These Smoked Ribs Belong on Your Fall Weekend Menu

The 3-2-1 method makes tender, flavorful ribs by smoking them for 3 hours, wrapping them with a braising liquid for 2 hours, then finishing them unwrapped for 1 hour. The ribs are seasoned with a dry rub first, with barbecue sauce added during the final hour for a sticky, fall-off-the-bone finish.

Make a Simple Dry Rub

Mixed seasoning on a mixing bowl resting on the table. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

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Experienced pitmasters use a robust mix of brown sugar, salt, chili powders, herbs and more. Full Recipe: Dry Rub for Ribs

Remove the Membrane

Slices of baby back rib meat being thoroughly cleaned and place on a baking sheet. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

When grilling or smoking ribs you use a small knife to remove the membrane on the bone side of the rib. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

Cover in Mustard and Add the Rub

Two racks of ribs, one covered with mustard and the other with dry rub. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Smearing on mustard helps the dry rub adhere to the ribs. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

Use Applewood

Slices of baby back rib meats. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Soak applewood chunks in water for 30 minutes. Prepare your smoker for indirect smoking. Your target temperature is 200 F. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

3 Hours on the Smoker

Seasoned baby back ribs on a smoker. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Cut the rib racks in half if needed to fit on the smoker. Smoke for 3 hours. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

2 Hours in the Oven

Smoke baby back ribs wrap in a foil place in the baking sheet pan drizzled with oil on the countertop. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Mix together the cider vinegar and white wine to make the braising liquid. Seal up all but one end of the foil, pour braising liquid into each foil packet. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

Check the Ribs for Tenderness

Freshly smoked baby back ribs where the meat is easily tearing off the bone. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

The ribs are ready for the final step when a horizontal line appears where the meat is beginning to pull away from the bones. Using tongs gently pull the meat. If it tears easily it ready for the final step. Full Recipe: 3-2-1 Smoked Ribs

Finish on the Grill

Baby back ribs on a smoker. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Brush the sauce on the ribs. Place on a grill on low indirect heat, meat side up for 30 minutes to one hour. Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs

Pick a BBQ Sauce

Gluten-free BBQ Sauce in a jar resting on the table. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Grab your favorite BBQ sauce. BVe creative, try an apricot BBQ, Korean BBQ Sauce or Jamaican Jerk BBQ.

Serve with Potato Salad

A bowl of potato salad with chopped chives and red onions, with hard-boiled eggs and a small dish of sauce in the background—perfect for serving as one of your favorite Southern summer side dishes. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Glassic Southern potato salad is made with russet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sweet gherkins, and a tangy mustard-mayo dressing. No added sugar! Just balanced flavor and a creamy texture that gets better as it chills. Get the Southern Potato Salad Recipe.

Share and Serve

Smoke baby back ribs on the countertop. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Your ribs will be tender and flavorful! Full Recipe: Easy Smoked Ribs