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Make your cookout one to remember with my Smoked Short Ribs Recipe! Using only simple pantry ingredients and four easy steps, this recipe for fall-off-the-bone tender ribs practically cooks itself in just four hours.
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Smoked Short Ribs
When I bring beef short ribs home from the store, I know it's going to be a great day. Immediately my mind is racing with possibilities! Slow-cooking it to fall-apart perfection is always a favorite, or maybe grilled short ribs perfect for a BBQ. It can be difficult to choose!
But the real star of the show is smoked beef ribs! Smoking short ribs results in unmatched flavor and buttery-soft meat unlike any you've had before, and best yet, it's incredibly easy. Just season the ribs, set them in the smoker, spritz them now and then, and you're all done.
Feeding a crowd? These beef short ribs smoked in a pellet smoker are the perfect crowd-pleaser. Set them to start cooking right before guests arrive, and they'll be tender and ready to serve by dinner!
Smoked Short Rib Ingredients
- Beef short ribs
- Paprika
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Apple cider vinegar - you can also mix this with a little apple juice
Looking to change up your seasonings? Check out my Dry Rub for ribs!
How to Smoke Beef Short Ribs
- Optional: The night before, season your ribs generously with salt. Let them rest in the fridge overnight, uncovered.
- Preheat the smoker to 285°F and prepare a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar. Mix your remaining seasonings, then thoroughly season the meat on all sides, patting it down firmly.
- Smoke the ribs for 4 hours, spritzing it every hour with apple cider vinegar to keep them moist. You'll know it's done when a meat thermometer pierces the meat without any resistance!
- Remove the ribs from the smoker, serve, and enjoy!
Smoking Beef Short Ribs Tips
- Any type of pellet will work for this smoked beef short rib recipe, but I always love hickory, cherry, or oak for beef.
- If you're using particularly heavy ribs, check the beef at 4 hours and see if it needs longer. The meat should be butter soft and the internal temperature should read 190°F or higher.
- I highly suggest using a pellet smoker for all smoked recipes. They're easy, versatile, and user-friendly. I have a Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker like this.
- You don’t need a specific amount of apple cider vinegar; just give the meat a few spritzes to ensure it stays nice and moist!
- For the perfect barbecue sauce, try my Sweet BBQ Sauce Recipe.
- When you're looking for ribs to buy, look for heavily marbled meat. This fat marbling will result in the most flavorful meat! I recommend choosing bone-in, English style short ribs, although you could also use flanken style.
Love smoked ribs? Try one of my favorite pork ribs recipes next: 3-2-1 Smoked Ribs!
Smoked Beef Short Ribs FAQs
Short ribs are an excellent choice for smoking! The meat needs to be cooked slowly to become tender, which is perfect for the smoker's low temperatures. This low and slow cooking method melts the fat in the ribs and turns the meat to fall-off-the-bone butter!
Some recipes will wrap the ribs in peach butcher paper or aluminum foil for the last bit of smoking, but in my experience, you don't need to wrap beef ribs. I recommend not wrapping them and instead spritzing them every hour to keep the meat moist.
Short ribs should be smoked for at least 4 hours at 285°F. This makes them one of the faster smoker recipes, perfect to serve at parties and outdoor gatherings! For very large cuts of ribs, cook them a little longer, up to 5 hours.
Smoker Recipes
If you've tried smoking meat, you know how fun it is! Here are more of my favorite smoker recipes for every occasion:
- Smoked Turkey: An incredible way to change up Thanksgiving dinner!
- Smoked Ham: Double-smoking ham will take this holiday classic to a whole new level.
- Smoked Pork Butt: If pulled pork can be a luxury, this is how it's done!
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends: When I say this recipe makes meat candy, I mean it.
- Smoked Tomahawk Steak
Short Rib Recipes
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Smoked Beef Short Ribs
Equipment
- Spray Bottle
Ingredients
- 4 Beef short ribs
- 2 Tablespoons Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Coarse salt
- 1 Tablespoon Black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic powder
- Apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Optional: The night before, season your ribs generously with salt. Let them rest in the fridge overnight, uncovered.4 Beef short ribs,1 Tablespoon Coarse salt
- Preheat the smoker to 285°F and prepare a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar. Mix your remaining seasonings, then thoroughly season the meat on all sides, patting it down firmly.2 Tablespoons Paprika,1 Tablespoon Black pepper,1 Tablespoon Garlic powder
- Smoke the ribs for 4 hours, spritzing it every hour with apple cider vinegar to keep it moist. You'll know it's done when a meat thermometer pierces the meat without any resistance!Apple cider vinegar
- Remove the ribs from the smoker and serve! Best served alongside homemade BBQ sauce.
Notes
- Any type of pellet will work for this recipe, but I always love hickory for beef!
- If you're using particularly heavy ribs, check the beef at 4 hours and see if it needs longer. The meat should be butter soft and read 190°F or higher.
- I highly suggest using a pellet smoker for all smoked recipes; they're easy, versatile, and user-friendly. I have a Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker like this.
- You don't need any particular amount of apple cider vinegar; just give the meat a spritz or two so it looks nice and moist!
- When you're looking for ribs to buy, look for heavily marbled meat. This fat marbling will result in the most flavorful meat! I recommend choosing bone-in, English style short ribs.
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