Slow-Smoked Kansas City Style BBQ Ribs with Tangy House Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-20 · Updated 2026-06-20

Tender pork ribs slowly smoked and slathered in a tangy, sweet Kansas City style BBQ sauce for a perfect summer cookout. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 350 minutes, pairs pork 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.

Ingredients

• 2 racks (about 4 lbs) pork baby back ribs
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tsp liquid smoke
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (for sauce)
• 1/2 tsp chili powder

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat smoker or grill to 225°F indirect heat. In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 1 tsp smoked paprika. Rub this spice mix evenly over 2 racks of pork baby back ribs (about 4 lbs), coating all sides.
2. Step 2: Place ribs on the smoker grates bone side down. Smoke at 225°F for 3 hours, maintaining steady temperature and adding wood chips if needed for smoke.
3. Step 3: While ribs smoke, prepare the BBQ sauce by combining 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup molasses, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup honey, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp liquid smoke, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp chili powder in a saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and fragrant.
4. Step 4: After 3 hours, wrap ribs tightly in foil and bake in the smoker or oven at 225°F for another 2 hours to tenderize.
5. Step 5: Unwrap ribs and brush generously with the prepared BBQ sauce. Place back on the smoker or grill for 30 minutes to set the sauce and develop a sticky glaze.
6. Step 6: Remove ribs, let rest for 10 minutes, then slice between bones and serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.