Slow-Smoked Baby Back Ribs with Tangy BBQ Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-06-05

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.

Fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs slow-smoked and finished with a tangy, slightly sweet BBQ glaze for a classic backyard cookout favorite. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 350 minutes, pairs baby back ribs, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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: 330 min Serves 6 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 racks (about 4 pounds) baby back ribs
2 tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 cup apple juice
1 cup (your favorite brand or homemade) BBQ sauce

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Equipment for this recipe

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

Wildone Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids Set, 5PCS Stainless Steel Nesting Bowls for Kitchen, with Grater Attachments & Non-Slip Bottoms, Size 5, 3, 2, 1.5, 0.63 QT, Great for Mixing & Serving
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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder to make a dry rub.
Step 2: Remove the membrane from the back of 2 racks of baby back ribs and pat dry. Rub the dry seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs.
Step 3: Prepare your smoker and preheat to 225°F. Place the ribs on the smoker rack bone side down and smoke for 3 hours.
Step 4: After 3 hours, spritz the ribs with 1 cup apple juice every 45 minutes to keep them moist.
Step 5: After 5 hours total smoking, brush 1 cup BBQ sauce generously over the ribs and smoke for an additional 30 minutes to set the glaze.
Step 6: Remove ribs from the smoker and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing between the bones and serving.