Description
Tender and flavorful baby back ribs glazed with a sweet and tangy Apple Butter BBQ sauce, slow-baked to perfection and finished with a caramelized glaze for a deliciously smoky and slightly spicy twist on classic BBQ ribs.
Ingredients
Scale
Ribs and Dry Rub
- 2 racks of baby back ribs (about 4-5 pounds total)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Apple Butter BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C) to prepare for slow baking the ribs.
- Remove Membrane: Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs as it can prevent flavor absorption and make ribs chewy, ensuring tender results.
- Make Dry Rub: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful dry rub.
- Apply Dry Rub: Generously massage the dry rub onto both sides of each rib rack, coating thoroughly for maximum flavor.
- Wrap Ribs: Wrap the seasoned ribs tightly in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet to retain moisture during cooking.
- Bake Ribs: Bake the foil-wrapped ribs in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the meat is tender and starts pulling away from the bones.
- Prepare Sauce: While ribs cook, combine apple butter, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Increase Oven Temp: Remove ribs from oven and increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) preparing to caramelize the sauce.
- Apply Sauce: Carefully open foil packets (watch out for steam) and brush ribs generously with the prepared Apple Butter BBQ sauce.
- Caramelize Sauce: Return ribs uncovered to the oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the sauce caramelizes and chars slightly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove ribs from oven, let rest for 5-10 minutes, then cut into portions and serve with extra Apple Butter BBQ sauce on the side.
Notes
- Removing the rib membrane is crucial for tenderness and better flavor absorption.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amount based on heat preference.
- Wrapping ribs in foil helps retain moisture during the slow bake.
- Caramelizing the sauce at the end adds a delicious sticky glaze and smoky flavor.
- Let ribs rest before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
