Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs
On July 24, 2024
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My Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs are tender, juicy, and infused with warming spices. They’re easy to make and bursting with sweet-savory flavor.
Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs
Get ready for a flavor explosion with my Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs. These bad boys are the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and tender. Made with the ingredients from my Double Smoked Ham Kit, these ribs are like a holiday party in your mouth, but without all the fuss. The Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce acts as a binder, while the Sugar & Spice Rub brings the party. A touch of salt keeps the sweetness from the rub for overpowering your ribs. The Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze finish will leave you with slightly crispy, finger-licking ribs.
With no wrap, this recipe is so easy to make, you’ll feel like you’re cheating. So grab a Ham Kit, fire up your smoker, and let’s turn those spare ribs into the star of your next cookout.
The Best Ribs for Smoking
I originally made this recipe with baby back ribs for a YouTube video where I made 3 different meats with my Double Smoked Ham Kit. They were delicious, so I decided I wanted to try it out on some St. Louis spare ribs this time around. You can easily make this with either style of ribs, and it really comes down to preference.
Baby back ribs are smaller with a stronger curve in the bones, and come from the loin of the pig. These ribs are great if you’ve got less time, because they’ll smoke a lot faster than spare ribs. Keep in mind they’re typically smaller, so you’ll likely need more ribs per person.
Now, St. Louis spare ribs are a bit longer and flatter than baby back ribs. These are trimmed down from a full rack of ribs. They come from the belly of the pig and have awesome intramuscular fat that renders down as you smoke them. I’ve done this recipe with both styles now, and while the baby backs were great, I absolutely love the spare ribs version. No matter which style of ribs you choose, you’re in for a treat.
How to Trim Spare Ribs
You’ll need to give those ribs a little trim before they hit the smoker. Straight from the store, spare ribs need some attention to reach their full, smoky potential. Make sure you’ve got a sharp knife, then hit these areas:
- Square up. Trim the ends of your ribs to remove the skinny tail where the meat thins out.
- Trim the top. Slice off the thick bone ridge at the top for easier eating.
- Cut the strip. Flip and remove the thin diagonal meat strip on the back.
- Remove membrane. Slip a butterknife under the membrane, then peel off using a paper towel.
Bonus: save those trimmings for stock or smoke them up as a secret pitmaster’s snack.
Ingredients for Spiced Citrus Ribs
Believe it or not, all the ingredients I use for this recipe come from my Double Smoked Ham Kit (plus a little salt to balance the rub). While making a video, I discovered this kit is great for making all kinds of delicious proteins, including salmon. You can pick a kit up in the store, but here’s what I use:
- 1 rack St. Louis spare ribs
- 3 Tablespoons Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar & Spice Rub
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3 Tablespoons Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze
I specifically created this recipe to highlight some of the many ways you can use the Double Smoked Ham Kit. I’ve still got plenty of rib recipes if you don’t feel like ordering a kit. But trust me, this incredible flavor is worth it.
How Long to Smoke Spare Ribs
You’ll be smoking these ribs in 2 stages, for a total of about 5 hours total. First, place the slathered and seasoned ribs in the smoker at 275 degrees F for about 4 hours, until they reach an internal temperature of around 195 degrees F. Next, give them a healthy dose of the Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze, and continue smoking for another hour. When the ribs reach an internal temperature of 205 degrees F, they’re tender and juicy, and just need to rest for a few minutes before you slice and devour them.
Keep in mind that cooking times are just an estimate, as every cut of meat and smoker is a little bit different. For the best results, always use a reliable meat thermometer, and cook until your ribs reach the desired internal temperature.
How to Make Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs on the Smoker
Once you’ve got your ribs and your Double Smoked Ham Kit, you’re ready to get smoking. Just follow these easy steps, and you’ll be enjoying spiced ribs in no time:
- Preheat smoker. Set your smoker to 275 degrees F.
- Trim ribs. While your smoker is preheating, trim your ribs by removing the large segment of bones on top, the thin flap and membrane on the back of the ribs, and the tail end of the ribs. Giving your spare ribs a more uniform shape helps to ensure a nice, even cook from end to end.
- Slather. Drizzle your ribs with Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce (or yellow mustard), then spread evenly with a gloved hand. This sauce works as an awesome binder for your seasoning, without overpowering the rest of the flavors in the dish.
- Season. Next, give your ribs a generous coating of the Sugar & Spice Rub, then press gently with your gloved hand. Don’t try to spread it, or you’ll end up with a clumpy mess. After that, you’re ready to slow smoke your ribs to tender perfection.
- Smoke. Place your ribs directly on the grates, close the lid, and allow them to smoke for around 4 hours. This gives all that intramuscular fat time to render down, filling your ribs with that juicy, irresistible pork flavor.
- Sauce and finish. When your ribs are at around 195 degrees F, it’s time to hit them with some of my Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze and finish smoking for another hour. This step not only adds a warm, comforting flavor to your ribs, it gives them a sticky, slightly crispy finish that’s unmatched.
- Rest, slice, and serve. Once your ribs are done smoking, transfer to a cutting board to rest for a few minutes. Then, you’re ready to slice and chow down.
More Ridiculously Good Rib Recipes
If these sweet, savory, sticky spare ribs got your appetite for ribs going, then make sure to check out the Hey Grill Hey app, where I’ve got over 600 more amazing BBQ recipes for you to try. Here are some of my favorite rib recipes to try next:
Simple Spiced Citrus Ribs Recipe
Follow the recipe card to make these Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs, and then spare a few minutes and give it a 5-star rating if you had fun making it. If you want to really master the art of smoking ribs, then head over to The Grill Squad. I’ve got start-to-finish guides with instructional videos and workbooks on pork ribs, and all your other BBQ favorites, to help you become a true pitmaster.
Don’t forget to share those tantalizing rib photos with me by tagging @heygrillhey on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to my YouTube channel for step-by-step videos on all my most popular recipes.
Spiced Citrus Spare Ribs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 rack St. Louis spare ribs
- 3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Sugar & Spice Rub
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze
Instructions
- Preheat smoker. Set your smoker to 275 degrees F and allow it to rise to temperature.
- Trim ribs. While your smoker is preheating, remove the large segment of bones on top of the ribs, the thin flap and membrane on the back of the ribs, and the tail end of the ribs.1 rack St. Louis spare ribs
- Slather. Drizzle your ribs with Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce (or yellow mustard), then spread evenly with a gloved hand.3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce
- Season. Next, sprinkle your ribs generously with the Sugar & Spice Rub, then press gently with your gloved hand. Don’t try to spread or you’ll get clumping. Turn your ribs over and repeat the slather and seasoning.2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Sugar & Spice Rub, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Smoke. Place your ribs directly on the grates of your smoker, close the lid, and allow them to smoke for around 4 hours. You’re looking for an internal temperature of around 195 degrees F.
- Sauce and finish. With your ribs on the smoker, coat them with the Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze, then close the lid and continue to smoke for 1 hour, or until your ribs reach an internal temperature of 205 degrees F.3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Spiced Citrus BBQ Glaze
- Rest, slice, and serve. Transfer your smoked ribs to a cutting board. Allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
