Easy Pellet Smoker Ribs Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 rack of pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons paprika

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon chili powder

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 1 tablespoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your desired level of spiciness)

• 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

• Pellets of your choice for the smoker (hickory, apple, mesquite, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the ribs by removing the membrane from the bone side of the rack. Use a butter knife to lift the membrane from one corner, then grip it with a paper towel and peel it off completely.

2. In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to create your dry rub.

3. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels and generously apply the dry rub to both sides of the rack, pressing it into the meat for better adhesion. Let the ribs sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while you preheat the pellet smoker.

4. Preheat your pellet smoker to 225°F (107°C) and add your preferred smoking pellets to the hopper.

5. Once the smoker is ready, place the ribs directly on the smoker grates, bone side down. Close the lid and let them smoke for about 2 to 3 hours.

6. After the initial smoking period, it's time to wrap the ribs in foil. Lay out a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and place the ribs, meat-side down, on the foil. Drizzle half of the BBQ sauce over the ribs and wrap them tightly in the foil to create a sealed packet.

7. Return the foiled ribs to the smoker and continue cooking for an additional 2 to 2.5 hours. Wrapping the ribs in foil at this stage helps to tenderize the meat and infuse the flavors.

8. During the last 30 minutes of smoking, carefully unwrap the ribs and place them back on the smoker grates, meat-side up. Brush the remaining BBQ sauce over the ribs, allowing it to caramelize slightly.

9. Remove the ribs from the smoker and let them rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Ensure that the foil wrapping is done tightly to prevent any juices from leaking out during the cooking process, as this helps to keep the ribs moist and tender. The addition of the foil wrapping step adds another layer of flavor and ensures juicy and succulent ribs.