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Flavorful Smoky Bourbon BBQ Baby Back Ribs Recipe for Oven-to-Grill Perfection

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This recipe delivers tender, smoky baby back ribs infused with bourbon BBQ sauce, cooked using an oven-to-grill method for perfect moisture and char.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks baby back ribs (about 2.5 to 3 pounds total)
  • Dry Rub:
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Bourbon BBQ Sauce:
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For Cooking:
  • Aluminum foil
  • Olive oil or neutral cooking oil

Instructions

  1. Remove the membrane from the back of each rack of ribs.
  2. In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to make the dry rub.
  3. Pat ribs dry and rub the dry spice mix all over both sides of the ribs. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  4. Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
  5. Place ribs meat-side down on the foil-lined baking sheet and wrap tightly with another sheet of foil. Bake for 2 to 2.5 hours until tender but not falling apart.
  6. While ribs bake, combine bourbon, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a saucepan. Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F/200°C) and oil the grates.
  8. Remove ribs from oven and unwrap. Brush generously with bourbon BBQ sauce on both sides.
  9. Grill ribs for 7-10 minutes per side, basting with more sauce and turning carefully to avoid flare-ups.
  10. Let ribs rest for 5 minutes before slicing between the bones. Serve with extra bourbon BBQ sauce.

Notes

Remove the membrane for tender ribs. Cook low and slow in the oven to lock in moisture, then finish on the grill for smoky char. Watch for flare-ups when grilling with sugary sauce and keep a spray bottle of water handy. Let ribs rest before slicing. Sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: baby back ribs, bourbon BBQ sauce, smoky ribs, oven-to-grill ribs, barbecue, summer cookout, smoky bourbon ribs

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/flavorful-smoky-bourbon-bbq-baby-back-ribs-recipe-for-oven-to-grill-perfection/