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Home » Recipes » Entrees

How to Make Fall off the Bone Tender Ribs on the Grill

Published: Apr 29, 2023 by Bowl Me Over · 32 Comments

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Be the King of the 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!

A slab of grilled ribs slathered with bbq sauce on grill.
How to make fall off the bone tender ribs on the grill.

Table of contents

  1. Why you'll love this recipe
    1. Ingredients
      1. Instructions
        1. Things to know
          1. FAQ's
            1. What if you're camping and want to enjoy grilled ribs? That's easy too!
              1. Prefer to make oven baked ribs recipe?
                1. Homemade sauce
                  1. Serving suggestions
                    1. Related recipes

                      Why you'll love this recipe

                      Who's ready for grilling season? If you're like me summertime means grilling and grilling means ribs! And of course ribs means cooking in the oven and heating up the house...

                      Not anymore, these tender spareribs are cooked on the grill!

                      • No slow cooker, pressure cooker or cooking the rack in the oven first!

                      Yes, you heard me right these ribs are cooked entirely on the grill. It's super easy to do, the hardest part is waiting for them to be done.

                      Ok... so today we're talking spareribs. But these aren't made in the pressure cooker, these are made entirely on the grill. That's right, no oven, no pressure cooker... no problem!

                      If you don't have a gas grill this can certainly be done on a charcoal grill, just cover and monitor the temperature of the grill with a heat thermometer.

                      Ingredients

                      Dry rub and pork spareribs are the ingredients for this recipe.
                      • 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!

                      Instructions

                      Step by step instructions to prepare and grill ribs on a gas grill.
                      Delicious baby back pork ribs recipe.

                      This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete instructions to learn how to cook ribs on the grill, just scroll down to the bottom of the blog post.

                      1. Using a sharp knife, remove the silver skin from the back or bone side of the ribs. It might take a bit of doing, but be patient and peel it off. Remove all of it. The result is much more tender meat.
                      2. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with sweet spice rub a couple tablespoons per side.
                      3. Really massage the rub into the rack.
                      4. Wrap the rack of pork ribs in heavy duty foil, seal well and refrigerate.
                      5. Preheat the grill to 325 degrees, you want low heat. Add the sheet pan topped with ribs right to the top of the grill. Don't open the grill, monitor the temperature. Keep it between 325-350. Cook for 2 hours.
                      6. Open and remove the ribs. Take them out of the foil and finish them on the grill by slathering each side with your favorite bbq sauce. Place ribs directly on the grill. Cook to sear the sauce, only about 5 minutes per side. Remove and allow to rest. Slice the ribs. I like to mop with additional sauce. Time to feast and enjoy!!!
                      How to make fall off the bone tender ribs on the grillPork spareribs on the grill - grilled ribs slathered with bbq sauce.
                      Why fire up the oven when these can be made right on the grill?!!!

                      Things to know

                      When you're shopping for grilling' slabs, be picky! You want meaty ribs - no shiners! Meaning don't choose slabs where the meat has been cut too close to the bone. The rack will fall apart during the grilling.

                      Look for ones that have good meat coverage, not large areas of fat. A fresh rack of ribs are best, avoid previously frozen if possible

                      Really there's just one job - keep an eye on the grill temperature! Follow this method to learn how to make fall off the bone tender ribs on the grill!

                      EXPERT TIP - Monitor the temperature of the grill. Keep it between 325-350 degrees. Too high, they will cook too fast and be tough, too low and they will be undercooked and tough.

                      FAQ's

                      How long does it take for ribs to cook on the grill?

                      This recipe will take about two and a half hours to cook the ribs.

                      What temperature do I grill pork spareribs?

                      325 degrees is the optimum temperature for this recipe - low and slow!

                      How long do I leave the dry rubs on the ribs.

                      The longer the better - overnight is great, even two days ahead will be great and give the rub time to really incorporate the flavor into the meat.. If you don't have time to make your own dry rub, use your favorite store-bought flavor.

                      How do you know when they are done?

                      Use a toothpick and slide it into the meat near the bone. When it slides in and out easily you'll know they are done. Test several spots to be sure!

                      Can I cook these in the oven?

                      Yes, baby back ribs can be started in the oven rather than using the grill to bake them. You'll cook them for two hours, then finish them on the grill.

                      What if you're camping and want to enjoy grilled ribs? That's easy too!

                      1. Season the ribs with dry rub and wrap the ribs in foil before leaving the house.
                      2. Toss it right on the grill - use indirect heat and cover with a large aluminum bowl. The bowl will mimic the oven and keep the temperature consistent.
                      3. After 2 hours, remove from foil, slather with sauce and finish on the hot side of the grill. Remember the ribs are cooked at this point, you just need to sear on the sauce!

                      Prefer to make oven baked ribs recipe?

                      Using this same method; seasoning and wrapped in foil, then bake the bbq ribs at 275 degrees for three to four hours until tender. Unwrap and slather with sauce and finish under the broiler.

                      These are the best juicy ribs!

                      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!

                      Serving suggestions

                      Mmmm.... there are so many great side dishes to serve with bbq'd ribs!

                      • Because they are such a rich, heavy meal, lightening it up with a simple salad like this Mexican Coleslaw is perfect. No mayo and the flavors are bright and fresh!
                      • Having said that, what is better with ribs than Deviled Egg Potato Salad? I love this recipe! It's been in our family for years and is always my go-to favorite!
                      • Baked Beans are great as well - for this recipe, you can use the slow cooker or oven - either way works terrific. If you have a cast iron skillet, you can put it right on the grill as well - yummy!
                      • Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread is sweet and so good. Topped with Texas Roadhouse Butter Recipe - drool-worthy!
                      • You can also make asparagus right on the grill - learn all my tips and tricks for how to grill asparagus here!

                      For dessert, what would be better than a fresh Apricot Pie?!! I love apricots, the sweet/tart flavor makes the most scrumptious desserts!

                      Related recipes

                      We love all things grilled and a couple of my favorites are Teriyaki Steak Marinade it makes the most tender and flavorful steak, have you tried it yet? And Shrimp Kabobs - shrimp on the barbie is always a great choice, plus they take just minutes to make.

                      • Teriyaki Chicken Skewers - my favorite kabob, these are super flavorful and tender.
                      • Bacon Wrapped Asparagus - your side dish can be be made right on the grill also. Who doesn't love that smokey flavor?
                      • BEST Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Recipe! - the yogurt in the marinade tenderizes the meat making this super juicy and delicious!

                      I hope you found these instructions help and you'll be making fall off the bone tender ribs at home in no time!

                      A slab of grilled ribs slathered with bbq sauce on grill.
                      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
                      4.78 from 18 votes

                      Ribs on the Grill

                      Easiest no-fail method ever to make fall off the bone tender pork ribs on the grill!
                      Prevent your screen from going dark
                      Prep Time10 minutes mins
                      Cook Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
                      resting time15 minutes mins
                      Total Time2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
                      Course: Lunch or Dinner
                      Cuisine: American
                      Servings: 6 servings
                      Calories: 580kcal
                      Author: Deb Clark
                      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

                      Equipment

                      • gas grill
                      • sheet pan
                      • spatula

                      Ingredients

                      • 1 rack pork spareribs
                      • 4 tablespoon dry rib-rub
                      • 3 tablespoon olive oil
                      • 1 cup barbecue sauce

                      I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

                      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.
                      • Remove the ribs from the packaging. Blot with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil lightly over the ribs, rub with your hands to make sure the ribs are coated.
                      • Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs.
                      • 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

                      Watch the temperature of the grill while baking the ribs - Monitor the temperature of the grill. Keep it between 325-350 degrees. Too high, they will cook too fast and be tough, too low and they will be undercooked and tough.

                      Nutrition

                      Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 633mg | Potassium: 849mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 3.2mg
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                      About Bowl Me Over

                      Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

                      Reader Interactions

                      Comments

                      1. Cindy

                        August 26, 2023 at 1:22 pm

                        5 stars
                        This recipe is awesome - no more dry ribs for me! Thanks!

                        Reply
                      2. Rita Joy

                        August 25, 2023 at 10:31 am

                        Can you believe, I've never made ribs on the grill? Well, actually, I've never even tried to learn how to cook ribs... Thanks for this great step by step recipe. My husband is going to love this!

                        Reply
                      3. Julie Evink

                        August 23, 2023 at 9:47 am

                        I was nervous to make ribs on the grill, but these directions made it simple and the result was AMAZING! So tender and full of flavor.

                        Reply
                      4. Alyssa

                        August 18, 2023 at 10:14 am

                        I can't wait to share this with my husband. He has been wanting to cook ribs on the grill. These will be perfect for our Sunday football games!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 19, 2023 at 4:54 pm

                          Wonderful, enjoy the recipe Alyssa!

                          Reply
                      5. One Crazy House

                        August 18, 2023 at 1:49 am

                        5 stars
                        Would this recipe for ribs on the grill work on a George Foreman grill, or any other small, indoor grill appliance? (Yay, apartment life😒🤣).

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 18, 2023 at 6:28 am

                          If you can close the lid on your grill, yes certainly! But if you want to bake the ribs in your oven, that will work as well. Just finish them under the broiler for that yummy bbq'd flavor and texture!

                          Reply
                      6. Holly

                        August 16, 2023 at 8:49 am

                        5 stars
                        You did not lie. Ribs on the grill is easy and delicious!!! YUM. My entire family loved this.

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 16, 2023 at 12:50 pm

                          Wonderful! Glad it was a hit with the whole family. I appreciate you swinging back to let me know - thank you!

                          Reply
                      7. MARYE AUDET-WHITE

                        August 13, 2023 at 6:20 pm

                        I've never made ribs on a grill. I know, I know - my Texas card is gonna get taken away. This seems like it's doable! Thanks so much.

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 16, 2023 at 12:57 pm

                          You're so welcome Marye, I hope you give this recipe a try!

                          Reply
                      8. Melanie C

                        August 13, 2023 at 2:54 pm

                        5 stars
                        I don't know why, but cooking ribs on the grill has always seemed a little scary - so I've always shied away. After seeing your recipe you've made me want to try it (finally) - your recipe looks amazing.

                        Reply
                      9. Camden Rusincovitch

                        August 12, 2023 at 2:03 pm

                        Ribs on the grill sound so incredible right now! As someone who is very new to grilling, I really appreciated the tips in here, too.

                        Reply
                      10. Linda

                        August 12, 2023 at 1:18 pm

                        5 stars
                        I don’t eat a lot of red meat, but wanted to treat my husband so I tried your recipe. He is a picky eater so his were seasoned with just salt and pepper. I love spice and wanted to use your dry rub recipe; I can’t eat onion or garlic so I substituted 1 tsp of asafetida, I also decreased the salt to 1 tbsp. They were a smash hit and easy, we both enjoyed them and will make them again. Thank you for the recipe.

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 13, 2023 at 9:42 am

                          You're welcome Linda! I'm glad it was a hit and you were able to substitute and make it work for YOU! Juicy, tender ribs are one of our summertime favorites!

                          Reply
                      11. Brandi

                        August 06, 2023 at 11:47 am

                        Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! My teens and hubby are huge rib fans but I had no idea how to cook them on the grill. Thanks for making it easy!

                        Reply
                        • Brandi

                          August 06, 2023 at 11:48 am

                          I meant how to cook ribs on the grill - not my teens and hubby! Ha! 😉

                          Reply
                      12. Brittany

                        August 04, 2023 at 9:26 am

                        5 stars
                        Thanks for the great tips on selecting the meat to cook ribs on the grill. I'm clueless when it comes to that sort of thing!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          August 13, 2023 at 9:50 am

                          You bet Brittany - enjoy those juicy, tender ribs!

                          Reply
                      13. sharon garofalow

                        August 02, 2023 at 2:12 pm

                        My son loves ribs but I've never made ribs on the grill before. So grateful for your step by step instructions! I love tender, fall off the bone ribs.

                        Reply
                      14. Cynthia Rusincovitch

                        August 02, 2023 at 10:52 am

                        5 stars
                        Okay, I'm going to try this one. We usually make ribs on the smoker but we like to go camping and obviously the gigantic smoker doesn't travel. We do have a grill at the campsite! So we're making ribs on the grill this weekend. Fingers crossed!

                        Reply
                      15. Kristen

                        August 01, 2023 at 9:14 pm

                        5 stars
                        So happy I found this recipe! Now there's no need to hit up a restaurant when my family wants ribs on the grill! Thank you for all the tips!

                        Reply
                      16. Jose

                        May 04, 2021 at 2:51 pm

                        If you're wrapping them in foil then using the grill means nothing. It'll be the same as using the oven.

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          May 04, 2021 at 5:21 pm

                          Unless it's too hot in the house to run the oven - summer days are 110+ degrees here. Or you're camping or your oven goes out. Ours was out for three months.

                          Reply
                      17. Michaela Kenkel

                        July 16, 2018 at 8:57 am

                        5 stars
                        My family LOVES ribs!! You have so many tips and tricks here I never knew before!! Thank you!! Stepping up my rib making game!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          July 20, 2018 at 4:00 am

                          Have a great grilling summer Michaela, thank you!

                          Reply
                      18. Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish

                        July 16, 2018 at 7:21 am

                        5 stars
                        I love that you can make these ribs from start to finish on the grill, that makes it so easy! They look absolutely delicious too!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          July 20, 2018 at 4:04 am

                          Thank you Lisa!!

                          Reply
                      19. Michelle

                        July 15, 2018 at 5:48 pm

                        5 stars
                        Mouthwatering good! Your recipes are always so delicious!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          July 20, 2018 at 3:58 am

                          thank you Michelle!!

                          Reply
                      20. Liza

                        July 15, 2018 at 9:00 am

                        5 stars
                        What wonderful tips! My sons love ribs and we always spend so much eating out to treat them! Now I know how to make them at home!

                        Reply
                        • Bowl Me Over

                          July 20, 2018 at 3:58 am

                          Much more affordable (and just as good!) to make these at home Liza, enjoy!

                          Reply

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