30 Smoked Pork Ribs Recipes That Will Make You BBQ Royalty! 

September 10, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Smoking pork ribs adds so much flavor to them while also ensuring the meat is still nice and tender! And, with these smoked pork ribs recipes, you will be able to try out so many flavor combinations. From spicy rubs to sweet glazes, the options are endless!

smoked pork ribs

1. Classic Smoked Pork Ribs 

These classic smoked ribs are sure to be a hit at any cookout! Here, the ribs are coated in mustard and apple cider vinegar and then sprinkled in a dry rub before smoking. The ribs are then sprinkled with brown sugar, honey, and apple cider vinegar, wrapped, and smoked again. The ribs are then unwrapped and smoked for the final time! 

Get the recipe here

Classic Smoked Pork Ribs

2. Smoked Ribs with BBQ Glaze

The sweet and slightly sticky barbecue glaze is the cherry on top of these yummy ribs! The ribs are brined in their dry rub and then smoked. A mop sauce of apple cider vinegar and apple juice helps to keep the ribs tender. Just before the ribs are done, brush with a smoky barbecue sauce and then smoke for a little longer for the glaze to set! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Ribs with BBQ Glaze

3. Smoked Pork Ribs with Carolina Mop Sauce

This is another smoked ribs recipe that is coated in the most incredible glaze! The ribs are dusted with the dry rub and smoked. In the meantime, you make the mop sauce from brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, apple cider, ketchup, aromatics, barbecue sauce, and whiskey. Brush this onto the ribs a few times and then cover and smoke. Uncover the ribs, brush with more sauce, and then smoke again! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Ribs with Carolina Mop Sauce

4. Texas Style Smoked Pork Ribs

If you love Texas style ribs or just aren’t a fan of barbecue sauce, then this is the recipe for you! With this recipe, the ribs are coated in mustard and drizzled with a Texas style rub before they are smoked. After smoking for a while, the pork ribs are brushed with a mixture of butter and dry rub every 30 minutes until they are cooked through. 

Get the recipe here

Texas Style Smoked Pork Ribs

5. Kansas City Style Smoked Pork Ribs

If you want truly authentic Kansas City style ribs, then make sure to make the dry rub and barbecue sauce that goes along with this recipe! The pork ribs are coated in the dry rub and smoked. After a period of smoking, baste the pork ribs with the barbecue sauce every so often until they are done. 

Get the recipe here

Kansas City Style Smoked Pork Ribs

6. Memphis Style Smoked Pork Ribs

These Memphis style smoked ribs are ideal for anyone who prefers their ribs smoky and savory with minimal sweetness. The ribs are marinated in their dry rub for a while before they are smoked for an hour. Then, mop the ribs with apple cider vinegar and mustard and smoke again until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Memphis Style Smoked Pork Ribs

7. St. Louis Style Smoked Pork Ribs

If you love St. Louis style ribs, then this is the recipe that you need to follow! The ribs are coated in the dry rub and then smoked – start spritzing the ribs after they have been smoking for a while. Then, coat the ribs in barbecue sauce and wrap before smoking until they are done! 

Get the recipe here

St. Louis Style Smoked Pork Ribs

8. Brown Sugar and Honey Pork Ribs

Sweet and tender, these pork ribs are a treat all by themselves! In this recipe, the ribs are marinated in Dr. Pepper to help tenderize and flavor them. They are then sprinkled with the rub and smoked for a while. Following this, the ribs are wrapped in aluminum foil along with butter, brown sugar, and honey. They are smoked for the final time before resting. 

Get the recipe here

Brown Sugar and Honey Pork Ribs

9. Maple Cajun Pork Ribs

Spicy, sweet, tangy – these ribs have all the flavors that you could ask for! The ribs are marinated in their dry rub before smoking – spritz to keep them moist. Then, wrap the ribs up along with butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup. For the final step, make a basting sauce with maple syrup and barbecue sauce and use this to add a glaze to the ribs! 

Get the recipe here

Maple Cajun Pork Ribs

10. Honey Garlic Smoked Pork Ribs

If you want to do something a little different or inject even more flavor into your smoked pork ribs, then this is a great recipe to try out! The ribs are coated in the rub and then smoked for a while. This is followed by wrapping the ribs in aluminum foil with honey and apple juice. In the meantime, make the honey garlic sauce and brush this onto the ribs before smoking again. Brush once more before serving. 

