North Carolina BBQ Spare Ribs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-31 · Updated 2026-03-31

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender, smoky spare ribs glazed with a sweet-tart vinegar sauce, perfect for impressing guests with authentic American barbecue. This American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs spare ribs, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 150 min Serves 6 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 lbs spare ribs
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp liquid smoke

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Place ribs bone-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and liquid smoke to create a glaze. Brush glaze evenly over ribs.
Step 2: Roast for 2 hours, basting every 20 minutes with remaining glaze. Flip ribs and roast for another 30 minutes, or until meat is tender and glaze is caramelized.
Step 3: Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with cornbread and coleslaw.