Slow-Smoked Baby Back Ribs with Spiced Dry Rub

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-04 · Updated 2026-06-04

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 baby back ribs slow-smoked with a bold spiced dry rub, delivering a smoky crust and juicy meat that falls off the bone. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 375 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 480 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: 45 min Cook: 330 min Serves 6 American cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 racks (about 3 lbs each) baby back ribs
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
3 cups soaked applewood chips
1 cup apple juice

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Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

Amazon Basics Color-Coded Dishwasher Safe Kitchen Knife Set, 12-Piece with Ergonomic Handles, Non-stick Sharp Blades, 6 Knives with 6 Blade Guards, Multicolor, 13.88 x 4.13 x 1.38 inch
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Instructions

Step 1: Remove silver skin membrane from 2 racks of baby back ribs (about 3 lbs each) for better smoke penetration.
Step 2: Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper in a bowl to create the dry rub.
Step 3: Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs, pressing it into the meat. Let them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Preheat smoker to 225°F and add 3 cups soaked applewood chips for a sweet smoke flavor.
Step 5: Place ribs bone side down on smoker rack and smoke for 3 hours, spritzing with 1 cup apple juice every hour to keep moist.
Step 6: After 3 hours, wrap ribs tightly in foil and continue smoking for another 2 hours.
Step 7: Unwrap and smoke for a final 30 minutes to firm up the bark before removing and resting ribs for 15 minutes. Slice between bones and serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.