I’ve always loved beef ribs that fall right off the bone, coated in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. For the longest time, I thought making them at home would be complicated or that I’d need special equipment. But this grilled beef rib recipe changed that for me. It’s straightforward, doesn’t require a smoker, and the grill does most of the work.
The heat slowly breaks down all that tough connective tissue until it becomes tender and almost buttery. These work well for weekend cookouts, game days, or holidays when you want something different. If you’ve been putting off trying beef ribs at home, this might be the recipe that gets you started.
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Table of contents
What You Need for Grilled Ribs
- Beef back ribs
- Coco-Cola
- Water
- Whole black peppercorns
- Kosher salt
- See what you need to make the sweet smoky sauce below
My Secret BBQ Sauce
Then the BBQ sauce, which has a secret ingredient to make it extra sticky, sweet, and delicious, is! This delicious beef ribs recipe uses Coca-Cola to give you ribs that flavor!
It only takes 10 minutes to make your own EPIC BBQ sauce! Then you slather the ribs in the sauce. Then you want to preheat your grill. You want to get the grill to about 275°F
You want to cook them for about 1.5-2 hours total. You want to use indirect heat for 40-60 minutes, then flip the ribs over and cook for another 35 minutes. Make sure you spray your ribs with a mouth-watering rib spritz every 30 minutes after an initial 60 minutes. You can use beer, apple juice, apple cider vinegar or broth.
You’ll notice that the sauce starts to caramelize and char. That’s why we’re ready to come off.
What Ribs to Buy?
Try to pick up short ribs s for this recipe.
They work well, then they have been braised, then finished on the grill
Cook Ahead of Time
You can cook the ribs ahead of time. Then, when you are ready to eat, crank up your grill. Get your ribs out of the fridge and bring them up to room temperature. Throw the ribs in the BBQ sauce and then put them on the grill. You can also make the BBQ sauce ahead of time; it will last in the fridge for 5 days.
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Sides For Ribs
- Smoked Baked Beans
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Smoked Corn Bread
- Crispy Grilled Broccoli
- Smoked Garlic Bread
Grilled Beef Ribs with Smoky-Sweet Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
Ribs
- 15 pounds beef back rib racks
- 1 litre Coco-Cola
- 1 liter water
- 1.5 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
- 1 pimch Kosher salt
Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1.5 cup cider vinegar
- 1.5 cup tomato sauce
- 1.5 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 yellow mustard
- 1.5 chile powder
Instructions
Cooking the Ribs
- Put the ribs in a very large pot or roasting pan; add the cola and enough water to just cover. Bring to a boil, skimming off any scum on the surface. Add the peppercorns and 1 tablespoon of salt. Cover and simmer over low heat until the meat is tender but not falling off the bone, 2 hours; drain.
- In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer over very low heat, stirring frequently, until thick and glossy, about 15 minutes.
- .You want to get the grill to about 275°F. You want to cook them for about 1.5-2 hours total. You want to use indirect heat for 40-60 minutes, then flip then over and cook for another 35 minutes.
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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