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Flavorful Smoked Baby Back Ribs Recipe with Easy Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce

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This recipe delivers tender, juicy smoked baby back ribs with a sweet and smoky brown sugar bourbon BBQ sauce, perfect for a quick yet flavorful BBQ meal without the all-day smoke.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks baby back ribs (4–5 pounds / 1.8–2.3 kg)
  • Dry Rub:
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce:
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Wood chips (hickory or apple), 1-2 cups soaked in water for 30 minutes
  • Optional: splash of hot sauce or pinch of chili flakes

Instructions

  1. Remove the silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs using a paper towel to grip and pull it off (10 minutes).
  2. Mix dry rub ingredients in a bowl. Pat ribs dry and coat both sides generously with the rub. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes (5 minutes prep + 20 minutes resting).
  3. Preheat smoker or grill with smoking capabilities to 225°F (107°C) and add soaked wood chips (15 minutes).
  4. Place ribs bone-side down on the smoker grate and smoke for 2 to 2.5 hours, maintaining temperature and smoke consistency. Avoid opening the lid frequently.
  5. While ribs smoke, combine ketchup, brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer gently for 15 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
  6. After initial smoking, remove ribs and wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Return to smoker and cook for another 30 minutes.
  7. Unwrap ribs carefully, brush liberally with the brown sugar bourbon BBQ sauce, and return to smoker unwrapped for 30 more minutes to caramelize the sauce and build bark.
  8. Let ribs rest for 10 minutes off the heat to lock in juices. Slice between bones and serve with extra sauce.

Notes

Keep a spray bottle with apple juice or water handy to spritz ribs every 45 minutes during smoking to keep them moist and flavorful. Remove the silver skin membrane for better rub penetration and tenderness. Wrap ribs in foil during cooking to trap moisture (Texas Crutch). Apply BBQ sauce only in the last 30 minutes to avoid burning due to sugar content. If no smoker is available, cook ribs wrapped in foil in the oven at 275°F (135°C) for 2.5-3 hours with smoked paprika or liquid smoke added to the rub.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoked ribs, baby back ribs, bourbon BBQ sauce, brown sugar BBQ sauce, smoked baby back ribs, easy BBQ ribs, smoked ribs recipe, bourbon ribs

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/flavorful-smoked-baby-back-ribs-recipe-with-easy-brown-sugar-bourbon-bbq-sauce/