Charcoal-Grilled Spiced Beef Ribs with Smoky BBQ Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-02 · Updated 2026-06-02

Tender beef ribs marinated in a smoky spice rub, grilled over charcoal and finished with a rich homemade BBQ glaze that caramelizes beautifully. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 160 minutes, pairs beef ribs, paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs beef ribs
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• enough for 2-hour cook charcoal briquettes

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper to make the dry rub. Rub evenly over all sides of 3 lbs beef ribs and let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
2. Step 2: Prepare a charcoal grill with enough briquettes for indirect heat cooking lasting approximately 2 hours, maintaining the temperature around 275°F.
3. Step 3: Place the ribs bone-side down on the cooler side of the grill, close the lid, and cook for 1.5 hours, maintaining 275°F heat.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, in a saucepan, whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tbsp honey. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and cook for 10 minutes until thickened and glossy.
5. Step 5: After 1.5 hours, brush the ribs generously with the BBQ glaze, then move them over direct heat. Cook for another 20-30 minutes, turning and glazing every 10 minutes, until the glaze caramelizes and the ribs are tender.
6. Step 6: Remove ribs from heat, let rest 10 minutes, then cut between bones and serve with remaining glaze.