Best 7 Sweet And Smoky Baby Back Ribs With Bourbon Barbecue Sauce Recipes

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Calling all BBQ enthusiasts! Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with our Sweet and Smoky Baby Back Ribs recipe, a culinary masterpiece that combines the perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavors. These tender and juicy ribs are slow-cooked to perfection, basted in a luscious homemade bourbon barbecue sauce that will leave you craving for more. But that's not all! This article also features a collection of equally delectable recipes to complement your ribs. From a refreshing cucumber salad to a creamy coleslaw, and a tangy baked beans recipe, we've got everything you need to create a memorable BBQ feast. So, fire up your grill, gather your friends and family, and let's embark on a flavor-filled journey with our Sweet and Smoky Baby Back Ribs and all the accompaniments.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

BOURBON-BBQ GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS



Bourbon-BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs image

Slow-cooked ribs, roasted to perfection, finished on the grill with a bourbon-BBQ sauce from Dan Seidman of The Chef Dan.

Provided by Reynolds Kitchens(R)

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Reynolds®

Time 4h25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 23

1 rack baby back pork ribs, outer membrane removed
4 ounces apple juice
Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
¼ tablespoon garlic powder
¼ tablespoon onion powder
¼ tablespoon ground coriander
¼ tablespoon dry mustard
⅛ tablespoon cayenne pepper
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup bourbon whiskey
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 clove garlic, finely minced
½ tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 pinch sea salt

Steps:

  • Combine all the ingredients for the dry rub in a small bowl and mix together well.
  • Tear a large enough piece of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil to place rack of ribs on it and be able to fully cover, meat side up. Evenly coat both sides of the ribs with the dry rub, pressing it in with your hands.
  • Fold up the sides of the foil to create a rim, and pour the apple juice in around the ribs. Fold the foil over the ribs and crimp it to create a tight seal. Tear off one more piece of large foil and wrap the whole thing again to ensure a tight seal.
  • Place the wrapped ribs in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 225 degrees F and cook ribs for about 4 hours. You should be able to easily pierce them with a fork, but they shouldn't be falling off the bone.
  • Combine all the BBQ sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken and reduce by about a third, stirring occasionally.
  • Preheat grill to high heat. Cover the grill rack with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Place the cooked ribs meat side up on the grill and brush the top with a layer of sauce. Close grill until the sauce is mostly dried, about 5 minutes. Brush another layer of sauce on top and close grill for an additional 5 minutes. Remove ribs from grill and lightly brush with one more layer of sauce.
  • Cut the ribs into individual pieces and serve with extra sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 436.9 calories, Carbohydrate 30.9 g, Cholesterol 87.6 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 19.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 2018.9 mg, Sugar 25.2 g

SWEET AND SMOKY BABY BACK RIBS



Sweet and Smoky Baby Back Ribs image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h

Yield 3 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 racks baby back ribs (2 1/2 to 3 pounds)
1 cup bourbon whiskey
1 tablespoon each salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar
1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
Barbecue sauce, of choice
2 cups wood chips, preferably whiskey barrel chips or hickory chips, soaked in 2 cups beer for 1 hour, then drained

Steps:

  • Remove the thin papery skin on the back of each rack of the ribs or ask your butcher to do it. (Pull it off in a sheet with your fingers, using a corner of a dish towel to gain a secure grip.) Place the ribs in a roasting pan and pour the bourbon over them. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour, turning the ribs several times.
  • Meanwhile, combine the ingredients for the rub in a bowl and stir to mix. Pour off and discard the bourbon. Sprinkle the ribs on both sides with 2/3 of the rub, patting it in with your fingers. Let the ribs marinate for 30 minutes, while you light your grill.
  • Set up your grill for indirect grilling and smoking, using wood chips and adjust the heat to 350 degrees. Arrange the ribs on a rack in the center of the grill away from the heat and cook until very tender and the meat has pulled away from the ends of the bones, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. The last 15 minutes, brush the ribs with 1/3 cup sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining rub. Serve the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

SWEET BOURBON BABY BACKS



Sweet Bourbon Baby Backs image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 slabs baby back ribs
1/2 to 1 cup bourbon
1 cup apple juice
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons grill seasoning
4 to 5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jar prepared barbecue sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Cut the baby back ribs into smaller even sized portions and place them into a shallow baking dish meat side up. Cover the ribs with the bourbon, reserving about 1/4 cup for the sauce, and then add the apple juice. Rub the meat side with the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, grill seasoning, and the garlic. Place the ribs into the oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat the grill.
  • Remove the ribs from the oven and hold for grilling. Mix 1/4 cup of the bourbon with the BBQ sauce and then coat the ribs with the mixture. Place the ribs on the grill and cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from the grill and arrange on a platter. Serve with grilled corn alongside, if desired.

