Maple-Bourbon Glazed Baby Back Ribs with Spiced Cornbread

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

Tender baby back ribs slathered in a sticky maple-bourbon glaze paired with moist, spiced cornbread to complement smoky flavors and add a comforting touch. This american-inspired bbq & smoked ready in about 215 minutes pairs racks (about 4 lbs) baby back ribs, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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

• 2 racks (about 4 lbs) baby back ribs
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 275°F. In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Rub this dry spice mix evenly over 2 racks of baby back ribs.
2. Step 2: Wrap each rib rack tightly in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until ribs are tender and meat pulls easily from bones.
3. Step 3: While ribs bake, whisk together 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey, and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until thickened and syrupy.
4. Step 4: For the spiced cornbread, preheat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 3 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper.
5. Step 5: In a separate bowl, whisk 1 cup milk, 1 large egg, and 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix gently until just combined.
6. Step 6: Pour batter into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Step 7: Remove ribs from foil, brush generously with the maple-bourbon glaze, and broil on high for 3-5 minutes until glaze caramelizes and edges crisp.
8. Step 8: Slice ribs and serve hot alongside squares of warm spiced cornbread for a hearty BBQ meal.