Best 8 Sweet Southern Bbq Back Ribs Recipes

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Sweet and smoky southern BBQ back ribs are a classic dish that are perfect for any occasion. They are packed with flavor and incredibly tender, making them a popular choice for backyard barbecues and family gatherings. Whether you prefer a dry rub or a sauce-based recipe, there are endless possibilities to create the perfect sweet southern BBQ back ribs. In this article, we will explore some of the best recipes and techniques for cooking mouthwatering sweet southern BBQ back ribs, ensuring that you can impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

DEEP SOUTH BARBECUE RIBS



Deep South Barbecue Ribs image

This just might be the best BBQ ribs recipe for summer out there.

Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen

Time 3h30m

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 20

2 (2 1/2- to 3-lb.) slabs St. Louis-style pork ribs (about 10 bones each)
⅓ cup kosher salt
3 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ pounds cherry tomatoes
3 cups chopped yellow onions (about 2 medium onions)
2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tsp.)
3 tablespoons salted butter
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 ½ cups white vinegar
¼ cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl or large zip-top plastic bag. (You will have about 1 ¼ cups dry rub.)
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat both sides of slabs dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, remove thin membrane from back of each slab by slicing into it and pulling it off with a paper towel.
  • Divide Southern Barbecue Dry Rub evenly between slabs, rubbing on both sides of each. Press gently to adhere. Place slabs, meaty side up, on a wire rack on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
  • Bake in preheated oven until meat begins to pull away from bones but is not yet tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  • While the ribs are baking, make the Melting Pot BBQ Sauce. Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add tomatoes, and cook, stirring often, until skins begin to split and char, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onions and garlic, and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add butter to pan, and cook until melted, about 1 minute. Add brown sugar; stir until combined. Cook, without stirring, until edges start to caramelize, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper; reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until tomatoes completely break down and mixture is slightly thickened, about 45 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, and carefully transfer to a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); process on high until almost smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. (You will have about 1 quart of sauce.)
  • After the initial 1 hour and 30 minutes in the oven, increase oven temperature to 450°F. (Do not remove ribs from oven.) Brush both sides of ribs with 1 cup Melting Pot BBQ Sauce. Bake until ribs are very tender and caramelized, 35 to 45 minutes, brushing with another cup barbecue sauce halfway through baking. Remove from oven, and let stand at least 10 minutes. Serve with remaining 2 cups barbecue sauce.

SWEET SOUTHERN-STYLE BBQ RIBS



Sweet Southern-Style BBQ Ribs image

Brown sugar and molasses add a sweet, dark complexity to the marinade in this recipe for Southern-style pork baby back ribs.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 2h55m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 bottle (18 oz.) KRAFT Hickory Smoke Barbecue Sauce, divided
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. molasses
1/2 cup water
4 lb. pork baby back ribs

Steps:

  • Mix 1 cup barbecue sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, molasses and water until blended; pour over ribs in large shallow dish. Refrigerate 2 hours to marinate. Drain; discard marinade.
  • Heat oven to 350°F. Place ribs in foil-lined shallow pan. Bake 30 min.
  • Heat grill to medium-high heat. Grill ribs 10 min. on each side or until done, brushing frequently with remaining barbecue sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430, Fat 24 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Sodium 780 mg, Carbohydrate 27 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 23 g, Protein 25 g

SWEET HEAT BARBECUE RIBS



Sweet Heat Barbecue Ribs image

Provided by Virginia Willis

Time 4h35m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 racks spareribs, on the bone (6 to 7 pounds)
1/4 cup paprika
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 cups wood chips such as cherry or hickory, soaked in water for at least 1 hour, optional
Sweet Heat Barbecue Sauce, recipe follows
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 sweet onion, very finely chopped
2 1/2 cups ketchup
2 cups apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
Juice of 2 lemons
Coarse kosher salt

Steps:

  • If necessary, remove the thin membrane from the back of each rack of ribs; discard the membrane. Combine the paprika, brown sugar, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, garlic salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the meat with the oil and then rub liberally with the spice blend. Leave at room temperature for 45 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, set the grill for indirect cooking at 250 degrees F, with wood chips for flavor if using. (I use bourbon barrel staves. Cherry and hickory would be good, but stay away from mesquite.) Wrap the soaked chips in a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped chips on the coals.
  • Add the spareribs, meat-side up. Close the lid and cook, flipping occasionally, until the meat is smoky and just tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Brush the spareribs with the Sweet Heat Barbecue Sauce and continue cooking until the sauce is nicely caramelized and the meat is completely tender, about an additional 30 minutes. Serve with Sweet Heat Barbecue Sauce on the side.
  • In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat; add the onions and simmer until soft and melted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, black pepper, brown sugar, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, decrease the heat to low and simmer until the flavors have smoothed and mellowed, at least 10 and up to 30 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for months.

