Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Barbecue Ribs

Indulge in the ultimate barbecue experience with Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Barbecue Ribs—a smoky, tender, and flavor-packed feast that has earned its legendary status. This recipe combines a perfectly balanced homemade spice rub of brown sugar, paprika, and cayenne with the rich tang of apple cider vinegar and silky barbecue sauce to create ribs that fall off the bone with ease. Slow-smoked over aromatic hickory or applewood chips, these pork spare ribs soak up an irresistible, smoky sweetness that will transport your taste buds straight to a backyard cookout. Whether you're a pitmaster or a grilling enthusiast, these ribs deliver restaurant-quality results with a step-by-step process that’s approachable for home cooks. Perfect for summer barbecues, game-day gatherings, or anytime you’re craving authentic barbecue flavor, these legendary ribs are guaranteed to become the star of your table.

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:240 mins

Total Time:270 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 racks Pork spare ribs
• 0.5 cups Brown sugar
• 0.25 cups Paprika
• 2 tablespoons Garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Black pepper
• 1 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 0.25 cup Yellow mustard
• 2 cups Barbecue sauce
• 2 cups Hickory or applewood chips (for smoking)

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the spice rub by mixing brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.

Step 2

Rinse the ribs under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Remove the thin membrane from the underside of each rack if it hasn’t already been removed.

Step 3

Coat the ribs with a thin layer of yellow mustard to help the spice rub stick. Then, generously apply the spice rub to both sides of the ribs, pressing it into the meat.

Step 4

Wrap the ribs in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for maximum flavor absorption.

Step 5

If using a smoker, preheat it to 225°F. Add soaked and drained wood chips (hickory or applewood) to the smoker. Alternatively, preheat a grill for indirect cooking at the same temperature.

Step 6

Place the ribs in the smoker or grill, bone-side down. Close the lid and smoke the ribs for 4 hours, replenishing wood chips as needed to maintain the smoky flavor.

Step 7

After 4 hours of smoking, remove the ribs and brush both sides with apple cider vinegar to tenderize the meat further.

Step 8

Generously baste the ribs with barbecue sauce and wrap them in aluminum foil. Return the foil-wrapped ribs to the smoker or grill for an additional hour to allow the sauce to caramelize slightly and the meat to become fall-off-the-bone tender.

Step 9

Carefully remove the ribs from the foil, baste with another layer of barbecue sauce, and place them back on the smoker or grill for 5-10 minutes to form a slight crust.

Step 10

Remove the ribs from the heat and let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing into individual ribs. Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side and enjoy your legendary ribs!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3468.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7424.9

Total Fat 478.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 171.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 1760mg	0%
Sodium 15019.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 340.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 20.7g	0%
Total Sugars 256.6g
Protein 423.4g	0%

Vitamin D 880IU	0%
Calcium 884.6mg	0%
Iron 36.5mg	0%
Potassium 7038.8mg	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: 58.5%

Protein: 23.0%

Carbs: 18.5%