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 barbecue recipe, ready in about 160 minutes, pairs beef ribs, paprika, and brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner. 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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.