Competition-Style Smoked 3-2-1 Baby Back Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone tender baby back ribs smoked with hickory, wrapped in honey butter, and glazed with BBQ sauce.
smoker Timer
Set for 360 mins @ 225°F (107°C)
Ingredients
Base recipe calibrated for 6 adults.
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Get to the Point Execution
Remove membrane from 2 racks of ribs; rub with mustard and BBQ dry rub.
Smoke unwrapped at 225°F for 3 hours with hickory smoke.
Wrap tightly in heavy foil with butter, brown sugar, and apple cider; smoke wrapped for 2 hours.
Unwrap, brush with BBQ glaze, and smoke uncovered for 1 hour to set the sticky bark.
Step-by-Step Guided Instructions
Use a paper towel to grip and peel away the thin papery membrane from the bone side of 2 racks of baby back ribs. Slather lightly with 2 tbsp yellow mustard as a binder, then coat generously with 4 tbsp BBQ sweet rub and 1 tbsp kosher salt.
Peeling the membrane allows smoke and seasoning to penetrate directly into the meat between bones.
Preheat smoker to 225°F with fruitwood or hickory pellets. Place ribs bone-side down directly on grates. Smoke untouched for 3 hours until a rich reddish-mahogany bark develops.
Spritz lightly with apple cider every 60 minutes after hour 2 to keep surface moisture high.
Lay each rack on a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Top with 3 tbsp butter slices, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 2 tbsp apple cider. Wrap tightly flesh-side down and return to smoker for 2 hours.
The foil braise steams the ribs gently, tenderizing muscle fibers to competition tenderness.
Carefully unwrap ribs (watch out for escaping steam). Place back on smoker grates bone-side down. Brush top generously with 1/2 cup warm BBQ sauce. Smoke for 45 to 60 minutes until sauce caramelizes into a glossy lacquer.
Ribs are done when the meat pulls back 1/2-inch from the bone ends and passes the bend test.
Slice between the bones from the back (bone-side up) using a long slicing knife so you can see the bone angles clearly.
Serve with extra mild sweet BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.
- Apple slaw
- Baked sweet potatoes
- Cornbread with honey butter
Wrap ribs in foil with 1 tbsp apple juice and warm in a 250°F oven for 20 minutes.