At the first hint of sunny weather I get the itch to grill every kind of meat! I like how easy this smoky-spicy-sweet dry rub recipe is to make with a few pantry staples—and it’s great on grilled pork tenderloin, steak, and chicken, too. Give it a try this weekend!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds baby back ribs (pork ribs)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Red pepper flakes, to taste based on how spicy you like it
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Combine all ingredients (except ribs) into small bowl
STEP 2
Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel. If you like, cut the slab of ribs in half so they are more manageable, or as needed to fit your grill. Rub the spices on all sides of the ribs, including the ends until completely covered. Let sit for at least 10 minutes to marinate.
STEP 3
Grill ribs over medium to low heat for 30 minutes or until fat is rendered and meat is cooked through.
Additional tips and options:
- Before you grill: boil ribs for 20 minutes to render fat. Cool enough to handle, then rub with spices, and grill on medium.
- Instead of grilling, cook in 225 degree oven for 3-4 hours and you’ll get meat that falls off the bone.
- Try adding 1 teaspoon of chili powder to the spice mixture, or experiment with other spice additions like ground mustard.
- This rub recipe works great on most proteins—pork tenderloin, chicken, flank steak, etc.
Do you have other helpful tips or tricks for making the perfect ribs? Leave me a note in the comments below.
Recipe inspired by Real Simple.