FacebookTweetPinEmail94Yummly292PrintShares386
This post may contain affiliate links. See my privacy policy for details.
My new Sweet & Smoky Dry Rub for Ribs is going to be used ALL summer long in this house. There is nothing like a sweet, smoky and spicy dry rib for ribs to amp up your grilling or your wood smoker game. Don’t have either of those? Make the ribs in the oven, no problem!
If you are looking for a sauced rib, try these smoked ribs!
Table of ContentsDry Rub for Ribs Done in the Oven, Smoker Or BBQ
You can make pork ribs in the oven, smoker or in your BBQ, don’t feel like you have to own a smoker in order to make ribs. The best part about this dry rub is that it is going to give you that smoky flavour without you even having to turn on the BBQ! We prefer to use our smoker however and we will have a recipe coming right up for those of you that like to use a home smoker. For now I just wanted you all to have a great rib rub that is going to taste amazing done in the oven! The secret ingredient is smoked paprika, which is a great trick when you want a nice smoky flavour but don’t want to BBQ.
Rib Rub Commonly Asked Questions & Answers
What is a dry rub?
A dry rub is a mixture of dried herbs and spices that is rubbed on the outside of meat before you cook it. It helps to seal in the moisture by creating a layer ( the bark) on the outside of the meat and helps make the meat flavourful.
What is the best seasoning to put on ribs?
The best seasoning is the one that you prefer, to be honest. Listen, people take their rib rub recipes seriously- like take the secret spices to the grave with them serious. The main base for a good rib can include:
- paprika ( smoked or normal)
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
- chili powder
- ground white pepper
- onion powder
- oregano
- mustard powder
- cayenne pepper
- red chili flakes
Any and ALL of these are amazing spices for a great rib rub, it’s all about what you prefer. Don’t take this as the end all, be all list of rib rub spices either, there are many combinations!
How long do I cook ribs?
Ribs need to be cooked low and slow in order to have the best ribs ever. You can’t cook them at a high temp, the best temperatures are from 225 to 325 °F for cooking ribs. At those temperatures, the ribs will take anywhere from 2 1/2-6 hours ( the higher the temperature the less time they will take). Ribs are not something that you should throw in the oven in a hurry after work, they take some planning and care in order to get them cooked perfectly.
How do you apply the dry rub to meat?
You simply rub it on with your hands and in large quantities. I’ve heard that you should use 2 tbsp PER POUND! of meat and that’s probably a good guess. You want the rub to form the “bark” on the outside of the ribs that helps keep the moisture in and is the most sought after, flavourful part of the ribs. This rib rub recipe will make enough to cover 3 (2-3 lb) slabs of pork ribs and it was perfect, even though it is less than the 2 tbsp per pound.
Oven Baked Method
I tend to do my oven baked ribs at a higher temperature for less time, this is because the oven really heats up the house. Cooking them at 325 will still take a few hours! If you don’t mind the heat or using that much electricity, go ahead and cook them for 4-5 hours on a lower temperature. You do need to use a cookie sheet to container the mess.
Smoker or BBQ Method
For the smoker or the BBQ, you place the ribs right onto the racks. You also want to cook these lower and slower, and you can add in a handful of damp woodchips to your smoker if you like. These are really flavorful as well, but hey, a little hickory smoke wouldn’t hurt!
If you want another ribs recipe, try my Salt and Pepper Ribs, Country Style Ribs, or you can see all of my pork recipes!
Happy grilling!
Love,
Karlynn
Pin This Recipe to Your BBQ/GRILLING Board or SUPPER IDEAS Board and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!
Thanks to ads on this website, readers of The Kitchen Magpie are now sponsoring 2 families a month through the Edmonton Food Bank. Learn how you can help here.
A Modern Baker’s Guide to Old-Fashioned Desserts Learn More Suppers, Potlucks & Socials: Crowd-Pleasing Recipes to Bring People Together Learn MoreLearn to cook like the Kitchen Magpie
Flapper Pie and a Blue Prairie Sky
The Prairie Table
Subscribe to The Kitchen Magpie on YouTube
One click and you’ll get notified of new videos added to our YouTube account!
Subscribe on YouTubeSweet & Smoky Dry Rub for Ribs
This Sweet & Smoky Dry Rub for Ribs is going to be a new BBQ, grilling, wood smoker or even oven baked ribs favourite!
5 from 41 votes
Prep Time5 minutesCook Time5 hoursTotal Time5 hours 5 minutesCourseMain CourseCuisineNorth AmericanServings3 racks of ribsCalories105AuthorKarlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- ▢1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- ▢2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- ▢2 tablespoons flaked sea salt
- ▢1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ▢1 tablespoon chili powder
- ▢1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢1 teaspoon onion powder
- ▢1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes ( optional)
Ribs
- ▢two (3 pounds) slabs your favourite ribs
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees or prepare your BBQ/Smoker for your own preference.
Whisk together the dry rub ingredients.
Use 1/3 of the mixture on each slab of ribs that you have. Each slab should be approximately 3 lbs ( see the ones in our photos for size reference.) Place any remaining rub in a sealed container for later.;
Place the ribs on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Oven Method
Bake in the oven at 325F for at least 2 1/2 hours, until the meat is pulling off of the bone.
BBQ Method
Cook in the smoker or the BBQ according to your favourite methods, usually around 250 ° for 4-5 hours until the meat is falling off the bone!
Recipe Notes
- PLEASE NOTE that the calories are calculated on the SPICE only and doesn’t include any ribs that you are using!
- You usually don’t want to run your indoor oven long, which is why you can cook them at a higher temperature than the smoker or BBQ. You can also cook them lower and slower inside!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 105kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4705mg, Potassium: 221mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 3090IU, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 1.8mg
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Made this recipe?
Share a photo of what you made on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thekitchenmagpie or hashtag it #thekitchenmagpie.