Smoked Country Style Ribs Recipe

These tender smoked country-style ribs are seasoned with a savory dry rub, slowly smoked over wood for incredible flavor, and finished to juicy perfection. Whether you're using bone-in or boneless ribs, this BBQ recipe is perfect for your smoker and easy enough for any home cook to master.

Course BBQ, Grilling

Cuisine American

Keyword smoked country-style ribs recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Servings Servings

Calories 622kcal

Author Bon Appeteach

Ingredients

3 lbs. Country-Style Pork Ribs Bone-in or Boneless
2 tbsp Yellow Mustard for the binder
1/2 cup BBQ Dry Rub your favorite blend or homemade
1/2 cup Apple Juice for spritzing

Glaze

1/2 cup Apple Juice
1/2 cup BBQ Sauce your favorite blend or homemade
6 tbsp Butter cubed
2 tbsp Brown Sugar
2 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp BBQ Dry Rub your favorite blend or homemade

Instructions

Preheat your smoker: Set your smoker to 250°F using indirect heat. Choose a mild fruitwood like apple or cherry for balanced smoky flavor.
Prep the ribs: Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. Rub all sides with yellow mustard as a binder, then coat generously with BBQ dry rub. Let sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes while the smoker heats up.
Smoke to build bark: Place the ribs directly on the grates and smoke at 250°F for 2 to 2.5 hours, spritzing with apple juice every 45–60 minutes. Once the ribs hit an internal temperature of 165–170°F and have a deep, rich bark, move to the next step.
Braise in glaze: In a foil pan, combine the apple juice, BBQ sauce, butter, brown sugar, honey, and BBQ rub to create your glaze. Add the smoked ribs to the pan, turning to coat, and cover tightly with foil. Return the pan to the smoker and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 195–200°F, about 1 to 1.5 more hours.
Finish and set the bark: Carefully remove the ribs from the foil pan and place them back onto the smoker or a hot grill. Brush with extra glaze or BBQ sauce and cook uncovered for 15–20 minutes to reset the bark and create a tacky, caramelized finish.
Rest and serve: Let the ribs rest for 30-60 minutes before serving. Serve as-is or slice and pair with your favorite BBQ sides!

Notes

Trying to decide between bone-in or boneless country ribs? Bone-in ribs add flavor and hold up well during smoking (great for eating off the bone), while boneless ribs are easy to slice or shred. Choose what's best for you!

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