No-fuss smoked spare ribs with a straightforward rub and classic technique — proof that great ribs do not need complicated recipes.
Prep
10 min
Cook
300 min
Total
320 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Instructions
Remove membrane
Flip ribs bone side up. Slide a butter knife under the membrane at one end. Grab with a paper towel and peel it off in one piece.
Season
Mix all rub ingredients. Apply generously to both sides of each rack. No binder needed — the rub sticks fine on its own for this simple approach.
Set up smoker
Preheat smoker to 250°F with hickory or apple wood. Place a water pan in the smoker for moisture.
Pro tip: A consistent 250°F temperature is more important than the wood choice — just maintain your fire.
Smoke until done
Place ribs meat side up on the smoker. Close the lid and smoke for 4.5-5 hours. No wrapping, no spritzing. Just let the smoker do its work. The ribs are done when the meat has pulled back from the bones and they pass the bend test.
Serve
Rest for 10 minutes. Cut between the bones. Serve with BBQ sauce on the side if desired — these ribs are great dry too.
Serving Suggestions
Nutrition per serving
480
Calories
34g
Protein
32g
Fat
12g
Carbs
You Might Also Like
More Pork Recipes
Dr Pepper Glazed Smoked Spare Ribs
Sticky, sweet spare ribs glazed with a caramelized Dr Pepper reduction — the secret ingredient that makes these ribs unforgettable.
Hot & Fast BBQ Spare Ribs
Tender spare ribs cooked at higher temperatures for when you want great BBQ ribs but do not have all day — done in under 3 hours.
St. Louis Style 3-2-1 Smoked Ribs
Perfectly tender St. Louis spare ribs using the foolproof 3-2-1 method — 3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour sauced.
Texas Dry Rub Smoked Pork Ribs
Bold, peppery pork ribs with a Texas-style dry rub and no sauce — all about the bark, the smoke, and the meat.
Maple BBQ Smoked Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone spare ribs with a sweet maple BBQ glaze — the kind of ribs that make people close their eyes and sigh.
Tender Pork Spare Ribs with a Smoky BBQ Glaze
Enjoy succulent and tender pork spare ribs cooked to perfection with a smoky BBQ glaze that will tantalize your taste buds!
Kitchen & BBQ gear
What we use for recipes like this
Food Prep · Meat Tenderisers
Kitchen Meat Hammer Dual Surface Tenderizer Tool for Tenderizing Steak Beef and Poultry. with Comfort Grip Handle.Dishwasher Easy, with Comfortable Grip for Efficient Home Cooking Preparation Alloy
$12.59
Kitchen Utensils · Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cups, U-Taste Measuring Cups and Spoons Set of 15 in 18/8 Stainless Steel : 7 Measuring Cups and 7 Measuring Spoons with 2 D-Rings and 1 Professional Magnetic Measurement Conversion Chart
$46.99
Pit Boss Grills
3-Piece BBQ Set
$39.99
Affiliate links. Prices come from Amazon and are refreshed at least every 24 hours.