Get the recipe here

Honey Garlic Smoked Pork Ribs

11. Smoked Pork Al Pastor Ribs 

These ribs are going to taste like your favorite taco filling! The ribs are drizzled with achiote sauce and the rub and then smoked for 3 hours before they are wrapped and smoked for 2 hours more. The ribs are unwrapped and brushed with a homemade pineapple preserve before being smoked for a bit longer. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Al Pastor Ribs

12. Smoked Hot Honey Bacon Ribs

Spicy, sweet, and topped with bacon – what more could you ask for from your smoked ribs? In this recipe, the ribs are coated in the rub and smoked. Once they are near the end of the smoke, brush on some barbecue sauce. Then, sprinkle with cooked bacon and drizzle with hot honey for the finishing touches! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Hot Honey Bacon Ribs

13. Smoked Jalapeno Jerk Ribs with Pineapple Barbecue Sauce

If you are all for taking your pork ribs to a whole other level, then you need to try out this recipe! To start with, the ribs are marinated in pineapple juice, jalapenos, and cilantro. They are then rubbed down with jerk seasoning and smoked. The ribs are basted with the pineapple glaze during the smoking session and then are served with a homemade pineapple barbecue sauce. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Jalapeno Jerk Ribs with Pineapple Barbecue Sauce

14. Honey Chipotle Pork Ribs

Honey and chipotle are a match made in heaven so these ribs are sure to make everyone happy! The ribs are sprinkled with a sweet barbecue rub and then smoked. Make sure to spritz the ribs with apple juice to keep them moist. Then, towards the end of the smoke, brush the ribs with a homemade honey chipotle sauce! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Chipotle Pork Ribs

15. Chipotle Lime Pork Ribs

These pork ribs have such an incredible flavor thanks to the smoking process and the delicious basting sauce! The ribs are dusted in the dry rub and then smoked – first unwrapped and then unwrapped. In the meantime, you make up the sauce with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, lime juice and zest, honey, and more. Brush this onto the ribs before smoking again and serving! 

Get the recipe here

Chipotle Lime Pork Ribs

16. Spicy Smoked Pork Ribs

If you want a little kick to your pork ribs, this recipe is the way to go! The rub does contain some unusual spices but they really help to elevate your pork ribs. The ribs are coated in the rub and smoked for a while. They are then brushed with the spicy, sweet, and tangy sauce before they are wrapped. Baste the ribs in the sauce as they continue to smoke for the best flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Spicy Smoked Pork Ribs

17. Smoked Pomegranate Chipotle Ribs

Tired of the same old smoked ribs? Give this recipe a try to add a creative twist! The sweet, smoky, and tangy sauce makes all the difference to these ribs. The ribs are dusted in the rub and then smoked. When they are almost done, brush the ribs with the homemade pomegranate chipotle sauce and then smoke until the glaze forms! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pomegranate Chipotle Ribs

18. Smoked Honey Habanero Pork Ribs

If you like some serious spice to your pork ribs then you should definitely give this recipe a try! The pork ribs are dusted in a spicy dry rub and smoked. In the meantime, make up the glaze with honey, habanero, hot sauce, and spices. Towards the end of the smoke, start basting with the glaze until a thick coat forms! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Honey Habanero Pork Ribs

19. Smoked Whiskey Habanero Pork Ribs

These pork ribs really bring the flavor! The ribs are first marinated in a delicious whiskey habanero marinade. Then, use hot sauce as a binder and apply rub to your ribs. Smoke the ribs until they are nearly done before applying a homemade honey habanero glaze to the ribs. Smoke until the glaze sets and remove. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Whiskey Habanero Pork Ribs

20. Smoked Asian Style Pork Ribs

If you love Asian flavors, then this may become your new favorite smoked ribs recipe! To begin with, the ribs are rubbed down with yummy spices like Chinese five spice, ground ginger, and allspice. The ribs are smoked for a while before they are added to a pan filled with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and other seasonings and is then smoked again. For the final step, brush a pepper jelly glaze onto the ribs and smoke for a final time! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Asian Style Pork Ribs

21. Sweet and Sticky Hoisin Smoked Pork Ribs

This is another recipe that does things quite differently but still produces the most incredible results! The pork ribs are covered in toasted spices like sichuan pepper and white peppercorn before it is smoked. Once done, the ribs are fried and coated in a homemade hoisin barbecue sauce! 

