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How to hickory smoke baby back ribs on a charcoal grill

My husband's mouthwatering pig-sickles! Yummy!

82
STEPS
INGREDIENTS

Combine apple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, kosher salt and garlic into a large pot to make a brine. Heat over medium heat and whisk until all the sugar dissolves. Let cool to room temp.

Remove membrane from the back of the ribs. Cut the racks in half. Place each 1/2 rack into a zip lock bag. Add 1/4 of brine to each bag. Refrigerate in brine 12-24 hours.

Soak hickory chips in non-chlorinated water for at least 2 hours.

Hickory Chips soaking in water.

Hickory Chips soaking in water.

Use a charcoal chimney to start your charcoal. When coals are ready, place coals on 1/2 of grill for direct heat, leave the other half for indirect heat.

Place hickory chips in smoker box and place on top of coals. Wait for grill to smoke.

Remove ribs from brine. Reserve half of the remaining brine.

Ribs removed from brine

Ribs removed from brine

Once the grill starts to smoke, transfer the racks to the indirect side of the grill, meat side down.

Grill starting to smoke

Grill starting to smoke

Ribs placed on indirect heat side of grill

Ribs placed on indirect heat side of grill

Let ribs sit on indirect side for 2 hours. Monitor grill temperature, try to keep at 225. Use spray mist on grill to lower temperature if needed.

You want your grill temp to be 225

You want your grill temp to be 225

Don't peak at ribs (it will alter the temperature). But you will need to check your wood chips from time to time.

Spray outside of grill to lower temperature as needed

Spray outside of grill to lower temperature as needed

After 45 min, turn racks rib side down.

After 2 hours, place ribs in a "Texas Crutch" (aka, an aluminum tent).  Add the remaining brine and return to the indirect heat side of grill for another 1 hour.

After 2 hours, place ribs in a "Texas Crutch" (aka, an aluminum tent). Add the remaining brine and return to the indirect heat side of grill for another 1 hour.

After 1 hour in the Texas Crutch, take ribs out of the foil and place on the indirect side of the grill until they reach 150 degrees.

Meanwhile, on the direct heat side of grill, cook whatever veggies/starches you wish to serve with your ribs.

Take ribs of the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. ENJOY!

  • 2.0 Racks of Baby Back Ribs
  • 8.0c Apple Juice
  • 2.0c Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 4.0bnch Garlic
  • 1.0c Kosher Salt
  • 1/2c Brown Sugar
  • 1.0bnch Hickory Wood Chips
  • 1.0bnch Charcoal