Fall-apart tender ribs with a rich apple barbecue glaze and just the right amount of sweet heat.
Ingredients
2 racks pork ribs — baby back or St. Louis-style spare ribs
3–4 tablespoons Pops Homestyle Pork Rub
1–2 teaspoons Pops Hot Honey Rub, divided to taste
1 cup Pops Apple BBQ Sauce
2 tablespoons apple juice or apple cider, optional
2 tablespoons butter, optional, for extra richness
Instructions
1. Prepare the ribs
Remove the membrane from the bone side, trim excess fat, and pat the ribs dry.
2. Season generously
Coat both sides with Pops Homestyle Pork Rub. Add a light sprinkle of Pops Hot Honey Rub for a little extra kick. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
3. Smoke low and slow
Preheat the smoker to 250°F. Cook until the ribs are tender, typically 4–6 hours for spare ribs or 3–5 hours for baby backs, depending on thickness and your smoker.
4. Make the apple glaze
Mix Pops Apple BBQ Sauce with apple juice, if desired. During the last 20–30 minutes, brush a generous layer over the ribs. Apply another thin coat near the end to build a glossy finish.
5. Finish with honey heat
Sprinkle a small amount of Pops Hot Honey Rub over the glazed ribs during the final few minutes. Watch closely so the sauce doesn’t burn.
6. Rest and serve
Rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Serve with extra Pops Apple BBQ Sauce on the side.
Oven option: Bake covered at 275°F until tender, usually 2½–4 hours depending on the ribs. Uncover, glaze with Pops Apple BBQ Sauce, and finish at 400°F for about 10–15 minutes, watching carefully.
Food safety note: Time is a guide, not a guarantee of doneness. Pork ribs are best judged by tenderness; avoid relying on a single internal-temperature reading to determine when the meat is ready.
The Pops flavor combination
Pops Apple BBQ Sauce
The finishing glaze brings sweet apple character and rich barbecue flavor to every bite.
Pops Homestyle Pork Rub
Builds the savory, well-seasoned foundation for the ribs.
Adds a sweet, spicy finish that balances the apple glaze.