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Home » Recipes » The Best Way to Grill Ribs Everytime

June 27, 2019

The Best Way to Grill Ribs Everytime

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Best Way to Grill Ribs is low and slow! This easy 5-ingredient recipe comes together quickly for tender delicious St. Louis style ribs that are perfect!  #ad #smithfield via @jugglingactmama

This recipe is the Best Way to Grill Ribs for amazingly tender meat with delicious flavor.

A pile of St. Louis Style Ribs on a cutting board.
With an easy pork rub and a handful of other ingredients, you can make the best ribs!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. This content is intended for readers who are 21 and over. #GetGrillingSmithfield #SmithfieldTeamFastTeamSlow #CollectiveBias

For perfectly cooked ribs, there’s no better way to make ribs than the low and slow method! Yes, I am totally on #TeamSlow. Don’t worry, you can still get that great grill flavor, too, and I’ll show you how.

Table of contents

  1. What is the difference between St Louis ribs and baby back ribs?
    1. How many ribs should I make per person?
      1. Ingredients
        1. Online Grocery Pick Up
          1. What do you serve with St. Louis style ribs?
            1. What temperature do you cook ribs to?
              1. How to Grill Ribs Perfectly
                1. Recipe Variations
                2. Best Way to Grill Ribs

                  Making the best ribs on the grill starts with the right ribs! I buy Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Ribs® which are hand trimmed. They are extra tender and juicy with no added hormones or steroids.

                  What is the difference between St Louis ribs and baby back ribs?

                  Generally speaking, St Louis style ribs have more meat than baby back ribs, which I personally prefer.

                  How many ribs should I make per person?

                  If you’re serving ribs as your main dish, plan on three to four ribs per person. Usually has 13 to 14 individual ribs on it. If you are cooking for 5 people, you’ll want to plan on 2 packages of Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Ribs®.

                  Just because we’re using a slow method doesn’t mean it has to be overly complicated. My 5-ingredient recipe includes an incredible homemade pork seasoning rub that is totally amazing.

                  The Best Way to Grill Ribs starts with a homemade pork seasoning rub. A hand holds a jar of the rub above a rack of ribs on tinfoil.

                  Ingredients

                  • Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Ribs
                  • Pork Seasoning Mix – I swear by this homemade rub, but if you don’t have time, grab a package of store-bought seasoning.
                  • Apple Cider Vinegar for a little acid.
                  • Apricot Preserves (peach preserves or orange marmalade will also work)
                  • Apple Juice creates steam and adds flavor.

                  This sweet and tangy combination with the low and slow method yields the most amazing ribs!

                  Online Grocery Pick Up

                  Online grocery pick up is my favorite! It’s such a huge time saver for me, and one of the ways I’m able to juggle getting everything done.

                  I just order everything I need right from my phone, and then schedule my pick it up when it is convenient for me.

                  When I get to the store, an associate loads my car for me. I don’t even have to get out. It is SO easy!

                  What do you serve with St. Louis style ribs?

                  These yummy pork ribs pair wonderfully with Liberty Creek Wines Merlot. Try one of these great side dishes alongside your perfectly cooked ribs!

                  • Grilled Corn
                  • Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
                  • Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
                  Grilled pork ribs are sliced on a cutting board with a bottle of merlot in the background.

                  What temperature do you cook ribs to?

                  Determining the correct internal temperature for ribs can be tricky. According to USDA, pork should be cooked to 145°F.

                  However, cooking your ribs longer will help the fat melt and meat become more tender. Therefore, I cook my ribs until they are 190 to 203°F,

                  How to Grill Ribs Perfectly

                  Even if you have never made ribs before, you can make amazingly succulent juicy ribs! Here’s how:

                  1. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil (you can also use an aluminum foil pan).
                  2. Remove the ribs from the packaging and pat dry.
                  3. After that, remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs.
                  4. Rub the pork seasoning onto both sides.
                  5. Let the ribs rest 30 minutes while you prepare the grill.
                  6. Pour the apple juice into the foil with the ribs.
                  7. Cover the ribs with tinfoil, sealing them tightly.
                  8. Be sure your grill grates are clean, then preheat the grill to 200°F.
                  9. The best way to grill ribs is to be sure they do not stick so lightly spray the grates with cooking spray.
                  10. Place the foil pack (or pan) onto the center of the grill and close.
                  11. The best way to grill ribs slowly is to let them cook for 2 hours.
                  12. In a small saucepan, combine the preserves with the apple cider vinegar over medium heat until it comes together.
                  13. Carefully open the foil and remove the ribs, placing them directly on the grill grates.
                  14. Brush both sides the ribs with the preserve glaze.
                  15. Turn the heat up to 300°F and cook on each side for 6-10 minutes to add a little char to the ribs.
                  16. Remove and let rest 10 minutes before cutting.
                  The Best Way to Grill Ribs is to slather it with a glaze at the end. Here a basting brush adds apricot glaze to pork ribs.