SWEET-AND-SPICY BABY BACK RIBS



Sweet-and-Spicy Baby Back Ribs image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h50m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/3 cup rice vinegar (not seasoned)
3 1-pound racks baby back pork ribs
Juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup lager-style beer
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chipotle chile powder
1 cup Thai sweet chile sauce (such as Mae Ploy)
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put the ribs meat-side down on a cutting board. Insert a paring knife between the membrane and the bones on one end of each rack, then loosen the membrane and pull it off. Rub the ribs with the lemon juice and sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place the ribs bone-side down in a large roasting pan, then add the beer. Cover tightly with foil, transfer to the oven and roast until the meat pulls away from the bone, about 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly golden, about 2 minutes. Add the chile powder and cook 1 minute. Stir in the chile sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened and reduced by half, about 40 minutes. Remove the ribs from the oven; increase the temperature to 400 degrees F. Uncover the pan; carefully pour out the cooking liquid. Stir 1/4 cup cooking liquid into the sauce, then discard the rest of the liquid. Generously brush the ribs with the sauce. Return the pan to the oven and continue roasting, uncovered, until the ribs are golden brown and tender, about 35 minutes. Transfer the ribs to a cutting board and slice, then return to the roasting pan. Pour the remaining sauce on top and toss. Photograph by Anna Williams

SWEET SOUTHERN BBQ BACK RIBS



Sweet Southern BBQ Back Ribs image

A sweet and spicy dry rub, a brushing of mustard, a lots of barbecue sauce bring classic flavor to these tender and succulent baby back ribs.

Provided by Smithfield®

Categories     Smithfield®

Time 4h10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

⅓ cup light brown sugar, plus
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
1 cup ketchup-based barbecue sauce
¼ cup honey
2 racks Smithfield® Extra Tender Pork Back Ribs, membrane removed
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 cup Handful hickory or apple wood chips for smoking, soaked in water and drained

Steps:

  • About one hour before smoking, make the dry rub. Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well.
  • Brush thin layer of mustard on both sides of ribs; sprinkle an even coat of dry rub both sides of ribs. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Heat charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking at 250 to 300 degrees F. Add drained wood chips, if using.
  • Place the ribs, meaty side down, over a drip pan and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add about 12 coals to a charcoal grill every 45 minutes or so to maintain the heat.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan; bring to a simmer until flavors are blended, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool.
  • Remove ribs from grill. Double-wrap each rack in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Return wrapped ribs to the grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours more over indirect heat, until very tender. Add more coals as needed to maintain temperature for a charcoal grill.
  • Remove ribs from grill and unwrap. Place ribs over direct heat on grill and brush with sauce. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce is set. Turn ribs and repeat with more sauce.
  • Serve ribs with remaining sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2795.6 calories, Carbohydrate 57.5 g, Cholesterol 736.1 mg, Fat 215.3 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 147.4 g, SaturatedFat 79.4 g, Sodium 2977.8 mg, Sugar 48.9 g

SWEET SOUTHERN BBQ BACK RIBS



Sweet Southern BBQ Back Ribs image

A sweet and spicy dry rub, a brushing of mustard, a lots of barbecue sauce bring classic flavor to these tender and succulent baby back ribs.

Provided by Smithfield(R)

Categories     Smithfield®

Time 4h10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

⅓ cup light brown sugar, plus
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
1 cup ketchup-based barbecue sauce
¼ cup honey
2 racks Smithfield® Extra Tender Pork Back Ribs, membrane removed
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 cup Handful hickory or apple wood chips for smoking, soaked in water and drained

Steps:

  • About one hour before smoking, make the dry rub. Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well.
  • Brush thin layer of mustard on both sides of ribs; sprinkle an even coat of dry rub both sides of ribs. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Heat charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking at 250 to 300 degrees F. Add drained wood chips, if using.
  • Place the ribs, meaty side down, over a drip pan and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add about 12 coals to a charcoal grill every 45 minutes or so to maintain the heat.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan; bring to a simmer until flavors are blended, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool.
  • Remove ribs from grill. Double-wrap each rack in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Return wrapped ribs to the grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours more over indirect heat, until very tender. Add more coals as needed to maintain temperature for a charcoal grill.
  • Remove ribs from grill and unwrap. Place ribs over direct heat on grill and brush with sauce. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce is set. Turn ribs and repeat with more sauce.
  • Serve ribs with remaining sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2795.6 calories, Carbohydrate 57.5 g, Cholesterol 736.1 mg, Fat 215.3 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 147.4 g, SaturatedFat 79.4 g, Sodium 2977.8 mg, Sugar 48.9 g

SOUTHWESTERN-STYLE BABY BACK RIBS



Southwestern-Style Baby Back Ribs image

I once considered making more authentic smoked ribs for a tailgate party and, in the planning, realized that not only would I need to be at the parking lot hours before everyone else, but my grill was not large enough to smoke enough ribs for everyone in my party. And to try to pass off just "a taste" of barbecued ribs is like trying to arm-tackle Priest Holmes. So it was a choice between shelling out for another grill or devising another method of cooking the ribs. Baking them first in a slow oven produced moist, flavorful meat I then had only to finish on the grill.

