After seeing these smoked BBQ party ribs trending all over TikTok, I decided to try them myself. They did not disappoint. They're tender and juicy, with every inch of them covered in deliciousness. While they're not quite as good as my popular 3-2-1 ribs, they cook much faster and are still incredibly delicious.
If you love smoked ribs, you have to try my smoked 2-2-1 ribs and smoked boneless beef short ribs.
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If you've been on TikTok and follow BBQ recipes, then you've probably seen this trendy new way of cooking ribs (unless you had to delete the app because you were spending too much time on it, lol).
So after reading comments from people saying they'll only smoke their ribs this way from now on, I had to try it for myself.
What's the result? Well, they're quick, easy, and perfect for parties. Plus, they are:
- Done and on the table in about 3 hours.
- Full of flavor - smoky, sweet, and a little bit spicy.
- Cut in individual ribs so they have a ton of flavor.
- Delicious! I used the same yummy glaze as my smoked pork butt burnt ends and smoked pork belly burnt ends, except I added hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Smoked Party Ribs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Pork Ribs. You can use baby back ribs or spare ribs (St. Louis ribs). Baby back ribs are more tender while spare ribs have more flavor.
- Mustard. I used yellow mustard to act as a binder for the pork rub. You can also use Dijon mustard or olive oil.
- Dry Rub. I used my homemade smoked pork rub which has brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, dry mustard powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. However, you can use any BBQ rub that you like.
- BBQ Sauce. Use your favorite kind or make it homemade.
- Maple Syrup. This adds a bit of sweetness to the finishing glaze. You can use honey instead if you like.
- Hot Sauce. The amount I used does not make the ribs very spicy, it adds just a tiny bit of heat. (My son didn't even notice it). You can double or triple the amount to make the ribs spicier.
Watch me make them in this Quick Video
How to Make Smoked Party Ribs
For more detailed instructions with measurements, jump to the recipe card.
Step 1
Remove Membrane: Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. Use a butter knife to lift up the edge, grip it with a paper towel, and pull back to remove. Cut each rack into single ribs.
Step 2
Apply the Binder: Toss the ribs in a large bowl with yellow mustard. You could also brush the mustard on if you like.
Step 3
Season the Ribs: Combine the pork rub ingredients in a small bowl, or grab your favorite BBQ rub. Sprinkle half the seasoning over the ribs, shake to coat, and add the rest of the rub. Toss until every inch is covered.
Step 4
Smoke the Ribs: Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F. Place the ribs directly on the grill grates. Smoke until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 1.5 hours.
Step 5
Prepare the Glaze: While the ribs are smoking, combine BBQ sauce, maple syrup, butter, and hot sauce in a saucepan. Heat on low until the butter is melted.
Step 6
Glaze: Once the ribs reach 165°F, place them in a foil pan. Pour the glaze mixture over the ribs, ensuring each piece is coated. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and return to the smoker for another hour.
Step 7
Caramelize: After an hour, uncover the ribs and gently flip them. At this point, if they are 202°F, you can remove them from the grill, or leave them on for 10 minutes to caramelize.
Step 8
Serve: Once the ribs are caramelized, remove them from the smoker. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Testing Notes
- If the ribs are left uncovered after the foil is removed, they will dry out. Do not let them sit uncovered for longer than 10 minutes.
- Cook by temperature, not by time, as all pellet grills cook differently.
- I cooked these ribs on my Pit Boss pellet grill, but you can use any pellet smoker, including a Traeger grill or vertical pellet grill.
- If you have a smoker with a water pan, fill it with some apple juice.
- Thicker, meatier ribs will take longer to cook than thinner ribs.
Storing Leftover Party Ribs
If by some miracle you have leftover ribs, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven or air fryer at 250°F until heated through.
What to Serve with BBQ Party Ribs
You can serve these smoked ribs with pretty much anything. Some of my favorites are smoked cornbread, coleslaw, and potato salad.
You can also serve them with smoked baked beans, smoked macaroni and cheese, and smoked corn on the cob, which you can cook at the same time as the ribs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
You can use a grill set up for indirect cooking with wood chips and follow the same cooking steps. You can also use your oven at the same temperature.
Yes, the membrane is tough and does not render down as it cooks.
You can use any type of wood. I used cherry wood for these ribs, but you could also use apple, hickory, pecan, or even mesquite.
To make the ribs spicier, increase the amount of hot sauce in the glaze or add cayenne pepper to the dry rub.
More Smoker Recipes to Try
If you loved these smoked party ribs, be sure to check out:
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- Jeri
Printable Recipe
Smoked Party Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks pork ribs
- ¼ cup yellow mustard or olive oil
- 9 tablespoons pork dry rub or your favorite BBQ dry rub
Pork Dry Rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons dry mustard powder
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ⅓ teaspoon black pepper
Glaze Ingredients
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Remove Membrane: Lift the edge of the membrane on the back of the ribs with a butter knife. Use a paper towel to grip it and pull it off. Cut each rack into single ribs for more surface area for seasoning.
- Apply the Binder: Toss the ribs in a large bowl with yellow mustard or brush the mustard on evenly. This gives the seasoning something to stick to.
- Season the Ribs: Combine the pork rub ingredients in a small bowl, or use your favorite BBQ rub. Sprinkle half the seasoning over the ribs, toss to coat, then add the rest of the rub. Toss until every inch is covered for maximum flavor.
- Preheat: Set your smoker to 225°F.
- Smoke the Ribs: Place the seasoned ribs directly on the smoker grates. Smoke for about 1½ hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the ribs are smoking, combine BBQ sauce, maple syrup, butter, and hot sauce in a saucepan. Heat on low until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.
- Glaze the Ribs: Once the ribs reach 165℉, place them in a foil pan. Pour the glaze over the ribs, ensuring each piece is coated. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and return it to the smoker for another hour.
- Caramelize the Ribs: After an hour, uncover the ribs and gently flip them. They should have an internal temperature of around 202°F. If desired, leave them on the smoker for an additional 10 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
- Rest and Serve: Once the ribs look nice and caramelized, remove them from the smoker and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving with your favorite sides.
Video
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Notes
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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