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There’s nothing better than an all American Barbecue to kick off the summer on Memorial Day. Our family loves to grill all types of foods, but we especially love how easy it is to grill Smithfield Fresh Pork Ribs over charcoal. I have the perfect spice rub that is kid friendly and just a touch of sweetness to keep you coming back for more.
Have you ever cooked ribs over charcoal? It’s so easy to do and we have a trick to give your ribs just a touch of smoky flavor. So get ready to have your mouth water, be cause these are finger lickin’ good!
Every year I invite friends and family over for a Memorial Day barbecue. We all bring some meat to grill and a side dish to share, like a potluck. We have fun talking about the school year and how we just barely survived to the end of May. I love to have the barbecue at my house so we can have our ribs cooking before everyone gets there. These ribs take about 2 1/2 hours to cook. Low and slow. You don’t want to cook these fast or you won’t be able to eat the meat off the bone.
I head to Walmart and grab the Smithfield Fresh Pork Back Ribs because they are hand trimmed, extra-tender and juicy. They have no added steroids either so I can feel good about serving them to my family and friends. Smithfield Extra Tender Fresh Pork ribs are easy to cook, especially for beginners because they are more tender and juicy.
We have tried many different spice rubs for ribs and have not been too happy with any of them. So I’ve developed our own little recipe that is to die for! It only has the tiniest bit of heat to it and it’s sweet so it’s perfect for your kids.
Now let’s #GetGrillingAmerica!
Kid Friendly Rib Rub
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 Tablespoon black pepper
- 1 Tablepsoon salt
Mix all ingredients together with a whisk or a fork. Remove the ribs from the packaging and rinse under cold water. Let drip dry, but don’t pat dry. Leave the ribs a little wet so the rub will stick to them better. Rub the seasonings on to the ribs on the top, bottom, sides and ends. Let it sit for a few minutes then lift the ribs up and let the extra rub fall off. What sticks to the ribs is all you need.
How to Grill Ribs on a Charcoal Grill
What you’ll need:
- Kingsford Charcoal
- Tin Foil
- Hickory Wood Chips for smoking
- Pot holders
- Tongs
- Charcoal Chimney Starter
This time we used our chimney starter to start our charcoal, but you can also use the Home Right Charcoal Starter (learn more about that HERE). We love to use Kingsford Charcoal.
If you are using a chimney starter to start your charcoal, put some newspaper or other kindling in the bottom then fill the chimney with charcoal. Light the kindling and let the charcoal heat up. As soon as most of the charcoal is red and glowing, you are ready to pour them into the grill.
Soak about two cups of your wood chips in water for about 3 minutes, then drain. Wrap those wood chips in tin foil and drop them right on top of the charcoal. This is the trick to getting your ribs to taste like they’ve been smoked all day long.
Add your ribs to the grill rack. Trim to fit if necessary. Place the lid on and watch the temperature rise. Make sure it’s settling in the “ideal” range, about 225 degrees Fahrenheit . If it’s too cool, add more charcoal, if it’s too hot, remove some charcoal. This is where the tongs come in handy.
Cook the ribs for about 2 1/2 hours flipping about every 30 minutes so they don’t burn. When their internal temperature reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit, they are done. That’s when the connective tissue begins to dissolve and they are fall off the bone delicious! Aren’t they pretty?
Remove them from the grill and wrap them in tin foil and let them sit for at least 10 minutes before cutting them. We usually wait about 20 minutes to really let those juices set in.
Toby really wants some to be his!
Cut in between each rib before serving. Serve with your favorite side dishes. We love to eat our ribs with my mom’s famous Potato Salad, Grandma Pat’s Baked Beans and a green salad. Delicious!
Watch how Smithfield Pitmaster Tuffy Stone Grills his ribs with a Chipotle Glaze.
Enjoy your Memorial Day Barbecue with your family and friends and be sure to serve them these delicious ribs! What is your favorite side dish to ribs?FAQs
Place the rib rack over indirect low heat (over the drip pan) as far from the coals as possible, with the bone sides facing toward the charcoal. Close the lid. Close the top vent about halfway. Let the racks cook for 1 hour.
