Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This lip-smacking Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe is easy enough for bbq beginners and so delicious that even the pros will be claiming them as their own. Add these ribs to your next cookout or gathering and just watch them disappear.
These Glazed Baby Back Ribs have become a standard for our family celebrations and special occasions, not that a special occasion is needed to enjoy these. As simple as these ribs are to make, they can easily be part of a regular menu rotation. Around here we joke that most meals are about the side dishes, with the meat taking a back seat, but not so with these ribs. They are devoured. That’s why I have learned to go ahead and increase the amount.
This Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe is a tasty take on baby back ribs that is super easy, relatively speedy when it comes to barbecue, and certainly no slouch in the flavor department. Of course, if you have your heart set on standing by a smoker for 5 plus hours, then perhaps this recipe probably isn’t for you. But, if you’re looking for great barbecue flavor with less stress and time, be sure to give these baby back ribs a try. (And maybe consider doubling the batch while you’re at it.) I think you’ll be glad you did!
Baby back ribs don’t get much easier than this recipe. It can be made in stages for easy make-ahead prep. Easily whisk up the sweet and spicy glaze a day or so ahead of time, then keep refrigerated covered until grilling time. Separately, season the ribs with salt and pepper, add a bit of pineapple juice (yay for pineapple juice!) then bake them in the oven up to a day or two ahead of time. If making ahead by a day or two, be sure to wrap the ribs up tightly and keep refrigerated until ready to finish on the grill. When ready to serve, heat up the grill, and finish up the ribs with the glaze in no time.
Baking the ribs in pineapple juice is magical. It really is such a nice compliment to pork and such a simple addition. The glaze recipe below is a bit lengthy, but oh so delectable. The glaze can also be made ahead of time, then covered and refrigerated until ready to use. Of course, if you have a favorite BBQ sauce, you can always prepare the ribs in the oven as noted in the recipe then glaze the ribs with your own sauce when grilled.
These Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe have become one our favorite family go-to recipes because they are so easy to prepare and always turn out fabulous. They are so perfect for entertaining larger groups too. Serve with corn on the cob, cole slaw, easy roasted broccoli and Texas Style New Potato Salad for a scrumptious satisfying spread.
Other delicious grilling recipes you will enjoy:
- Chipotle Baby Back Ribs
- Southwestern Grilled Chicken Recipe with Lime Butter
- BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Perfect Grilled Salmon Recipe
- Sweet and Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings
Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe
An easy recipe for glazed baby back ribs with just the right balance of sweet and spicy.
Ingredients
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
- 3-4 pounds rack of baby back pork ribs
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup whiskey
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Place a large piece of aluminum foil inside large roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet.
- Liberally salt and pepper rack of ribs on all sides.
- Place seasoned rib rack inside aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Pour pineapple juice over ribs; fold up sides of aluminum foil to seal in juice.
- Bake at 350-degrees F for 1 1/2 hours, or until ribs are tender. When tender, remove from oven, open aluminum foil; allow ribs to cool for at least 20 minutes.*
- While ribs are cooking, make glaze.** To make glaze, whisk together honey, whisky, hoisin sauce, mustard, molasses, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and ginger. Set aside.
- Once ribs have finished baking, preheat grill to medium heat. If needed, cut rib rack(s) in half for easier management on grill. Place ribs on grill, every minute or so, turn ribs and brush frequently with glaze, for a total of about 15 minutes. When done, slice ribs apart before serving.
Notes
*Ribs may be baked a day ahead, and refrigerated covered until ready to grill.) **Glaze may be made up to two days ahead and refrigerated covered.
I’m tickled that you’re here! Like you, I wear many hats, and live to tell about it. This space is a place for sharing food, home, garden, travel and lifestyle tidbits, with some fun always thrown in for good measure.
What can I use instead of whisky and can I cook them in a crock pot and for how long?
These ribs look absolutely perfect!
A whiskey glaze? YES! These look absolutely stunning and I can only imagine how they’re going to taste. I like baby backs so much better than the big ones for the grill. All. Summer. Long.
Mmm….. know I am craving some ribs!! These look amazing!
OMG, you are right…I need these pronto! So great for the summer season.
This look amazing! I can’t wait to bite into these ribs!
These look absolutely perfect!!
Have I told you how much I LOVE these? My family would go crazy over these … perfect for Memorial Day!
These look so amazing and perfect. Ribs I make are a falling apart mess!! My family would love these.
Ribs and whiskey?!? I don’t think it’s possible to go wrong with this combination. This is definitely our kind of meal!
Baby back ALL THE WAY! I’d be the belle of the cookout w/ this recipe.
My husband would die if I made these! They seriously look perfect!
Made this for my family for the first long weekend of the summer in Canada. They were so easy and very well liked. Thanks for a great recipe!
So happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed it, Vivian!
The glaze was good but your time for cooking baby back ribs before glazing is way off.
The cooking time works great for us. They turn out perfect every time.
We made this recipe last night as described except I did the final step underneath the broiler elements rather than on a grill. It was absolutely outstanding. The meat was tender, and succulent, and moist, and with the sauce incredibly good. The cooking time was perfect. The rides spent a total of about 20 minutes under the broiler about 4 inches or so from the elements. Turned and basted the ribs ever two or three minutes. Perfect! Thank you this delicious recipe.
Do you have to add whiskey? Can you replace or go without it?
You can do without but it will taste different.