Get the recipe here

Sweet and Sticky Hoisin Smoked Pork Ribs

22. Orange Ginger Smoked Pork Ribs

This recipe blurs the line between takeout and barbecue in the most delicious way possible! The ribs are marinated in an aromatic orange marinade and are then dusted in a dry rub. Smoke the ribs for a while before coating in a homemade orange ginger barbecue sauce, wrapping in foil, and then smoking until tender! 

Get the recipe here

Orange Ginger Smoked Pork Ribs

23. Smoked Apple Cinnamon Pork Ribs

These are the perfect ribs to make around fall! The ribs are coated in an apple pie cinnamon rub and then smoked until nice and tender. When they are ready, rest the ribs and serve. It is as simple as that! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Apple Cinnamon Pork Ribs

24. Bourbon Smoked Pork Ribs

This is such a warm and smoky ribs recipe! The ribs are marinated in a sauce that is made from bourbon, beer, soy sauce,and seasonings. They are then smoked for a while. In the meantime, add tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar to the marinade and make it into a basting sauce. Apply this to the ribs during the smoking process and after it has been smoked! 

Get the recipe here

Bourbon Smoked Pork Ribs

25. Smoked Blueberry Bourbon Pork Ribs

If you want to get fancy with your pork ribs, give this recipe a try! The pork ribs are coated in mustard and dry rub and smoked. They are then wrapped along with butter and honey. Then, they are unwrapped and smoked, being basted with a homemade blueberry bourbon and rosemary glaze! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Blueberry Bourbon Pork Ribs

26. Smoked Ribs with Blackcurrant BBQ Sauce and Smoked Brie

The next time that you have guests over, you should consider whipping up these smoked ribs! The ribs are drizzled with a simple rub and then smoked. After a while, the ribs are coated in a homemade blackcurrant barbecue sauce and wrapped until done. When the ribs are nearly done, smoke the brie as well and top with dried fruits and nuts. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Ribs with Blackcurrant BBQ Sauce and Smoked Brie

27. Smoked Pork Ribs with Cherry BBQ Glaze

A little bit of sweet, a little bit of tart, and a whole lot of flavor – these ribs are amazing! Season the ribs with the rub and then smoke for a while. Wrap and spritz with apple juice and smoke once more. Finally, baste the ribs with a homemade cherry barbecue sauce and smoke for a final time. 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Pork Ribs with Cherry BBQ Glaze

28. Smoked Cherry Coke Ribs

If you want the most tender and juicy pork ribs then this recipe is the one for you! Here, the ribs are coated in cherry coke, bourbon, and barbecue sauce and then smoked. Make sure to baste the ribs as they are smoking for extra flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Cherry Coke Ribs

29. Coffee Rubbed Smoked Pork Ribs

If you want dark, smoky, and slightly spicy ribs, give this recipe a try! The rub for this recipe is made from ground coffee, ancho chili powder, cocoa powder as well as herbs and spices for the yummiest flavors. The ribs are coated in this and then smoked until done! 

Get the recipe here

Coffee Rubbed Smoked Pork Ribs

30. Smoked Chocolate Chipotle Pork Ribs

This may seem like an odd flavor for pork ribs but it really is incredible. The chocolate, chipotle, and other flavors work beautifully together to give you a really complex smoked pork ribs. Brush on the paste, marinate, and then smoke! 

Get the recipe here

Smoked Chocolate Chipotle Pork Ribs

There are a lot of ways to smoke pork ribs, each one more delicious than the last. All that is left for you to do now is to put this knowledge to good use! 

By Kristy J. Norton
I'm Kristy – a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! You can find me either in my kitchen (or someone else's) or at a big outdoor barbecue surrounded by friends and family. In both my professional and personal life I’ve picked up more than a few tips and tricks for turning out delicious food. I consider it a privilege to share it with others!
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