Be the star of your next BBQ when you learn how to make moist, mouthwatering, fall off the bone tender ribs on the grill! Your ribs will be lip-smacking, finger licking good every time when you follow this foolproof method!
Who's ready for grilling season? If you're like me, summertime means grilling...and grilling means ribs. And usually, that means turning on the oven and heating up the house.
Not this time. These tender spareribs are cooked entirely on the grill.
No slow cooker, no pressure cooker, and no oven required. Just a simple method that delivers juicy, flavorful ribs every time. The hardest part is waiting for them to be done.
If you don't have a gas grill, this works on a charcoal grill too, just cover and monitor the temperature with a grill thermometer.
Ribs on the Grill
Equipment
- gas grill
- sheet pan
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork spareribs
- 4 tablespoon dry rib-rub
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Start with a large sheet pan. Tear off two large pieces of heavy duty tin foil, place one on the pan set the remaining piece aside.
- Take the ribs out of the packaging and remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs.
- Blot with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil lightly over the ribs, rub with your hands to make sure the ribs are coated.
- Sprinkle generously with dry rub - a couple tablespoons per side. Be sure to hit all the nooks and crannies and sides of the ribs. Rub it in well.
- Cover with large sheet of foil. Seal well and refrigerate. The rub can remain on the ribs for 4 to 24 hours.
- Remove them from the fridge and allow to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the grill to 325 degrees.
- Place the ribs on the sheet pan right on top of the grill. Don't open the grill, just monitor the temperature. Keep it between 325-350. Cook for 2 hours.
- Open the grill and remove sheet pan. Take the cooked ribs out of the foil and finish them on the grill. Slather each side with sauce and cook to sear the sauce, only about 5 minutes per side.
- Remove and allow to rest. Slice and serve with additional sauce and serve! I hope you really enjoy this rib recipe!
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
- heavy duty aluminum foil - if you don't have heavy duty, be sure to double or triple wrap the slab of ribs.
- baby backs spare ribs - the meatier the better
- dry rub - homemade is great, but if you have a favorite brand, then by all means use that! The same goes for barbecue sauce!
How to Cook Ribs on the Grill (Step-by-Step Overview)
This is a quick overview of how to cook ribs on the grill. For full details, scroll to the recipe card.
- Start by removing the silver skin from the back of the ribs. It can take a little patience, but removing it makes a big difference in tenderness.
- Drizzle the ribs with olive oil, then coat generously with dry rub. Massage the seasoning into the meat so it's well coated.
- Wrap the ribs tightly in heavy-duty foil and refrigerate.
- Preheat the grill to 325 degrees. Place the foil-wrapped ribs on a sheet pan directly on the grill. Keep the lid closed and maintain a temperature between 325-350 degrees. Cook for about 2 hours.
- Carefully remove the ribs from the foil. Place them directly on the grill, brush with barbecue sauce, and cook for about 5 minutes per side to set the sauce.
- Remove from the grill and let rest before slicing. Serve with extra sauce if you like.
Deb's top tips
- Watch the grill temperature. Keep it between 325-350 degrees. Too hot and the ribs cook too fast and turn tough. Too low and they won't become tender.
- Choose meaty ribs. Look for good meat coverage and avoid "shiners," where the meat has been cut too close to the bone.
- Skip overly fatty racks. Pick ribs with even meat coverage and minimal large fat areas. Fresh ribs are best when possible.
- Charcoal grill works too. Just cover and monitor the temperature with a grill thermometer.
- Focus on the temperature. Get that right, and you'll end up with tender, flavorful ribs every time.
FAQ's
This recipe takes about 2½ hours from start to finish.
325 degrees is ideal for this method. Cooking low and slow keeps the ribs tender and juicy.
The longer, the better. Overnight is great, and up to two days will give the seasoning even more time to soak into the meat. Short on time? A store-bought rub works just fine.
Slide a toothpick into the meat near the bone. If it goes in and out easily, the ribs are ready. Check a few spots to be sure.
Grilling ribs while camping
Want to enjoy ribs while camping? You can absolutely make this work.
