Seven Steps to Grilling Great Ribs

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This post shares Seven Steps to Grilling Great Ribs, as well as a recipe for Grilled Sweet & Spicy Ribs with Browned Butter Sauce. 

This post was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

Time for Grilling Great Ribs?

Here in the MidSouth, every other day, we’re seeing *something* approaching spring – that is, until we go back to having a frost, the following evening. Well, it may be too early in these parts to put out our tomato plants till after the 15th of April, but we don’t let that discourage us from dragging out the grill much earlier than that! 

And goodness, me, am I ready for some grilled ribs! I’d imagine you’d enjoy some too! But what if you’ve never grilled ribs before? Before my husband and I tried grilling them our first time, we were  novices, too. So, have no fear! I’m here to encourage and educate you, because actually, grilling great ribs is quite an easy process, involving a few simple steps I’ll gladly share!

All directions in this post refer specifically to the “St. Louis Style” variety, in terms of the cooking times specified. But I’m sure the spice blend and sauce would be just as delicious on other varieties. 

Seven Steps to Grilling Great Ribs

I’ve got Seven Simple Steps to help YOU become a Pitmaster, right in your own home!

1. Make a rub.

Use my recipe (see below) to make a spice blend, that’s called a rub. You’ll see why it’s called that in the next step.   

2. Rub the spice rub into the ribs.

First pat the ribs dry with a paper towel, and then sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of spice mixture on each side of each rack of ribs you’re grilling. Then actually gently rub those spices into the ribs. (I wear disposable latex gloves for this part. Keeps me from rubbing cayenne into my eyes later.)

3. Wrap the Ribs In Foil; Then Roast Them.

Wrap the ribs securely in a double layer of foil. Roast them – low and slow, as they say, at 300º for a couple of hours.

4. Pour Off the Juices to Make a Sauce.

Carefully open the foil packet of ribs at one corner to release some steam and make a kind of spout. Then pour off those juices into a heat-proof glass measuring cup. While the juices cool, the fat will rise, and you’ll need to skim that off. (If you stick the measuring cup of juices in the refrigerator, the fat will rise to the top more quickly.)

5. Make the Browned Butter and Vinegar Sauce.

The directions for that are in the recipe, but it’s super-easy.

6. Build a Fire; Grill, Turn and Baste the Ribs.

Once you have your coals burning, you’re going to grill the ribs over indirect heat. That means not directly OVER the coals – but, beside them. If you want to add a smoky flavor, like we always do, add a stick of hickory wood (or mesquite, apple, cherry…whatever wood you prefer.) Remove the ribs from their foil packet, and grill over indirect heat, basting with the browned butter/vinegar sauce and turning occasionally, until charred in spots, 5–7 minutes.  Those char marks will help them look, and taste, delicious. 

7. Allow the Ribs to Rest About 10 minutes before you carve them.

It’s such an important step, but one that’s ignored so often. Allowing them to rest about 10 minutes allows the cells to reabsorb the juices. If you slice them immediately, all the juice is on the loose, so to speak, and will run out all over your cutting board, leaving your ribs much less moist.

 You don’t need to wait for a special occasion. In fact, why not practice on your family, first, and then invite some guests over to show off your amazing technique that you learned, from the tips in this post?

 

If this recipe for rib rub and sauce doesn’t quite turn your crank, check out my recipe for Grilled Ribs with Blueberry Barbecue Sauce.