How to make Perfect BBQ Ribs on a Charcoal Grill Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HogWildThrowdown #CollectiveBias

Summer has arrived in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and it's marked by all of the great BBQ smells wafting through the air.  One of my favorite things to barbecue on the grill are Smithfield Extra Tender Back Ribs.   

I realize that grilling ribs can seem incredibly intimidating, but I have a foolproof method  that ensures your ribs will come out pit master perfect EVERY TIME!  You don't even need to have any fancy equipment.  You're going to love this recipe so...

Let's Get Started!

When I'm going to make great ribs, Smithfield Tender Backs are my secret weapon.  You can't go wrong with their hand-trimmed, extra tender and juicy ribs with no added hormones or steroids.  

I pick my ribs up from the pork section of the meat department in my local Walmart, grabbed some KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce, and some Kingsford Charcoal.  Next it was time to get home to get this backyard BBQ started!

Perfect BBQ Baby Back Ribs on a grill:

*Prep Time: 30  *Cook Time: 1 hour *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings:  One Rack of Ribs

Ingredients:

• 1 rack of Smithfield Extra Tender Pork Back Ribs
• 1 Bottle of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Oregano
• Heavy Duty Foil

To begin you will need to remove the rack of ribs from the packaging and pat it dry with a paper towel.  To make them a little more manageable for grilling, I like to cut my rack of ribs in half.

Now rub a thin layer of mustard all over the top side of the ribs.
This will help to tenderize the meat, as well as give it some great flavor.

Speaking of flavor, we are going to make a delicious spice rub for our ribs, so combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.

Now LIBERALLY sprinkle the spice run on the top half of the ribs and rub it in (hence the name spice RUB).

Now flip them over and LIBERALLY season the bottom half of the ribs.

Okay, so this where I am about to BLOW YOUR MIND!

So often we fall into the trap of thinking that great ribs have to cook low and slow for HOURS on end to get great flavor.  I'm here to tell you that you can have these ribs done and on your table in ONE HOUR!  Yes ONE HOUR!  The trick is to fully cook the meat on the grill in a foil pouch, THEN caramelize it on the outside with the sauce.

Let me show you what I mean.

Get TWO sheets of HEAVY DUTY foil and place them on top of one another.

Spray the top sheet with some cooking spray.

Place the seasoned half rack of ribs, top side up, on the foil.

Fold the foil around it into a packet.

And to make sure none of the juices leak out on to your charcoal and cause nasty flair ups, fold the second piece of foil around the first to form a second packet around it.

What's going to happen is the fat on the pork is going to melt and essentially steam the meat, creating the most tender and juicy ribs you have EVER put in your mouth.

Place the foil packets into the refrigerator to marinate, and head out to get the grill ready.

Remember when I told you that you didn't have to have any fancy equipment for this recipe?  Well, I wasn't lying.  Tp prove it, I purchased this inexpensive charcoal grill from Walmart ($19.99).  Then, I picked up the only charcoal we will use in this house, Kingsford Charcoal.

Follow the instructions for lighting the charcoal on the back of the bag.

Give the charcoal about 15-20 minutes to get covered with a nice, white ash color.

Now place the grate over the hot charcoal and place the packets on the grate.

Before you ask, NO, you don't have to move the charcoal to one side, and cook over indirect heat, and NO you don't have to have a drip pan.  Just place the rib packets directly over the heat.

Close the lid of your grill and let them cook for 50 minutes.

After 50 minutes you can remove the ribs from the foil.
The meat will be fully cook and the rub infused into the meat.

Now place them top side down on the grill and add some KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce to the bottom side of the ribs.

Brush so that the entire bottom of the rack is covered with the sauce.  

Cover the lid, and let it cook for 5 minutes.

Now flip the ribs over.
See how they have already started to caramelize?

Now brush the top side of the ribs with the delicious sauce!  

Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes.

And now you are ready to eat!

Look at this beautiful rack of perfectly cooked BBQ Smithfield Pork back Ribs.  Tender, juicy, full of flavor.

And can we talk about that KC Masterpiece sauce for a minute?  Sweet, spicy, tangy, sticky goodness!  EVERYTHING you want in a great rib sauce.

And look at how juicy and perfectly cook they are!  No one will believe that you did this over a $20 charcoal grill in an hour!  So don't let the idea are barbecuing intimidate you this summer.  Head to Walmart, pick up your Smithfield Pork Back Ribs, KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce, Kingsford Charcoal, etc and give this fool proof recipe for How To make Perfect BBQ Ribs on a Charcoal Grill Recipe a try!  And as if the recipe isn't great enough, with all of your new found grilling skills you are definitely going to want check out The Hogwild Smithfield Throwdown!  It's a fun contest Smithfield is having with LOTS of great prizes!

And as always...

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, and Happy living, 

~The Kitchen Wife~

Perfect BBQ Baby Back Ribs on a grill:

*Prep Time: 30  *Cook Time: 1 hour *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings:  One Rack of Ribs

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1 rack of Smithfield Extra Tender Pork Back Ribs
• 1 Bottle of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Oregano
• Heavy Duty Foil

Directions:

1. Pat the rack of ribs dry with a paper towel. 
2. Cut the rack in half. 
3. Rub both halves with dijon mustard. 
4. Combine the smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, salt, and oregano in a bowl.  
5. Sprinkle LIBERALLY over BOTH sides of the ribs. 
6. Get TWO pieces of foil.  Spray the first one with non-stick cooking spray.  
7. Wrap the first piece of foil around the ribs, into a packet.
8. Now wrap the second piece of foil around the rib packet and place in the refrigerator.  
9. Preheat your grill.  Add charcoal to the grill and light according to the instruction on the bag. 
10. Let the charcoal heat until it is covered in a white ash.  
11. Place both rib packets on the grill, close the lid and let cook for 50 minutes. 
12. After 50 minutes remove from foil and place top-side down on the grill.  
13. Brush BBQ sauce all over the bottom of the ribs, close the lid, and let cook for 5 minutes. 
14. Flip the ribs, brush the top side with the BBQ sauce, close the lid, and cook for 5 minutes. 
15. Serve and Enjoy!

**Even though I cooked these on a charcoal grill, the same steps can be used on your gas grill as well.**