Description
Succulent ribs slathered in homemade apple butter bbq sauce bring rustic Southern comfort to your dinner table. Slow-cooked meat falls effortlessly from the bone, promising a rich, tangy experience you’ll savor with every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 racks baby back ribs (about 4–5 pounds total)
- 1 cup apple butter
- 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
Liquid Ingredients:
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°F, preparing a low and slow cooking environment for maximum meat tenderness.
- Carefully strip the membrane from the ribs’ backside, ensuring better flavor absorption and more tender meat texture.
- Create a robust dry rub by combining smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Massage the spice blend thoroughly onto both sides of the ribs, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Encase the seasoned ribs completely in aluminum foil, creating a sealed packet that will help retain moisture during cooking.
- Position the wrapped ribs on a baking sheet and roast for 2.5 to 3 hours until the meat becomes exceptionally tender and begins separating from the bone.
- During the cooking process, craft the apple butter BBQ sauce by blending apple butter, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan.
- Reduce the sauce over medium-low heat for approximately 15 minutes, stirring periodically to develop a rich, concentrated flavor profile.
- After removing the ribs, rapidly increase oven temperature to 400°F for the final caramelization stage.
- Open the foil packets carefully, then lavishly coat the ribs with the prepared apple butter BBQ sauce.
- Return the sauced ribs to the oven uncovered, allowing 10-15 minutes for the sauce to caramelize and develop slight charred edges.
- Allow the ribs to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, then slice into individual portions and serve with additional sauce for drizzling.
Notes
- Gently slide a knife under the membrane and pull it off with a paper towel for easier grip.
- Let the dry rub sit on the ribs for 30 minutes before cooking to enhance meat penetration and taste depth.
- If the BBQ sauce becomes too thick, thin it with a splash of apple cider or water for smooth application.
- For those without an oven, use a slow cooker or grill with indirect heat, maintaining low temperatures for tender results.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg