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!
Cindy says
This recipe is awesome - no more dry ribs for me! Thanks!
Rachael says
What is the significance of the pan and what if it doesn’t fit in the grill?
Rita Joy says
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!
Julie Evink says
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.
Alyssa says
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!
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful, enjoy the recipe Alyssa!
One Crazy House says
Would this recipe for ribs on the grill work on a George Foreman grill, or any other small, indoor grill appliance? (Yay, apartment life😒🤣).
Bowl Me Over says
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!
Holly says
You did not lie. Ribs on the grill is easy and delicious!!! YUM. My entire family loved this.
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful! Glad it was a hit with the whole family. I appreciate you swinging back to let me know - thank you!
MARYE AUDET-WHITE says
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.
Bowl Me Over says
You're so welcome Marye, I hope you give this recipe a try!
Melanie C says
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.
Camden Rusincovitch says
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.
Linda says
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.
Bowl Me Over says
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!
Brandi says
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!
Brandi says
I meant how to cook ribs on the grill - not my teens and hubby! Ha! 😉
Brittany says
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!
Bowl Me Over says
You bet Brittany - enjoy those juicy, tender ribs!
sharon garofalow says
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.
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
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!
Kristen says
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!
Jose says
If you're wrapping them in foil then using the grill means nothing. It'll be the same as using the oven.
Bowl Me Over says
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.
Michaela Kenkel says
My family LOVES ribs!! You have so many tips and tricks here I never knew before!! Thank you!! Stepping up my rib making game!
Bowl Me Over says
Have a great grilling summer Michaela, thank you!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
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!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Lisa!!
Michelle says
Mouthwatering good! Your recipes are always so delicious!
Bowl Me Over says
thank you Michelle!!
Liza says
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!
Bowl Me Over says
Much more affordable (and just as good!) to make these at home Liza, enjoy!