Dave's Rib Rub and Pit Barbecue Ribs

Get ready to impress your taste buds with "Dave's Rib Rub and Pit Barbecue Ribs," the ultimate recipe for smoky, tender, and flavor-packed pork spare ribs. This recipe combines a perfectly balanced homemade rib rub—featuring a blend of brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and a hint of cayenne—for a bold, savory kick. Slowly smoked to perfection at 225°F with the rich aroma of hickory or applewood, these ribs are moist and juicy, thanks to a flavorful apple juice wrap. Finished with a sticky barbecue sauce glaze that caramelizes to perfection, these fall-off-the-bone ribs are a barbecue masterpiece. Perfect for weekend cookouts or special gatherings, this recipe delivers the authentic taste of pit barbecue right in your backyard. Serve with your favorite sides for a meal your guests won’t forget!

Nutriscore Rating: 51/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:300 mins

Total Time:320 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 racks Pork spare ribs
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons Paprika
• 2 tablespoons Coarse kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon Mustard powder
• 1 cup Apple juice
• 1 cup Barbecue sauce

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your barbecue smoker to 225°F (107°C). Use hickory or applewood chips for a rich, smoky flavor.

Step 2

Remove the membrane from the back of the pork spare ribs. Use a paper towel to grip the membrane and pull it off for better texture and flavor absorption.

Step 3

In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and mustard powder to create the rib rub.

Step 4

Generously coat both sides of the ribs with the rib rub, pressing it into the meat to ensure it adheres well.

Step 5

Place the ribs on the smoker, bone side down. Close the lid and smoke for 3 hours, maintaining a consistent temperature of 225°F.

Step 6

After 3 hours, remove the ribs and place them on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Pour half a cup of apple juice over the ribs to add moisture, then tightly wrap them in the foil.

Step 7

Return the wrapped ribs to the smoker and cook for an additional 2 hours.

Step 8

Carefully remove the ribs from the smoker and unwrap them. Brush both sides of the ribs with barbecue sauce, then place them back in the smoker without foil for 30 more minutes, allowing the sauce to caramelize.

Step 9

Remove the ribs from the smoker and let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2751.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7265.2

Total Fat 474.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 170.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 1760mg	0%
Sodium 16196.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 322.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.9g	0%
Total Sugars 262.1g
Protein 419.3g	0%

Vitamin D 880IU	0%
Calcium 830.9mg	0%
Iron 34.5mg	0%
Potassium 6152.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.0%

Protein: 23.2%

Carbs: 17.8%