                  Recipe Variations

                  Because we test all our recipes, we recommend that you make them once just as it is without substitutions or changes. Sometimes variations can go awry. Following our recipe for the best way to grill ribs as we have tested it will yield the best results.

                  If you really want to get creative, here are some ideas for variations that might work well. (Please note, we have not tested these variations).

                  • Instead of apricot preserves, you can use orange marmalade or peach preserves in the basting sauce.
                  • For a quicker method, cook the ribs at 300°F for 1 hour, instead of 200°F for 2 hours. Follow the rest of the instructions. Please note, these ribs will still be tasty, but not as tender as our slow cooker method.

                  You might also like this recipe for  slow cooked Barbecue Pork Ribs which uses an oven-to-grill cooking method.

                  A pile of St. Louis Style Ribs on a cutting board.
                  Tender and delicious, these ribs cooked for just over 2 hours and they’re perfectly done!

                  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

                  Best Way to Grill Ribs

                  Once you master the best way to grill ribs, you’re going to be making this recipe ALL the time!

                  Not ready to make it yet? Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later.

                  When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures!

                  And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!

                  How to Cook Pork Ribs on the Grill

                  Incredibly tender ribs cooked slowly on the grill are full of amazing flavor!
                  5 from 3 votes
                  Print Pin Rate
                  Course: Main Course
                  Cuisine: American
                  Keyword: best way to grill ribs
                  Prep Time: 40 minutes
                  Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
                  Total Time: 3 hours
                  Author: Ang Paris
                  Cost: $15

                  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

                  Equipment

                  • Cutting Board
                  • Baking Sheet
                  • Tinfoil (aluminum pan optional)
                  • Liquid Measuring Cup
                  • Dry Measuring Cups
                  • Gas Grill
                  • Tongs
                  • Small Saucepan
                  • Basting Brush

                  Ingredients

                  • 1 rack Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Ribs®
                  • 1/2 cup pork seasoning mix
                  • 1 cup apple juice
                  • 1/2 cup apricot preserves
                  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

                  Instructions

                  Prepare the Pork Ribs

                  • Remove the ribs from the packaging and pat dry.
                  • Remove the silver skin from the backside of the ribs.
                  • Place into the center of a foiled-lined baking sheet.
                  • Season each side of the pork ribs with about 1/4 cup of the pork seasoning rub.
                  • Massage the rub into the meat.
                  • Add the apple juice to the foil lined pan.
                  • Cover the ribs with tinfoil.

                  Preparing the Grill

                  • Preheat the grill to 275° F.
                  • Clean the grill grates.
                  • Spray the grates with cooking oil.

                  Cook the Ribs

                  • Add the covered ribs to the center of the grill and close the lid.
                  • The best way to grill ribs slowly is to let them cook for 2 hours.
                  • In a small saucepan, combine the preserves with the apple cider vinegar over medium heat until it comes together.
                  • Carefully open the foil and remove the ribs, placing them directly on the grill grates.
                  • Brush both sides the ribs with the preserve glaze.
                  • Turn the heat up to 300-degrees F and cook on each side for 6-10 minutes to add a little char to the ribs.
                  • Remove and let rest 10 minutes before cutting.
                  Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
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                  Filed Under: Grilling, Main Dish Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: Grilling, pork, Ribs, Smithfield®

                  Reader Interactions

                  Comments

                  1. Jenna says

                    June 27, 2019 at 11:31 am

                    5 stars
                    These ribs look amazing! I didn’t know you can make ribs on the grill that come out tender. I think I will look for these and try your recipe this weekend.

                    Reply
                    • Ang Paris says

                      July 8, 2019 at 10:16 am

                      It can be done! Really they’re so good this way 🙂
                      I hope you get a chance to try this recipe out soon. Thanks for stopping by Jenna!

                      Reply
                  2. Marisa F. Stewart says

                    July 4, 2019 at 8:04 am

                    5 stars
                    Oh!! Yum! We usually buy the baby back ribs but looking at your meaty St. Louis style ribs has me craving them. I’ll make it a point to pick some up at Wal-Mart when we go there tomorrow — definitely on the Sunday menu when the family comes over.

                    Reply
                    • Ang Paris says

                      July 8, 2019 at 9:41 am

                      Thanks for your note, Marisa! These are SO good 🙂
                      I’d love to know how you like them!!

                      Reply
                  3. embeya says

                    November 22, 2019 at 11:18 pm

                    5 stars
                    I think I will look for these and try your recipe this weekend. Thank you for sharing!

                    Reply

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                  Welcome! I'm Ang - the Juggling Act Mama! I love sharing quick and easy recipes, creative DIY projects, and fun family travel with you. Like many of you, I am a multi-tasking mama juggling priorities which are why here I offer solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle. Read More…

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