grilled Baby Back Ribs

    Published: Aug 24, 2023 Modified: Sep 11, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Indulge in the irresistible smoky allure of tender, succulent meat falling effortlessly off the bone with my delectable sweet and spicy Grilled Baby Back Ribs recipe. Elevate your barbecue game and embark on a journey of flavor as I guide you through the art of crafting the juiciest mouthwatering ribs. From the harmonious blend of dry rub to the slow and steady grilling process, prepare to create a dish that tantalizes taste buds and transforms any gathering into a true culinary extravaganza.

    Smithfield baby back ribs on a cutting board
    Jump to:
    • Baby Back Ribs on the Grill
    • Baby Back Ribs Ingredients
    • Dry Rub for BBQ Ribs
    • How to Grill Baby Back Ribs
    • Baby Back Ribs Recipe Tips
    • Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs
    • Grilled Baby Back Ribs FAQs
    • Ribs Grill Temperature
    • How Long to Cook Baby Back Ribs
    • Internal Temp for Baby Back Ribs
    • How to Cut Pork Ribs
    • How to Reheat Pork Ribs
    • Side Dishes for Ribs
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Baby Back Ribs on the Grill

    I believe grilling with family and friends is one of life’s simple pleasures – I love easy recipes on the grill when entertaining! BBQ baby back ribs are one of my absolute favorite grilling recipes.

    My family makes this recipe at least once a month – and I am talking year-round. After all, that’s one of the perks of living in Florida: It’s always grilling season!

    And let me tell you, that’s my favorite part about living in Florida. It’s easy to feel like a superstar behind the grill. There is nothing like the feeling of grilling up a dish that has everyone saying WOW!

    These baby back ribs are just amazing. Super easy to make and just incredible. Thank you for the recipe!

    James
    Baby back ribs on a white platter surrounded by side dishes

    Baby Back Ribs Ingredients

    • Baby Back Ribs
    • Rib dry rub (your choice; or, use our dry rub for ribs)
    • Barbecue sauce (use your own or my favorite BBQ Sauce)
    • Garlic powder

    Dry Rub for BBQ Ribs

    • Packed brown sugar
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Creole seasoning
    • Black pepper
    • Paprika
    • Salt; preferably Himalayan sea salt
    • Cumin
    • Chili powder
    • Mustard powder

    When you dry rub baby back ribs, our Rib Rub Recipe is the rub to use. It’s part of what makes this the best baby back ribs recipe! You can use the dry rub of your choice, but we highly recommend giving this recipe a try.

    Holding a package of Smithfield baby back ribs

    How to Grill Baby Back Ribs

    1. On a large rimmed baking sheet, rub each rack of ribs all over with the rib dry rub and refrigerate overnight. Make sure to cover the entire racks well and pat down the rub. It’s called a rub for a reason…. rub rub rub and pat pat pat on both sides, you want a really nice coating!
    2. Bring the ribs to room temperature when ready to cook. Clean the grill grates. You want nice clean grill grates for these baby back ribs. Light gas grill to medium, approximately 300°F.
    3. When the grill is warm, place the ribs on the grill grates and close the lid. I like to check on these ribs every 20 minutes or so. I move them around a bit if I feel they are cooking unevenly. Grill for approximately 1 hour.
    4. Mix the BBQ sauce and garlic powder. At the 1-hour mark, brush the ribs with the BBQ Sauce using a basting brush. Give them a good coating.
    5. Turn the heat to low and shut the grill for approximately 15 minutes. Only baste with BBQ sauce in the last 15 to 20 minutes of grilling or the sugars will burn.
    6. Remove from the grill and transfer to a large cutting board. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut each rib in between each bone.
    7. Serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side.
    Baby back ribs on the grill

    Baby Back Ribs Recipe Tips

    • There are many different thoughts on this, but I have made this recipe thousands of times and have never removed the membrane from the ribs. You simply do not need to do this when grilling BBQ baby back ribs.
    • Rub both sides of the ribs very well with the rib dry rub. It’s called a rub for a reason – so rub rub rub and pat pat pat it down!
    • You’re going to be cooking baby back ribs on the gas grill for an hour on low, so make sure you have propane in your tank.
    • Only baste with BBQ sauce in the last 15 to 20 minutes of grilling, or the sugar in the sauce will burn.
    • Let your grilled baby back ribs rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting them. If you skip this step, the ribs will lose their juiciness and become dry.
    Smithfield baby back ribs in the package

    Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs

    1. Season the ribs all over with rib dry rub, cover well, and refrigerate overnight.
    2. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Allow the ribs to come to room temperature, then lay them bone-side down on a wire rack. Fit the wire rack on a baking tray lined with foil.
    3. Add to the oven and bake for approximately 1 hour. After 1 hour, brush with BBQ sauce and continue cooking for 15 minutes. When the ribs reach 195°F to 200°F, they are ready to enjoy.

    You can also prepare baby back ribs in the air fryer. Try our Air Fryer Pork Ribs!

    Sliced pork back ribs on a platter with side dishes

    Grilled Baby Back Ribs FAQs

    What are baby back ribs?

    Also known as loin back ribs, baby back ribs are from around the loin area of the pig rather than the belly, and are more tender than spare ribs. They’re curved and short with plenty of lean meat on the bones. Baby back ribs are pork and are also called pork back ribs. When you eat bone-in pork rib loin chops, the baby back ribs are a part of that cut.

    Can I substitute pork spare ribs in this recipe?

    Yes! However, if you use pork spare ribs in this recipe, you will need to add an additional 2 hours of cooking time. Baby back ribs are smaller than spare ribs and take less time to cook.

    Patting dry rub onto ribs

    Ribs Grill Temperature

    Light your gas grill to medium-high at approximately 300 degrees for about 1 hour. After the 1-hour mark, baste the ribs and turn the heat to low for 15 minutes.

    How Long to Cook Baby Back Ribs

    When the grill is warm, place the ribs on the grill grates and close the lid. I like to check on these ribs every 20 minutes or so. I move them around a bit if I feel they are cooking unevenly.

    Grill for approximately 1 hour.

    Internal Temp for Baby Back Ribs

    Though the safe grill temperature for ribs is 145°F, you will achieve the most tender results between 195°F to around 200°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature when grilling ribs and follow this pork temperature chart.

    How to Cut Pork Ribs

    1. Lay your ribs flat with the back side of the ribs facing up, to cut from the back.
    2. Using a sharp knife, cut right next to the rib, between each rib, to ensure each cut has plenty of meat on the bone.
    Baby back ribs on a cutting board sliced

    How to Reheat Pork Ribs

    1. Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 250ËšF.
    2. Bake in preheated oven until the meat reaches about 140ËšF and is heated through.
    3. Uncover the ribs and brush them with barbecue sauce. Continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes uncovered.

    Side Dishes for Ribs

    • Lemon Greek Potatoes
    • Grilling Corn on the Cob
    • Coleslaw
    • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
    • Instant Pot Potato Salad

    You will love all my Pork Chop Recipes! They are all super easy to prepare when you are looking for perfect quick and easy dinner ideas. And try my Grilled Pork Steak, too!

    📋 Recipe

    Baby back ribs close up on a cutting board

    Grilled Baby Back Ribs

    Isabel Laessig
    Our BBQ Baby Back Ribs on the Grill will change your grilling game forever! This is the juiciest, most delicious pork rib recipe, that’s fall-off-the-bone tender with barbecue sauce and a homemade dry rub.
    4.83 from 78 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 652 kcal

