Best Twice Cooked Baby Back Ribs Recipes

BABY BACK RIBS (SMOKER, OVEN, OR OVEN-TO-GRILL)

Steps:

• Make the Spice Rub: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, ground mustard, and cayenne pepper.
• Preheat the smoker to 225°F or the oven to 300°F. (If using the oven, set one rack in the middle position and one rack in the top position.)
• Remove the membrane that coats the underside of each rack of ribs. Using a butter knife, loosen the membrane around one of the end bones, scraping it away from the ribs. Once you get under it, grab the membrane with a paper towel and peel it off. If you're lucky, it will come off all in one piece. (Alternatively, ask your butcher to do this for you.)
• Coat the ribs evenly on both sides with about half of the spice rub. Allow the ribs to sit for about 15 minutes to "sweat" and absorb the rub, then coat the racks with the remainder of the rub. It will seem like too much rub but it's not - use it all.
• Smoker Method: Place the spice-coated ribs in the smoker and cook for 2 hours. Remove the ribs from the smoker and double wrap each rack in heavy-duty foil. Return to the smoker for 1½ hours. Remove the foil-wrapped ribs from the smoker (hot grease may drip out of the foil, so be careful). Carefully unwrap, leaving the ribs on the foil, and brush to the top of each rack with about 3 tablespoons of the BBQ sauce. Fold the edges of the foil around the ribs, creating a makeshift "pan" for each rack. Place the racks back in the smoker on the foil and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour more, or until the racks are tender. To determine if they're done, lift them from the center with tongs - if they bend easily and the meat "cracks" on top, they are ready. Let the ribs cool for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
• Oven or Oven-to-Grill Method: Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the spice-coated ribs on the prepared pan, cover the pan tightly with foil, and bake until tender, about 2 hours. Turn the oven to broil. Remove the foil from the ribs and brush each rack with 3 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce. Broil until the sauce just starts to bubble and caramelize, 2 to 4 minutes. Keep a close eye on the ribs while they're under the broiler; because of the sugar in the rub and sauce, they will quickly go from nicely caramelized to burnt. (Alternatively, you can skip the broiling and finish the ribs on the grill. Preheat the grill to medium and grill the baked racks for 10 to 15 minutes, brushing occasionally with the BBQ sauce until charred in spots and heated through. Adjust heat as necessary to prevent burning.) Let the ribs cool for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
• Reheating/Freezing Instructions:The cooked ribs will keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or they can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw the ribs overnight in refrigerator if necessary, then place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the ribs with another layer of BBQ sauce and cover tightly with foil. Warm in a 250°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until warmed through. Remove the foil and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the sauce to set and the bark to crisp up.

TWICE COOKED BABY-BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Lay slab of ribs on large sheet of aluminum foil.
• Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on both sides.
• Use approximately half of your choice of sauce to coat both sides of ribs.
• Wrap foil tightly around ribs and lay on baking pan (to catch any juices).
• Bake in oven for 3 hours.
• After baking remove from foil and place on hot grill (med-high) and baste each side with remaining sauce, until edges are charcoaled and crispy, approximately 15 minutes Let ribs stand for 5 minutes before separating.

TWISTED BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• 1. Wash the meat with cold water and place in a large ziploc bag. You may have to cut the ribs to fit into the bag.
• 2. Prepare the barbeque sauce by combining all ingredients, except the ribs. Marinate the ribs with the sauce in refrigerator in bag overnight.
• 3. Preheat oven 300 degrees. Place the ribs and the sauce into uncovered casserole dish and bake for 1 hour or until meat separates from bone.
• 4. Serve with green salad and baked potatoes.

BAKED BBQ BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Mix ancho chile powder, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cumin, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and chipotle pepper in a small bowl until combined.
• Place ribs meat-side down on aluminum foil. Prick back of rib rack several times with a knife.
• Generously apply coating of dry rub to all sides of rib rack.
• With rib rack meat-side down, fold foil around it to create a tight seal. Transfer to sheet pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until tender and cooked through, about 2 hours. Remove and cool 15 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Open foil, drain and discard any accumulated juices and fat. Brush barbeque sauce on all sides of rack.
• Place rack meat-side up and return to oven, leaving foil open. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven, and brush another layer of barbeque sauce on meat-side only. Repeat baking and brushing with sauce 4 more times, for a total of 50 minutes baking time.
• Cut rack into individual rib segments and serve with more barbeque sauce.

BALSAMIC BABY BACK RIBS WITH TRUFFLED TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• For the rub: To a bowl, add the parsley, brown sugar, maple flakes, smoked paprika, salt, cracked pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic and oregano. Mix well.
• For the ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the ribs down on foil, brush with canola oil and massage with the rub. Wrap the foil tightly around the ribs, place in a roasting pan and roast for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Unwrap the ribs and cover with the balsamic barbecue sauce. Broil, uncovered, at 500 degrees F until the sauce is bubbling and caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• For the sauce: Heat a pot on medium. Add the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, maple syrup, aged balsamic vinegar, whiskey, habanero, garlic and red onions. Stir and bring to a simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• For the baked potatoes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the russet potatoes in foil for 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, slice open and delicately scoop the cooked potato flesh into a bowl. Add the heavy cream, parsley, scallion greens, butter, truffle oil and sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste and whip. Stuff the mix back into the potato skins, wrap in foil and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
• On a long rectangular plate, lay down some fresh baby spinach. Place the rack of ribs on top and add the truffled twice-baked potatoes.

BBQ COUNTRY STYLE RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• In a shallow baking pan or roaster, place ribs in a single layer; salt if desired. Spread the garlic on the ribs, then place the lemon slices on top. Bake in a preheated oven for 2 hours - the ribs should be tender. Drain any grease and liquid. Pour BBQ sauce over the ribs. Return to oven and bake one more hour at 200 to 250 degrees F.

EJ'S SIMPLE OVEN-BBQ RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a piece of aluminum foil that is large enough to cover the pan twice (you will be folding this over the ribs and sealing it).
• Arrange the ribs, meat side up, in one layer on the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine the Rib Rub, salt, pepper, and celery salt, and stir to combine. Divide the seasoning evenly between the 2 slabs of ribs, coating them well on both sides. Fold the extra length of foil over the ribs, and seal it tightly on all sides. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake, undisturbed, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the ribs are very tender.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high (or leave the oven on).
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and peel back the foil so that the ribs are exposed. Using a basting brush or the back of a spoon, coat the meaty side of the rubs lightly with barbecue sauce. Place the slabs of ribs, meaty side up, on the grill and cook until the barbecue sauce is thickened and lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes. (Alternatively, return the baking sheet to the oven and continue to bake the ribs, without the foil covering, until the barbecue sauce is thickened and lightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes.)
• Plating / Assembly: Remove the ribs from the grill (or oven), and let them cool briefly. Then cut between the ribs and serve, with additional barbecue sauce on the side if desired.