Babyback Ribs

O Spring, please come soon. I have been dying inside this winter. My two little crazy almost-one year old have been going crazy! (Read: so am I). I can’t wait for the spring so we can head outside for a little entertainment, and, so we can entertain outside! Bring on the grill, baby! We are grillers, and always will be. We recently bought a smoker and it has added a little fun mix-it-up to our outdoor recipes.

Since I’ve been so grill-hungry lately, when I saw that there was a day reaching 40 degrees, and prepped my hubby to be ready to cook up some ribs. I did all the leg work inside, and he just had to pop them on the grill for about 8 minutes to crisp them up. Thankfully, my “leg work” wasn’t much...just throwing a few ingredients in a crock pot, and BAM! We were ready to rock with a pre spring meal to get the season rocking!

These were delicious, fall off the bone...(not to mention the easiest recipe ever) ribs. Even my smoker-of-ribs-lover husband gobbled up every bite. So, next time the temperature gets to where you can brave it, make yourself a pre-spring meal, too!

Babyback Ribs

Printable Version

1 rack babyback ribs (about 2-2.5 pounds; 1 rack feeds two adults; another rack of ribs will work with the marinade if your crockpot can fit them)

3 c. pineapple juice

1 ½ c. brown sugar

1 ½ tsp. mustard powder

1/3 c. ketchup

1/3 c. red wine vinegar

1 ½ Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

½ tsp. ground cloves (optional)

2 tsp. fresh ginger

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ tsp. cayenne pepper

barbecue sauce (we use Sweet Baby Ray’s)

Using a sharp knife or a pair of kitchen shears, cut each rack into about 4 portions (it ends up being about 3-4 rib bones each).

Place in crockpot. In a large bowl, mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, mustard powder, ketchup, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, soy sauce, cloves, ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Pour over ribs and cover. Set to low for 6-7 hours. Make sure that they are ABOUT to fall of the bone, but you do not want them to actually fall off. They need to hold together for the grill.

Remove ribs from liquid and heat grill to medium. Place ribs on the grill, brush one side with barbecue sauce, and close the lid for 3-4 minutes. Carefully turn the ribs, brush other side with sauce, close the lid, and wait another 3-4 minutes. Repeat. Serve immediately.

Recipe from Our Best Bites

Serves 2.