    Equipment

    • Grill
    • Tongs
    • Knife

    Ingredients
      

    For grilled baby back ribs

    • 2 pounds Smithfield Baby Back Ribs
    • ¼ cup Rib Dry Rub your choice, or our dry rub
    • 1 cup Barbecue Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • On a large rimmed baking sheet, rub each rack of ribs all over with the rib dry rub and refrigerate overnight. Make sure to cover the entire racks well and pat down the rub. It's called a rub for a reason…. rub rub rub and pat pat pat on both sides, you want a really nice coating!
      Patting dry rub onto ribs
    • Bring the ribs to room temperature when ready to cook. Clean the grill grates. You want nice clean grill grates for these baby back ribs. Light gas grill to medium, approximately 300°F.
      dry rub onto ribs
    • When grill is warm, place the ribs on the grill grates and close the lid. I like to check on these ribs every 20 minutes or so. I move them around a bit if I feel they are cooking unevenly. Grill for approximately 1 hour.
      Baby back ribs on the grill
    • Mix the BBQ sauce and garlic powder. At the 1 hours mark, brush the ribs with the BBQ Sauce using a basting brush. Give them a good coating.
      Baby back ribs cooking on the grill
    • Turn the heat to low and shut the grill for approximately 15 minutes. Only baste with BBQ sauce in the last 15 to 20 minutes of grilling or the sugars will burn.
      Baby back ribs cooking on the grill
    • Remove from grill and transfer to a large cutting board. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut each rib in between each bone. Serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side.
      Sliced pork back ribs on a platter with side dishes

    Video

    Notes

    • I have made this recipe thousands of times and have never removed the membrane from the ribs. You simply do not need to do this when grilling BBQ baby back ribs.
    • Rub both sides of the ribs very well with the rib dry rub. It’s called a rub for a reason – so rub rub rub and pat pat pat it down!
    • You’re going to be cooking baby back ribs on the gas grill for an hour on low, so make sure you have propane in your tank.
    • Only baste with BBQ sauce in the last 15 to 20 minutes of grilling, or the sugar in the sauce will burn.
    • Let your grilled baby back ribs rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting them. If you skip this step, the ribs will lose their juiciness and become dry.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 652kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 2046mgPotassium: 807mgFiber: 4gSugar: 65gVitamin A: 2303IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword baby back ribs, baby back ribs on grill, baby back ribs recipe, grilled baby back ribs
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Izzy Justice says

      May 19, 2021 at 8:28 am

      5 stars
      I love all of the flavor combinations in this recipe. It’s so easy too. I recommend giving this recipe a try!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:14 am

        Thank you so much, Izzy! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Biana says

      May 19, 2021 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      Yum! These ribs look simply perfect, a great summer supper.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:14 am

        They are truly delicious, Biana! Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Angela says

      May 19, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      I’ve always been intimidated to make ribs, but this post has encouraged me! So easy and flavorful, we’ll be barbecuing these all summer long!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:14 am

        Thank you so much, Angela! We’re so glad you enjoy them!

        Reply
    4. Jordin Webert says

      May 19, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Wow, these ribs look so delicious and tender! Must try summer grilling recipe.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:15 am

        Thank you, Jordin! They are so yummy!

        Reply
    5. saif says

      May 19, 2021 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made this baby back ribs recipe and it was delicious. Definitely going to make again.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:15 am

        Thank you so much, Saif! This is one of our favorite grilling recipes! We’re thrilled you enjoy it.

        Reply
    6. Jess says

      May 19, 2021 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      These are life-changing! Love grilling ribs all summer long!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:15 am

        Thanks so much, Jess! We’re so glad you enjoy them!

        Reply
    7. Beth says

      May 19, 2021 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      This is going to be such an amazing and flavorful dinner! I’m so excited to cook these ribs! My hubby and daughter are going to be all over these ribs! Can’t wait to make these soon!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:16 am

        Thank you Beth! We hope you love them – please let us know!

        Reply
    8. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      May 19, 2021 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      Love all the flavors here, I already know I’m going to enjoy this recipe a lot!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 19, 2021 at 11:16 am

        Thanks so much, Shadi! We hope you love them!

        Reply
    9. Emily Liao says

      May 19, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      Oh man, these baby back ribs turned out insanely good! Loved the sauce as well. Definitely bookmarking this for memorial weekend.

      Reply
      • LisaJ says

        June 12, 2022 at 11:57 am

        Do you have any idea how long to cook these if you are using a charcoal grill? Any tips?

        Reply
        • Em Beitel says

          July 29, 2022 at 3:52 pm

          Hi Lisa! We’ve only made this one on a gas grill, so not sure about charcoal. But I imagine it will work just as well!

          Reply
    10. Carrie Robinson says

      May 19, 2021 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! Now these look absolutely perfect, and just in time for summer BBQ season. 🙂

      Reply
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