How long should rub be on ribs before grilling? ›
How Long Should Dry Rub Be On Ribs Before Cooking. Do you need to dry rub ribs overnight – it depends! If you are planning on adding BBQ sauce on your ribs at the end of cooking, then there really isn't a need to let your dry rub sit on for more than 30 – 60 minutes (or up to two hours).
Should you cover ribs on charcoal grill? ›
Foil-Wrapped Ribs On The Grill. Wrapping your ribs are key if you want to lock in all of the moisture and flavor!
How long do you grill ribs in foil on a charcoal grill? ›
Place foil-wrapped ribs onto grill. Close the grill and allow to cook for approximately 60–75 minutes, flipping halfway through. Depending on your grill, as well as the size of your racks, you may need up to 2 hours for the ribs to fully cook.
Should I wrap ribs in foil on charcoal grill? ›
While using foil to cook ribs may seem like an unlikely concept, it actually speeds up the cooking process without sacrificing flavor and tenderness. The tight packet helps to trap the flavors in, keeping the meat tender and juicy while cutting the grilling time in half.
What is the best technique for grilling ribs? ›
Oil the grill grates. Place the ribs bone-side down, on the cooler part of the grill (indirect heat). Cover and cook, rotating the ribs once, until the meat is tender and pulls away from the bones, about 2 hours.
What helps dry rub stick to ribs? ›
Once you've removed as much moisture as possible, cover your food with the sticking agent of your choice, like egg, olive oil, or mustard, to help the rub bind to the meat.
What should I coat my ribs before rubbing? ›
A very popular technique in the BBQ community is to rub your ribs in mustard before applying your rub. It is said to help the rub adhere to the meat.
When should I season my ribs before grilling? ›
FAQ. How long should dry rub be on ribs before cooking? Anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours. You'll want the dry rub to sit on the ribs for at least 15 minutes to tenderize the meat and draw out the moisture, but you can refrigerate the ribs coated in the dry rub for up to 48 hours.
Should you grill ribs with lid open or closed? ›
You'll want to close the lid for things like barbecue chicken, steak, and ribs, and should try not to open it until it's time to flip or remove the food (though you may need to move food more frequently if your grill has hot spots).
Ideal Technique & Temperature For Cooking Ribs
Preheat your smoker, charcoal grill, or gas grill to 225°F - the ideal temperature for cooking ribs. Smoke/slow cook for 3 hours using indirect heat. Wrap the ribs in foil with some liquid and continue cooking for 2 hours.
Do you grill ribs meat side down? ›
Remove the ribs from the marinade and add them to the grill over indirect heat, bone-side down. Cover the grill and cook, rotating once or twice, until the meat is tender and the internal temperature reaches somewhere between 180 and 195 degrees.
What does wrapping ribs in foil do? ›
First they smoke the meat for a few hours, then they wrap it tightly in foil or pink butcher paper for a while where it steams and braises in its own juices. Sometimes they unwrap it and roast it again to firm up the surface, sometimes they don't.
Do ribs cook faster in foil? ›
Wrapping the meat in foil will limit the amount of smoke on the surface of the meat thus yielding a better color and flavor on the final product. It also adds moisture and speeds up cooking time. Wrapping should be done about half way through the cooking process or when internal meat temp is 150-160 degrees.
Do ribs cook better in foil? ›
Majorly cut down the cook time for barbecued baby back ribs by sealing them in foil then finishing them over wood chips. It takes a third of the time for tender, flavorful ribs!
How long does it take to cook ribs on a charcoal pit? ›
Rub mustard around both sides of the ribs and generously apply rib rub. If not using a rib rub simply season with salt. Set rack of ribs on far side of the grill away from coals and cook at 225 - 250 degrees. Cover grill and cook for 3 hours if using spareribs, cook 2 hours if using Baby Back Ribs.
Do you have to boil ribs before grilling? ›
If you want your ribs to be more flavorful and juicy, boiling them will render out a lot of the fat. This will also cause the natural juices of the ribs to release into the boil. You don't want this, if your end goal is juicy ribs.
How long should charcoal burn before grilling? ›
You generally let charcoals burn about 15~20 minutes (sometimes longer depending on the color) before you start cooking. Try putting the black pieces on top of the already burning gray pieces to help the black ones burn. It's okay to have some black pieces sitting around the fire, just add those in as you go.