SWEET-AND-SMOKY BABY BACK RIBS WITH BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE



Sweet-and-Smoky Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce image

Provided by Steve Raichlen

Categories     Beer     Bourbon     Pork     Marinate     Backyard BBQ     Pork Rib     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 baby back pork rib racks
1 cup bourbon
3 tablespoons coarse salt
3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups hickory wood chips
2 cups beer
Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Steps:

  • Arrange ribs in large roasting pan. Pour bourbon over. Chill 30 minutes, turning ribs often. Pour off and discard bourbon.
  • Whisk salt and next 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Sprinkle spice mixture on both sides of ribs. Let stand 1 hour.
  • Place wood chips in medium bowl. Pour beer over; let stand 1 hour. Place handful of torn newspaper in bottom of charcoal chimney. Top newspaper with 25 charcoal briquettes. Remove upper rack from barbecue. Place chimney on lower grill rack. Light newspaper and let charcoal burn until ash is gray, about 30 minutes.
  • Open 1 bottom grill vent. Turn out hot charcoal onto 1 side of lower rack. Using metal spatula, spread charcoal to cover approximately 1/3 of rack. Remove 1 cup wood chips from beer and drain (keep remaining chips in beer). Scatter drained chips over coals (avoid using too many wet chips, which may douse the fire). Fill foil loaf pan halfway with water and place opposite the coals on lower grill rack.
  • Place upper grill rack on barbecue. Arrange ribs on upper grill rack above loaf pan. Cover barbecue with lid, positioning top vent directly over ribs. Place stem of candy thermometer through top vent, with gauge on outside and tip near ribs (thermometer should not touch meat or grill rack); leave in place during cooking. Check temperature after 5 minutes. Use top and bottom vents to maintain temperature between 275°F and 325°F, opening vents wider to increase heat and closing to decrease heat. Leave any other vents closed.
  • After 45 minutes, use technique described earlier to light an additional 15 charcoal briquettes in same charcoal chimney set atop nonflammable surface.
  • When temperature of barbecue falls below 275°F, use oven mitts to lift off upper rack with ribs; place rack with ribs on heatproof surface. Using tongs, add hot gray charcoal from chimney to bottom rack. Drain remaining 1 cup wood chips; sprinkle over charcoal. Reposition upper rack on barbecue, placing ribs above loaf pan. Cover with lid. Grill until ribs are very tender and meat pulls away from bones, about 45 minutes longer, brushing with 3/4 cup Bourbon Barbecue Sauce the last 15 minutes of cooking.
  • Transfer ribs to platter. Brush with 3/4 cup more barbecue sauce. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately, if desired.

DOUBLE SMOKY RIBS WITH BACON-BOURBON BBQ SAUCE



Double Smoky Ribs with Bacon-Bourbon BBQ Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Time 1h50m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

3 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs (8 ribs)
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 large handfuls apple or hickory wood chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 bacon slices, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 12-ounce bottle ketchup-style chili sauce (1 cup)
1/2 cup peach preserves
1/3 cup bourbon* (You may substitute orange juice)
1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons molasses (not blackstrap)
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce

Steps:

  • To make BBQ Sauce: Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and browned, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels, leaving fat in saucepan. Let bacon cool. Add onion to saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in chili sauce, peach preserves, bourbon, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and molasses. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, until reduced by about one quarter, 20 to 25 minutes. Finely chop cooled bacon and stir into sauce; add hot pepper sauce. Let cool. Makes about 2 1/2 cups sauce. Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. To make ribs: Mix paprika, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper together in small bowl. Season ribs with paprika mixture. Let ribs stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect cooking with medium heat, about 350 degrees F. For a gas grill: Use a smoker box or create one using small, shallow aluminum foil pan. Remove cooking grates. Preheat grill on high. Turn one burner off. Place disposable aluminum foil pan over a burner, adding 1 handful of drained chips. Replace grates. For a charcoal grill: Place large disposable aluminum foil pan on one side of charcoal grate and fill with 1 quart water. Build fire on opposite side, and let burn until coals are coated with white ash. Spread coals in grill opposite pan and let burn 15-20 minutes (you should be able to hold your hand about 1 inch above the grate for about 3 seconds). Add 1 handful of drained chips to coals. Position cooking grate in grill. Lightly oil grill grate. Grill ribs with indirect heat, with the lid closed, for 30 minutes. Add remaining drained chips to box or coals. Grill, with lid closed, turning occasionally, until tender, about 1 hour more. (On a charcoal grill, add more charcoal as needed to maintain temperature, leaving grill lid open for a few minutes to help charcoal ignite.) During the last 15 minutes, brush ribs with some of the sauce, turning every few minutes to glaze. Transfer to platter, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot with remaining sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 370, Fat 21 grams, SaturatedFat 4.5 grams, Cholesterol 125 milligrams, Sodium 740 milligrams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fiber 1 grams, Protein 34 grams

