Sweet Smoked Pork Ribs

4.7
(133)
95 Reviews
31 Photos

This smoked ribs recipe includes a sweet and spicy rub made with a flavorsome blend of spices. I usually use baby back ribs, but I have also had great success with spare ribs.

Submitted by dadcooksagain
Updated on May 14, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
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Looking down at two racks of sweet smoked pork ribs.
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
4 hrs
Additional Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
5 hrs
Servings:
10
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

Pork Ribs:

  • ¼ cup salt

  • ¼ cup white sugar

  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons ground white pepper

  • 2 tablespoons onion powder

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon ground paprika

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

  • 10 pounds baby back pork ribs

Sauce:

  • 1 cup apple juice

  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar

  • ¼ cup barbeque sauce

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make sweet smoked pork ribs.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Prepare ribs: Stir salt, white sugar, brown sugar, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and cumin together in a small bowl.

    Mix all spice rub ingredients in a bowl.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Rub spice mixture all over ribs; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

    Rub spice mixture all over ribs and cover with plastic wrap.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Make sauce: Stir apple juice, brown sugar, and barbeque sauce together until well combined. Set aside.

    All sauce ingredients mixed together until well combined.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Unwrap ribs and arrange in a single layer onto the wire racks of the smoker. Place the racks into a smoker, fill the smoker pan with apple, grape, pear, or cherry chips, and heat the smoker to 270 degrees F (130 degrees C). Cook ribs for 1 hour.

    Ribs placed in smoker, cooking for one hour.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Brush ribs with sauce. Continue cooking ribs, basting with sauce every 30 to 40 minutes, until meat is no longer pink and begins to shrink back from bones, 3 to 4 hours.

    Brush ribs with sauce, baste every 30 to 40 minutes.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Brush sauce onto ribs one last time and remove them from the smoker. Wrap ribs tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest until juices reabsorb into meat, 10 to 15 minutes.

    Remove ribs from smoker after brushing one last time, then wrap in aluminum foil.

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  8. Enjoy!

    Looking down at two racks of sweet smoked pork ribs with some sliced and ready to eat.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

827 Calories
59g Fat
23g Carbs
49g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 827
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 59g 76%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Cholesterol 234mg 78%
Sodium 284mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 49g 98%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 122mg 9%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 759mg 16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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