Season the ribs with dry rub and wrap them tightly in foil before leaving the house. Place the foil-wrapped ribs on the grill using indirect heat and cover with a large aluminum bowl to help hold in the heat.
After about 2 hours, remove the ribs from the foil, brush with sauce, and move them to the hot side of the grill. At this point, they're already cooked-you're just searing the sauce.
Homemade sauce
If you'd really like to take these over-the-top, then slather your cooked ribs with this Plum BBQ Sauce - it has brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and chopped plums. It's cooked until thick and bubbly, sweet with just a hint of spice! It's great on this rib recipe!
Learning how to make fall off the bone tender ribs on the grill is really super easy once you get the method down. These are perfect every time!
What to serve with grilled ribs
- Plum BBQ Sauce - A sweet and tangy homemade sauce that adds an extra layer of flavor to your ribs.
- Baked Bean Casserole - A hearty, comforting side that pairs perfectly with smoky barbecue flavors.
- Mom's Deviled Egg Potato Salad - Creamy, classic, and always a crowd favorite alongside ribs.
- Fresh Apricot Pie - A sweet finish with just the right balance of tart and juicy.
Related recipes
If you love firing up the grill, here are a few more easy favorites to try next:
- Teriyaki Steak Marinade - Creates tender, flavorful steak with a rich, savory glaze.
- Shrimp Kabobs - Quick, easy, and perfect for the grill when you want something fast.
- Oven Baked Ribs - A tried-and-true family recipe for tender, juicy ribs made in the oven.
- Teriyaki Chicken Skewers - One of my favorite kabobs-simple, flavorful, and always a hit.
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus - A smoky, savory side dish you can make right on the grill.
- Grilled Chili Lime Chicken - The yogurt marinade keeps the chicken extra juicy with bright, bold flavor.
Tender ribs on the grill made easy
Making fall-off-the-bone ribs on the grill is easier than you think once you get the method down. Keep the temperature steady, give them time, and you'll end up with tender, juicy ribs every time.
If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment and let me know how it turned out-I'd love to hear!
Maureen says
How long would you cook (grill)2 slabs on the same pan?
Debra Clark says
It would probably increase the cooking time by 30-45 minutes. I would also rotate the slabs (wrapped seperately). I haven't cooked it with 2 slabs, but as long as you roated them, you should be good. If it's cold/rainy, you could also bake them in the oven and finish them on the grill. That would work as well and you cold spread them out more.
Rachael says
You don’t need to add any water or apple cider vinegar in the foil at all to keep them moist during the two hours of cooking? Just curious
Debra Clark says
No liquid needed Rachael, just keep that grill at 300 degrees during that 2 hour process. Alternatively, you can certainly bake them in the oven for 2 hours at 300 if you'd prefer!
Rachael says
What if I’m not able to fit the ribs on the grill with the pans? What is the significance of them still being on the pans? Also, do they need to be flipped at all during the two hours?
Debra Clark says
The significance of the pan is it keeps the direct heat off the ribs. If you can't fit a pan, put a double layer of heavy-duty foil underneath the ribs wrapped in foil. No need to flip the ribs. Enjoy the recipe Rachael!!
Shelby Wayne Watkins says
Absolutely the best I've had from the grill and recommended to anyone!!!!!!!
Debra Clark says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Shelby!! It's the BEST summertime meal. In the wintertime, I use this recipe to bake them in the oven and finish them under broiler. So good, every time! Thank you for taking the time to comment and thanks for your support of the blog!
Ricky B says
Recipe was excellent!
Debra Clark says
Awesome, this makes the BEST ribs! Glad you enjoyed the recipe Ricky, thanks for coming back and sharing.
Lois says
This is one of our favorite meals on the blog. We love it and it always turns out great. So tender and tasty.
Lois says
This is one of my favorite meal. It always turn out great. Everyone loves it.
Cindy Stone says
This recipe was SPOT ON!! Best ribs ever and cannot believe they were cooked on the grill😋
Bowl Me Over says
Gotta love that! Thanks for sharing Cindy!