How to Smoke Baby Back Ribs with Melissa Cookston | Pit Boss Grills Recipes

Award-winning Pitmaster Melissa Cookston shows you how to smoke baby back ribs on her Pit Boss Pellet Grill.

In this recipe, Melissa uses her Memphis Dry Rub:
1.5 cups Turbinado Sugar
1/3 cup of Paprika
1/4 cup Chili Powder
1/3 cup Kosher Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp Dry Mustard
1.5 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 tbsp Granulated Garlic
1 tbsp Onion Powder

1. Smoke at 250°F for 2 hours.
2. Wrap in tin foil with brown sugar, Memphis Dry Rub applied front and back along with honey and apple juice.
3. Place back on the grill at 250°F for about 2 hours.
4. Ribs are ready when the meat pulls nicely from the bone.

Pork Loin Back Ribs aka Baby Back Ribs are cut above the loin muscle located on the back of the pig. The ribs are shorter and more tender than their spare rib counterparts. People who prefer baby backs also like the thickness of the meat compared to spare ribs. All in all, think of baby backs as short and stocky while spare ribs are long and lean.

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[williamrobare]

My 14yr daughter with Down syndrome saved her allowance for four months to buy me the pit boss lexington 540 smoker for Father's Day, but she couldn't wait that long, so I got it in my Easter basket we watched this video and decided to cook these ribs together first and they were so good and easy to do thank you Ms. Cookston, for this recipe, we will be cooking more of your recipes this spring and summer

[ForOrAgainstUs]

I never cooked ribs before, let alone on the Pit Boss. This was the best video I found and now I come back to it all the time. I ask my kid "Ribs today?" and she says no. Ignore her and make ribs. Ask her if she wants some ribs. Takes a whiff. "Yes!!!" Every. Dang. Time.

[anthonynori]

I have been making ribs for years and I can honestly say, THESE WERE THE BEST RIBS I HAVE EVER MADE, THANK YOU…

[ColinPowell-ke]

I'm new to smoking and have never tried grilling ribs. I followed this recipe exactly and it was fantastic. I just did it again for the second time wondering if I just got lucky, and they turned out just as perfect. Even my wife, who has never been into ribs, loved them and was raving about them to our family and friends. Thanks Melissa !

[brentphillips]

Met Melissa at her restaurant in Horn Lake Ms. She sat with us for 20 mins and talked smoking. She's forgotten more than I'll ever know. She was very nice and seems like a friendly humble person. Coincidentally. Her ribs are my favorite so far.

[MzLeci]

This is the best recipe I have ever come across for ribs. I have been using it for 2/3 years now 😅 Thank you

[MtnBadger]

Finally, a simple, complete and understandable video without a bunch of superfluous information. It's nice when people can communicate an idea.
I'm in Georgia, home of wet, "mustard ribs." A carry over from the Carolinas but, , we also do tomato based sauce, too as were close to mid-southern, states as well.
Will try this method in just a little while, can't wait to try 'em!

[aarona]

On my pitboss 250 degrees was just a bit too much. Tried it the second time at 225 degrees for the first 3 hours 250 for the last hour. They came out PERFECT! Best ribs I’ve ever made or tasted

[sergioperez]

Once I saw her remove the membrane like that I knew she was the real deal ! lol been making these ribs for my family for over a year and they love it every time!

[jculleeny]

My first smoke on my new Pit Boss 700 classic was this recipe. Spent the day our son’s house with our grandchildren. Meanwhile anxious that the ribs will turn out, the Pit Boss perform as hoped…Wow! Ribs were great, flavorful and the two year old twins and their five old brother brother couldn’t get enough! Great recipe, great smoker, great day!

[Nomad-]

Seriously, cant believe I'm able to watch a multi champion of bbq with directions !! Everyone has their fav style . But Memphis style always been my favorite . From rub to sauce. younger people are so damn spoiled !!! Lots of love

[chadmilburn]

This method works like a champ every time. So easy!

[BoogerMan]

Hands down, the best ribs I've ever ate and cooked myself!! I followed the recipe exactly. I used Texas Trio so I had a bit of problem with termperature control. It didn't matter, the recipe and instructions were so good even I couldn't mess it up. Many thanks for sharing !!!

[dougreed-jfic]

fantastic still learnin after 20+years Thanks God bless ya.

[anthonyhill]

The best ribs I think I've ever had. Great recipe, cooked to perfection on my Pit Boss Austin XL! Absolutely phenomenal! 👊

[troylight]

Tried this recipe today using my Traeger pellet grill (wish I had a Pit Boss) and the results were fantastic (Thanks Melissa!)! After watching this video, this is the very first time I have been able to pull the silver skin off in one piece after watching your technique. Starting in the middle and pulling straight up did the trick. No paper towels needed. I have eaten many, many times at Memphis BBQ company because I lived in Southaven, MS where the restaurant is located, and they have some of the very best ribs anywhere, so I knew this was going to be good. I have followed the rib rub recipe before but I always ground it down to make it more powdery and I think all I did was mess up the ratio by doing that. The wrap was different than what I had tried previously with adding butter instead of apple juice. What a difference. This will now be my go to recipe for baby back ribs. Just wish I could get your sauce here in Florida.

[irenehaugen]

Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe. I just recently acquired a Traeger and today is my first attempt at a rack of ribs. They are on their last hour of cooking... can't wait!!!

[EM-lqrr]

The brown sugar and honey wrap is THE BEST tip I have ever tried. You know when you smoke ribs all your life you develop your way of doing it and every now and then you hear of a good tip and give it a try... well this one was a game changer for me. Thank you.
-Rivergrille offset smoker, hickory and cherry logs, rub, 2.5 hour smoke, 2 hour wrap with a little more rub, brown sugar, honey and apple juice and then 30 min unwrapped. This is my method from now on! I wish I could add a photo of the rack to this comment!

[unclealzbbq]

The pit BOSS does it all- you do not need a giant smoker to have great BBQ- i have done ribs beef and pork competition chicken beer can chicken hot wings fish steaks burgers ETC-- IT is a great Grill/Smoker-- you could just smoke 2 hours and finish in the oven to save pellets- THANKS PIT BOSS you bring joy to my life--

[Smokey.Tackle]

i have owned my pitboss grill for over a year now and it. best grill i have ever owned. We cook on it at least 2 times a week.