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Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Easy Honey BBQ Glaze

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These grilled baby back ribs are tender, smoky, and finished with a sticky-sweet honey BBQ glaze. Perfect for summer gatherings, they combine a simple dry rub, oven baking, and a quick grill for caramelized, crowd-pleasing results.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks baby back pork ribs (about 4 pounds total)
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Remove the membrane from the back of each rack of ribs. Pat dry and season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
  3. Brush ribs lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle dry rub generously over both sides, pressing it in.
  4. Preheat oven to 300°F. Place ribs meat-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour.
  5. While ribs bake, combine BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes). Set aside.
  6. Preheat grill to medium (about 375°F). Clean and oil grates. If using charcoal, arrange for indirect heat.
  7. Transfer baked ribs to grill, bone-side down. Brush with honey BBQ glaze. Grill uncovered for 5 minutes, flip and glaze the other side. Repeat 2–3 times, flipping and glazing every 5 minutes, until ribs are sticky and caramelized (15–20 minutes total).
  8. Transfer ribs to a cutting board and let rest for 5–10 minutes. Slice between bones and brush with extra glaze before serving.

Notes

Remove the membrane for tender ribs. Layer the glaze during grilling for a sticky finish. If ribs seem tough after baking, add 15–20 minutes more in the oven. For gluten-free, double-check BBQ sauce and mustard labels. Maple syrup or agave can substitute for honey. St. Louis-style ribs can be used; add 15 minutes to baking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: grilled ribs, baby back ribs, honey BBQ glaze, summer grilling, barbecue, easy ribs, pork ribs, backyard cookout

Find it online: https://blixfood.com/grilled-baby-back-ribs-recipe-easy-honey-bbq-glaze-for-perfect-summer-meals/