SPICE-RUBBED BABY BACK RIBS WITH CHIPOTLE-BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE



Spice-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs With Chipotle-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce image

The baby back (sometimes called top loin) is the perfect rib for neophytes. Cut from high on the hog - literally, it abuts the backbone - it's intrinsically tender and generously marbled, which keeps it moist during smoking. Thanks to these attributes, you can cook it at a higher temperature than the low-and-slow heat favored in the American barbecue belt. This shortens the cooking time and lets you cook the ribs on a common charcoal kettle grill. (However, you can certainly smoke these ribs low and slow at 250 degrees, in which case, you'll need 3 1/2 to 4 hours of cooking time - and a smoker.) The higher heat and shorter cooking time produce ribs with a firmer, meatier consistency. Add a chile-stung spice rub and a sweet, spicy chipotle-bourbon barbecue sauce, and you wind up with textbook barbecued ribs with a distinctive sweet, hot, smoky finish.

Provided by Steven Raichlen

Categories     dinner, barbecues, finger foods, meat, main course

Time 2h30m

Yield 2 racks (2 to 4 servings)

Number Of Ingredients 20

2 racks baby back ribs (2 to 2 1/2 pounds each)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
2 large or 4 small hardwood chunks or 3 cups hardwood chips (if using the latter, soak in water to cover for 30 minutes, then drain)
1/2 cup apple cider in a spray bottle (optional)
1 1/4 cups ketchup
1/3 cup Thai sweet chile sauce
1/4 cup bourbon
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 to 2 canned chipotle chiles en adobo, minced, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons sauce
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Place the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet. If the concave side of your ribs still has its papery membrane intact, remove it: Pry it up at the end of the bones using the tip of a meat thermometer or butter knife, then pull it off with a paper towel. Lightly brush the ribs on both sides with the mustard.
  • Prepare the rub: In a small bowl, combine the chile powder, brown sugar, salt, pepper and celery seeds. Reserve 1 1/2 teaspoons rub for serving, then sprinkle the remaining rub on the ribs, coating both sides.
  • Set up your charcoal grill for indirect grilling and heat to 300 degrees.
  • Once the grill comes to temperature, add half the wood chunks or chips to the coals. Arrange the ribs meat (rounded) side up on the grate away from the heat, then cover the grill. Grill the ribs over indirect heat for 1 hour.
  • After the ribs have grilled for 1 hour, spray on both sides with apple cider (if using), turning the ribs with tongs. Add the remaining wood chunks or chips to the fire and close the grill again.
  • While the ribs grill, prepare the barbecue sauce: Place all the sauce ingredients, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, in a heavy saucepan and whisk to mix. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking often. Reduce the heat and gently simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thick and richly flavored, 6 to 8 minutes. Correct the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper to taste; set aside. (Makes about 2 cups.)
  • Continue grilling the ribs over indirect heat, rounded side up, until sizzling, browned, tender, and the meat has shrunk back from the ends of the bones by 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This normally takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours in all, but sometimes you'll need a full 3 hours. The last 20 minutes, brush the ribs on both sides with some of the barbecue sauce. When ready, the meat should be tender enough so you can pull the individual ribs apart with your fingers.
  • Brush each rack on both sides with more barbecue sauce. Move each rack directly over the fire and direct grill to sizzle the sauce into the meat, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
  • Transfer the ribs to a platter for serving. Brush once more with barbecue sauce and sprinkle the ribs with the remaining rub. Serve the remaining sauce in a bowl on the side.

BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE



Bourbon Barbecue Sauce image

Provided by Steve Raichlen

Categories     Sauce     Picnic     Backyard BBQ     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes about 2 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1/3 cup bourbon
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Steps:

  • Combine all ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until sauce thickens and flavors blend, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill.)

Tips:

  • Choose the right ribs: Baby back ribs are the most popular choice for this recipe, but you can also use spare ribs. Just keep in mind that spare ribs will take longer to cook.
  • Remove the membrane: The membrane on the back of the ribs is tough and chewy, so it's important to remove it before cooking. You can do this by using a sharp knife to score the membrane and then peeling it off.
  • Rub the ribs with spices: A good rub will help to flavor the ribs and create a nice crust. You can use your favorite rub recipe, or you can try the one included in the recipe.
  • Cook the ribs low and slow: The best way to cook ribs is to cook them low and slow. This will allow the ribs to cook evenly and become tender. You can cook the ribs in the oven, on the grill, or in a smoker.
  • Baste the ribs with sauce: Basting the ribs with sauce will help to keep them moist and flavorful. You can use your favorite barbecue sauce, or you can try the one included in the recipe.

Conclusion:

Sweet and smoky baby back ribs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With a little planning and effort, you can create ribs that will be the envy of your friends and family. So fire up the grill or oven and get started today!

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