Kansas City-Style Smoked Baby Back Ribs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

Tender pork ribs coated in a sweet and tangy Kansas City barbecue sauce, slow-smoked to perfection for a melt-in-your-mouth experience. This American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 230 minutes, pairs Baby back ribs, Brown sugar, Paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 275 calories and feeds 8, 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

• 2 racks, about 4 pounds total Baby back ribs
• 2 tbsp Brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Paprika
• 1 tbsp Garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Onion powder
• 1 tsp Cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1/2 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup Ketchup
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup Water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C) and add apple wood chips. Trim excess fat from the ribs and remove the membrane from the bone side.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Rub this mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs, pressing to adhere.
3. Step 3: Place the ribs on the smoker rack, bone-side down, and smoke for 3 hours until the meat is tender and the bark forms, adding more wood chips as needed to maintain smoke.
4. Step 4: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sauce thickens slightly (about 5 minutes).
5. Step 5: After 3 hours, remove the ribs from the smoker and brush generously with the barbecue sauce. Return to the smoker and cook for an additional 30 minutes, brushing with more sauce every 10 minutes, until the sauce is caramelized and the ribs are sticky.