Smoked Beef Rib Tips with Cajun Dry Rub
Tender and smoky beef rib tips coated with a bold Cajun dry rub, smoked low and slow to perfection. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 255 minutes, pairs beef rib tips, paprika, garlic powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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 lbs beef rib tips
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp smoked paprika to make the Cajun dry rub.
- Step 2: Pat dry 2 lbs beef rib tips with paper towels, then generously coat them with the Cajun dry rub, pressing it into all surfaces.
- Step 3: Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Place the rib tips on the smoker rack and smoke for 3.5 to 4 hours until they reach an internal temperature of 195°F and the meat is tender.
- Step 4: Remove the rib tips and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing between the bones and serving.






