Backyard Baby Back Ribs

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2009

Show: Dear Food NetworkEpisode: Grilling: All-American Style Grilling

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (27)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(27)

Cook Time:
2 hr 10 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
8 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 16 hr 0 min
Cook: 2 hr 10 min
Total:: 18 hr 40 min

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Ingredients

2 full racks/slabs (about 4 1/2 pounds) baby back pork ribs
Kosher salt
6 tablespoons Rub Number Nine, recipe follows
1/2 cup orange juice (not fresh squeezed)
1/2 cup margarita mix
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Place each rib rack on a sheet of extra-wide, heavy-duty aluminum foil. (The foil should be 4 inches longer than the ribs on either end.) Season racks liberally with kosher salt and sprinkle each rack with 3 tablespoons of the rub. Turn the ribs, meat side down, and tightly seal each foil pouch. Place on a half sheet pan and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, heat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Combine the orange juice and margarita mix in a liquid measuring cup. Open 1 end of each pouch and evenly divide the liquid between the 2 pouches. Reseal the pouches and place the sheet pan in the oven for 2 hours. Remove the ribs from the oven, carefully open 1 end of each pouch and pour the braising liquid into a heatproof measuring cup. Reseal the pouches and place them and the measuring cup of liquid into the refrigerator for up to 8 hours.

The fat in the braising liquid will have solidified on the top and can be removed at this time. Transfer the liquid to a small saucepan and add the honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, espresso powder and cayenne pepper. Whisk to combine. Set over medium high heat and reduce to a glaze, approximately 10 minutes.

Set a gas grill to medium-high and allow to heat for 10 minutes. Cut each slab in half and place them on the grill, flesh side down, close the lid and decrease the heat to medium. Leave alone for 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 3 minutes on each side 1 more time or until each rib has a nice char. Remove the ribs from the grill to a cutting board. and cut into 2 rib portions, using kitchen shears. Add the ribs and half the glaze to a large serving bowl and toss to thoroughly coat. Serve the remaining glaze on the side.

Rub Number Nine:

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
3/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons ground thyme
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon allspice

Place all of the ingredients in an airtight container and shake to combine. Store for up to 3 months.

Yield: about 2 1/2 cups

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
Jim Caledonia, WI 10-30-2009
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New go-to rib recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've always been a traditionalist, spend 6 hours smoking ribs, finish in oven, etc, always got mixed results. Alton's recipe... is easy, foolproof, and delicious. I've never had more tender ribs, and the glaze is fantastic!Read more
recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
null null, null 09-25-2009
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AWESOME RIBS,..................ALTON BROWN YOU ARE A GOD!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Saw the recipe on TV just before my birhday. My wife says"make yourself something for your birthday" Tried the recipe and... fell in love. Since then I have made about 15 racks. Went over to my brothers house and he said "The ONLY wayto cook ribs is on a BBQ." Made him a rack and he changed his tune.Try these and your tongue will be slapping your face trying to get more.Read more
recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
Kelley Fenton, MO 08-10-2009
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Thank You for Making Me Look Like a Good Cook
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These ribs were WONDERFUL - Ribs are my son's favorite food and he said "they rocked" !!! In fact I'm in the process of... making them again as I type this. Thanks Again - Read more
recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
Pamela Williamsburg, VA 07-18-2009
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Worth the Effort
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

It may take two days to make this rib recipe if followed to the letter, but it was well worth it. I made these for a 4th of... July cookout, and guests were asking when they could come back for more. I did not stray from the recipe as written and would not change a thing for future cookouts! A great recipe! Read more
recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
Joseph Wilton Manors, FL 07-06-2009
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Easy and Absolutely Delicious
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I was a little overwhelmed at first as i had to cook 4 full racks at a total of almost 15lbs. Slow and low. In fact, i... cooked the ribs for approx 3-1/2 hrs at 250 degrees. Then i unwrapped the ribs and left them in the oven in a disposible roasting tray for another three hours... they were perfect!!!! I blasted them on the grill w/ the sauce and it was great. Everyone raved.Read more
recipe Backyard Baby Back Ribs
Tina Richland, MS 07-03-2009
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absolutely excellent
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was the first time I had ever cooked ribs of any sort because I am so intimidated by them. I was thrilled with the... outcome from this recipe. At first, I was disappointed when they were not pulling apart after 2 hours but then I realized that the recipe called for two racks that were a total of 4 1/2 pounds and I was cooking 2 racks that were a total of 6 1/2 pounds. I left them in the oven another hour and they were wonderful. I did not put them and the drippings in the refrigerator as the recipe states. After draining the drippings out of the foil, I immediately cooked it down into a glaze. Instead of finishing them off on the grill, I basted the ribs while they were still hot and put them under the broiler until the glaze was brown and bubbly. DELICIOUS. I highly recommend this recipe and I will be using it again.Read more