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smoked st. louis style ribs for a backyard bbq menu

Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs Recipe

These Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs are tender, smoky, and surprisingly easy to make. Perfect for beginners, backyard BBQs, and summer cookouts.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 632kcal
Author: Ruth Truett

Equipment

  • smoker If you don't have a smoker, use your oven.
  • chef's knife
  • cutting board
  • baking sheet
  • pink butcher paper

Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup apple juice
  • 1 rack St. Louis style spare ribs
  • 3-4 tablespoon bbq sauce
  • 2-3 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 2-3 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning

Instructions

  • In a spray bottle or small bowl, combine the apple juice and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
  • Preheat the smoker to 250°F.
  • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs using a paper towel for grip.
  • Coat the ribs with yellow mustard and season evenly with the all-purpose seasoning.
  • Place the ribs in the smoker meat-side up and smoke for 3 hours, spritzing every 30–45 minutes with the apple juice and apple cider vinegar mixture after the first hour.
  • Brush the ribs lightly with BBQ sauce and wrap tightly in butcher paper or foil.
  • Transfer the wrapped ribs to a 250°F oven (or continue cooking on the smoker) and cook for about 3 more hours, or until the ribs are tender and have a good bend.
  • Rest the ribs for 15–20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

No smoker? No problem. Use a 250°F oven and follow the recipe as written. You'll miss some of the smoky flavor, but the ribs will still turn out tender and delicious.
Rib temperature: There are two schools of thought when it comes to finished ribs.
  • 195–200°F: Competition-style ribs with a tender bite.
  • 200–203°F: Fall-apart tender ribs that practically melt in your mouth.
I personally prefer ribs closer to 200–203°F, but as long as you reach 195°F, you're in great shape. Choose the level of tenderness you enjoy most.

 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 632kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 2648mg | Potassium: 588mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
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