There is nothing more satisfying then picking up a saucy and sweet BBQ rib and watching the meat fall right off the bone.  The anticipation of picking up that meat and having the flavors burst on your tongue…there is nothing better!  I was always drawn to the comfort foods and wanted to learn the techniques to replicate what I had in other restaurants.  So I voyaged out to gain the skill to make truly delicious BBQ ribs.  My skills are not perfect yet, but this is what I have learned so far:

1) Let your ribs marinate for at least 12 hours

2) When you put your ribs on the grill, do not put them over direct heat

3) Apple juice makes a great moisturizer for the ribs

4) Low and slow is the key, these ribs are not going to cook in 20 mins!!!

I love smokey flavors so I made sure my dry rub had a lot of smokey tastes added to it.

BBQ Ribs

Dry Rub

2 tbs. Smoked Chipotle Chile

1 tbs. Smoked Paprika

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Dry Mustard

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Onion Powder

1 tsp. Kosher Salt

Ground Pepper

Rib Recipe

4 pounds Baby Back Ribs

Apple Juice

Water

Favorite BBQ Sauce

Spray Bottle

Mix together dry rub ingredients.  Remove membrane from the back of the ribs, this allows them to absorb more flavor and allows the meat to fall off the bone.  Generously sprinkle the dry rub on front and back of the ribs, wrap them in plastic wrap and put in large zip lock bags.  Place ribs in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.

Heat grill to 300 degrees, placing charcoal on only one side of the grill.  Take the ribs out of the refrigerator and bring them to room temperature.  Once the grill is at the correct temperature, place the slabs of ribs, meat side up on the side of the grill that does not have the charcoal.  Close the grill and set a timer for one hour.  After the first hour, fill a spray bottle with 3 parts apple juice and one part water. Open the grill and spray down the ribs with apple juice mixture, flip the ribs meat side down, rotating the ribs so that the slab of ribs closest to the coals is on the side of the ribs furthest away from the coals.  Spray the ribs with apple juice mixture one more time, stoke the coals keeping the temperature at 300 degrees and close the grill for another hour.  After the second hour is up, open the grill and rotate the ribs so that the you are cooking the ribs even by switching positions to the coal, place the ribs meat side up and spread your favorite BBQ sauce covering the ribs completely.  Cook for another 30 mins, afterwards, switch the position of the ribs (still meat side up) and spread the sauce one more time over the ribs and cook for another 15 mins.  Once time is up, gently take the ribs off the grill and let them rest for at least 15 minutes.  If the ribs are not tender and coming off the bone, you can cook for another 30 minutes but make sure your temperature is consistent.

I served my ribs with grilled corn on the cob and asparagus.  Make sure you have extra sauce on hand!! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!!