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smoky honey garlic bbq ribs - featured image

Smoky Honey Garlic BBQ Ribs: 5-Ingredient Family Feast


  • Author: Olivia
  • Total Time: 3.5 hours
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Description

Tender, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs baked low and slow with a sticky, sweet honey garlic glaze. This easy recipe requires only a few pantry staples and delivers restaurant-quality smoky flavor without the need for a smoker or grill.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 34 pounds pork spare ribs or baby back ribs
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 45 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Pat ribs dry and remove the silverskin membrane if present.
  2. In a small bowl, mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper to create the dry rub.
  3. Sprinkle the rub generously over both sides of the ribs and rub it in.
  4. Place ribs meat-side up on a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Wrap tightly to create a sealed packet.
  5. Place the foil packet on a baking sheet and bake for 2-3 hours (2 hours for baby backs, 3 for spare ribs) until tender.
  6. While ribs bake, combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  7. Simmer the glaze for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly, then stir in butter if using. Remove from heat.
  8. Carefully open the foil packet and drain excess liquid from the pan.
  9. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Brush a generous layer of glaze over the ribs.
  10. Return ribs to the oven, unwrapped, and bake for 10-15 minutes until the glaze is sticky and caramelized.
  11. Let ribs rest for 5 minutes before cutting between the bones and serving.

Notes

The foil-wrapping step is crucial for steaming the ribs to tenderness. Do not glaze too early as honey burns easily. For a spicy version, add cayenne to the rub. For gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce. For dairy-free, skip the butter or use coconut oil.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2-3 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 rack divided
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 20
  • Sodium: 600
  • Fat: 25
  • Saturated Fat: 9
  • Carbohydrates: 25
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 35

Keywords: BBQ ribs, honey garlic ribs, baked ribs, easy dinner, family feast, pork ribs, smoky ribs, slow cooker ribs