Provided by Bob Sloan

Categories     Pork     Bake     Spice     Fall     Tailgating     Grill/Barbecue

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 racks baby back ribs, about 5 pounds
3 cups barbecue sauce

Steps:

  • At home
  • In a small bowl, mix together the thyme, garlic, onion powder, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Rub the spice mixture over both sides of the ribs. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Unwrap the ribs and place them on a baking sheet. Cover completely with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove the foil and let the ribs cool. Refrigerate them, wrapped in plastic, until you are ready to pack, up to 24 hours.
  • Just before leaving, cut the racks into individual ribs and place them in a large, sealable plastic container. Add 1 cup of the barbecue sauce and stir so all the ribs are coated.
  • At the tailgate
  • Prepare coals for a medium fire. When the coals are hot, grill the ribs for 10 minutes, until they are lightly charred and heated through, turning them several times and applying several more moppings of sauce.
  • Serve the ribs hot, accompanied by more sauce.

SMOKED SOUTHERN BABY BACK RIBS



Smoked Southern Baby Back Ribs image

I love this recipe because there are some people out there who just really have no clue when it comes to great bbq. Being from the south, I know what great bbq is. I wish everyone could have the blessing of eating great bbq the way my family does. In this recipe I will include a rub for the ribs and an easy sauce that is finger licking good! I hope you enjoy the recipe!

Provided by Chef Kris from bama

Categories     Pork

Time 20m

Yield 3-5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tablespoons seasoning salt
4 tablespoons garlic salt with parsley
4 tablespoons onion powder
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil
3 cups barbecue sauce
1/2 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh coarse ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Take the olive oil with a basting brush and go over all sides of the ribs. After you fo this, sprinkle the rub on both sides of the pork. If you run out, just mix some more. I am a heavy rub girl so I like a lot! The sauce is last portion of the ingredients. Start with the BBQ sauce and work your way down.
  • Now its time to prepare your smoker. If you do not have a smoker, you can do this with a regular grill to get the same smoke flavor. If you do not have a smoker, just go to the end of the directions for smoking and you will see how to do it with a grill.
  • I have an upright, cylinder shaped, 2 tier smoker made by Brinkman. I buy hickory wood chunks from Home Depot or Walmart. I will put 4 or 5 in a pan of water to soak for about an hour. I light my coals and let them burn until the coals turn ashy of the sides. I add my soaked wood and water pan/drip pan ontop of that. I close the lid so it can get up to temperature.
  • After about half an hour, I place the ribs in the smoker (bone side down)and leave them alone for atleast 2 hours. You want to maintain a constant temperature in the smoker of about 200 to 220 degrees. The secret to fall-off-the-bone ribs is cooking them low and slow. Do not even take the top off for 2 hours. After 2 hours, take them off and wrap in aluminum foil. Add more wet or dry wood chunks to the bottom bowl. Close the lid and let them cook another hour and a half. If you choose to add sauce, this is the time to do it. Open the aluminum foil and pour my sauce over them. After about 30 more minutes, you have the finest ribs that you have ever had!
  • Now, if you do not have a smoker I recommend you get one. It's only $39 at Home Depot. Prepare your grill with coals and place wet hickory wood chunks all around ontop of the coals. Place ribs on the grill (bone side down) and let them cook about 30 minutes, turning them over after 15 minutes. Afterwards, wrap in aluminum foil and place back onto grill. Let them cook an additional 30 minutes. Pour my sticky sauce over them in the foil and let cook additional 15 minutes. Remove and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1069.3, Fat 79.5, SaturatedFat 11.1, Sodium 2425.5, Carbohydrate 89.9, Fiber 10, Sugar 51, Protein 8.3

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality pork ribs. Look for ribs that are meaty and have good marbling.
  • Trim the ribs by removing the excess fat and the membrane on the back of the ribs.
  • Make sure to use a good quality, flavorful barbecue sauce. You can either make your own or use a store-bought sauce.
  • Cook the ribs low and slow to allow the meat to become tender and fall off the bone.
  • Baste the ribs with barbecue sauce during the last hour of cooking to give them a nice glaze.
  • Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.

Conclusion:

Sweet Southern BBQ Back Ribs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a mouthwatering meal that will impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give Sweet Southern BBQ Back Ribs a try!

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