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Anyone can make these delicious, juicy ribs with just a few ingredients and a grill! Infused with the sweetness of apple, these ribs will be a crowd pleaser!
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I don’t know about your family but we absolutely love ribs! Maybe it’s because we have a house full of boys and nothing feels more “manly” to my little guys than sinking their teeth into a juicy hunk of meat. Unfortunately, I haven’t been the best at grilling ribs. Thankfully, I found a solution that literally had my kids (and husband) jumping up and down. I picked up Smithfield Fresh Pork, specifically the Smithfield Extra Tender St. Louis Style Ribs and they couldn’t have been easier to grill and create a delicious recipe that we will be using all summer long!
My last experiences with ribs did not go so well. I hate to admit it too because I tried so hard to get them right! I definitely made some mistakes, including not using the right brand of meat, and they ended up a blackened mess! And that was on Father’s Day. Good thing I had a backup!
Since that time, I decided I would learn the right way to make ribs. So here are some tips that helped me go from a charred mass of unrecognizable meat to juicy, tender goodness!
First, buy the right meat. Not all ribs are created equal, as I learned. You have to buy good quality ribs that will aid you in creating a masterpiece. Walmart has a selection from Smithfield Fresh Pork that include the Smithfield Extra Tender Back Ribs, Smithfield Extra Tender St. Louis Style Ribs (the one that I used), and Smithfield Extra Tender Spare Ribs. Smithfield Ribs are hand-trimmed, extra-tender and juicy, and have no added hormones or steroids. Smithfield Extra Tender fresh pork is more tender and juicy, so no matter your level of experience in the kitchen or at the grill, their pork is sure to impress.
Second, know that grilling ribs takes time. I’m an impatient person and that was my downfall. You cannot be impatient if you want good ribs! The steps are easy but don’t think you’ll have these babies ready in a couple of hours. Here’s a breakdown of the steps that I took to create a delicious recipe!
Step One: prepare your meat. Remove the membrane from the back. Next, you need to a good rub. This rub that I used originally came from a family friend and we literally use it for everything! It’s the best blend of spices and so good, I’m sometimes tempted to eat it myself (I haven’t yet). Get the rub all over the ribs and be generous.
Step Two: prepare your grill. I love using our charcoal grill! It adds a nice flavor and it’s easier for me to use. Get your charcoal ready to go! Then put your ribs on the grill, bone side down. The temperature of your grill should be around 225 degrees, so not very hot. If it’s too hot, they’ll burn and dry up. And now, you walk away! Yep, leave the ribs to cook for about 3 hours like this.
Step Three: add in flavor and moisture. Once your ribs have grilled for a bit and have browned a little it’s time to add in some flavor! Grab two large sheets of foil and overlap them. Grab your ribs and place them bone side up so they don’t rib the foil. Place the butter and brown sugar on top.
Create a little pocket with the foil by wrapping up the sides. Pour in the apple juice and pinch the tops of the foil closed. Place your ribs back on the grill, same temperature, and allow them to cook for an additional 2 hours.
Step Four: The ribs by this point should be cooked through but we need to add a little basting. You don’t have to add the sauce but it adds some extra good flavor! You’ll know they are done if you lift them up in the middle and they ends droop loosely down from the middle. Remove the ribs carefully from the foil and place them bone side down again on the grill without the foil. Baste the ribs with the KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce. Allow them to cook for an additional hour.
And you’re done! See? Only four steps! It just takes some time but it’s definitely worth it. These ribs didn’t last very long in our house and my boys were fighting over the last piece. Unfortunately for them, I took the last piece! I deserved it since I cooked it!
Be sure to visit Walmart and pick up your own Smithfield Fresh Pork. They have a great selection in the meat aisle of Smithfield Fresh Pork. You can also enter to win $5,000 cash plus multiple prizes when you visit throughout the summer! Visit them on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube for more ideas and inspiration.
Sweet & Tangy Apple Grilled Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 rack of Smithfield Extra Tender St. Louis Style Ribs
- 4 Tablespoons of the Special Meat Rub
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbs butter cut into pieces
- 1-2 cups KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
- Special Meat Rub:
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbs paprika
- 1 1/2 Tbsp salt
- 1 1/2 Tbsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Mix all together and let marinate overnight for best results
Instructions
-
Step One: prepare your meat. Remove the membrane from the back. Next, you need to a good rub. This rub that I used originally came from a family friend and we literally use it for everything! It's the best blend of spices and so good, I'm sometimes tempted to eat it myself (I haven't yet). Get the rub all over the ribs and be generous.
-
Step Two: prepare your grill. I love using our charcoal grill! It adds a nice flavor and it's easier for me to use. Get your charcoal ready to go! Then put your ribs on the grill, bone side down. The temperature of your grill should be around 225 degrees, so not very hot. If it's too hot, they'll burn and dry up. And now, you walk away! Yep, leave the ribs to cook for about 3 hours like this.
-
Step Three: add in flavor and moisture. Once your ribs have grilled for a bit and have browned a little it's time to add in some flavor! Grab two large sheets of foil and overlap them. Grab your ribs and place them bone side up so they don't rib the foil. Place the butter and brown sugar on top. Create a little pocket with the foil by wrapping up the sides. Pour in the apple juice and pinch the tops of the foil closed. Place your ribs back on the grill, same temperature, and allow them to cook for an additional 2 hours.
-
Step Four: The ribs by this point should be cooked through but we need to add a little basting. You don't have to add the sauce but it adds some extra good flavor! You'll know they are done if you lift them up in the middle and they ends droop loosely down from the middle. Remove the ribs carefully from the foil and place them bone side down again on the grill without the foil. Baste the ribs with the KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce. Allow them to cook for an additional hour.
