This blog post was created prior to the Coronavirus outbreak and recent CDC social distancing recommendations. As many of us are spending more time at home, I hope this recipe inspires you to try something new and brings some joy. Stay safe!
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Now that the weather is warmer, we’ve been grilling every weekend, plus a few times during the week. We love to grill lots of different types of foods, but our all time favorite thing to grill is ribs. Grilling ribs is our favorite summer entertaining food because they are so good, smell amazing and everyone always loves them.
Our favorite grilled rib recipe is so easy. It’s just a few ingredients to get the most amazing grilled ribs. We always start with Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork Back Ribs available at Walmart. Smithfield® is our secret weapon to cooking perfect ribs every time. As you can see in the photo above, these ribs never slice that well because the meat always wants to fall off the bone!
Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork Back Ribs are hand trimmed and have no added hormones or steroids. They are so tender and juicy, even my little sister can make them taste great! They are always sure to impress.
The next two ingredients are a simple Cajun spice blend and a little brown sugar. I like to make my own Cajun spice blend that I use in a variety of different recipes, but you can use any kind.
The next ingredients is optional, but we always use it. It’s wood chips in a little smoke box. You can add this little smoke box on a charcoal or gas grill, just be sure to place it over the heat source. These wood chips and small wood chip smoker boxes are also available at Walmart.
Also, be sure to soak the wood chips for a few hours before grilling too.
I always grill ribs over indirect heat, as far away from the burner or fire as possible. You also should keep the grill at no higher than 350° while grilling or lower. I like to keep the heat right around 325°.
Grilling is never rushed at our house. We start grilling right around after lunch and grill low and slow until they are super tender, fall off the bone.
About halfway through the cooking process, you have turn the ribs around so that they cook evenly. You might need to add some more wood chips at this point too. Because the heat is so low, we never flip them over.
It takes a little time, but they are so worth the wait!
When the temperature gets to about 200°, I add a little BBQ sauce, and keep cooking for just a few more minutes. I don’t like the temperature to go above 210°, because they start to dry out.
You can find Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork Back Ribs at Walmart, as well as Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork St. Louis Style Ribs and Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork Spareribs.
You can find Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork Back Ribs in the fresh meat department plus all the other ingredients for this recipe at your local Walmart.
Be sure to check the Pit Master Site for even ore great recipe ideas too!
Yield: Serves 4
FOR THE GRILLED RIBS:
FOR THE HOMEMADE CAJUN SEASONING:
Heat gas or charcoal grill to 325° - 350°. Add brown sugar and cajun spices to ribs on both sides. Place ribs on grill over indirect heat. Add water soaked wood chips in a wood smoke box over the gas burner or charcoal fire in a wood box.
Keep grill at 325° and continue to grill until internal temperature is about 200°. Then glaze with BBQ sauce and close the lid for a few minutes just to heat through. Remove ribs at internal temperature between 200° and 210°.
Ribs take different amounts of time depending on if you cook one rack or two, it also depends on the weight of the rack. For one rack of average weight, it takes us about 5 hours.