These Smoked Party Ribs are a crowd-pleasing option for your next cookout, BBQ, or game day! Made from tender baby back ribs, they’re coated with our signature OWYD Spicy Pork Rub, grilled until they are perfectly tender, and basted with pineapple juice for a subtle sweetness. Finished with a generous toss in BBQ sauce, these ribs pack the perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or a football feast, these ribs will be the talk of the party.
Smoked Party Ribs
I don’t know why it took us so long to try these ribs, but I’m a little mad about it regardless. We LOVE pork ribs, and when these took the internet by storm a few months ago I thought it was going to be a quick flash-in-the-pan TikTok fad, like so many others.
Turns out, this one is legit.
Cutting the ribs into individual pieces not only makes them easier to serve, but it also lets you coat every inch of that rib in your favorite rub, allows the smoke to more deeply penetrate each bite, and lets you ensure that every single rib is cooked perfectly and is exactly as tender as you want it to be.
Know what else that means? Those of you who like “competition” ribs can have them, and those of us who like ribs the right way and want them to more easily come off that bone can have our way too.
I dug around the depths of the internet, including Redding, TikTok, and the abyss that is Instagram reels, and I still can’t sus out who actually originated this particular viral recipe. If you’ve got receipts on that, hit me up in the comments or on social and I’ll gladly give them their due here. But this particular Smoked Party Ribs recipe comes to you straight from the OWYD kitchens/grills, and I can’t wait for you to try it!
We used our new OWYD Spicy Pork Rub for these ribs, and I think you should too.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
- Perfect for Entertaining: Individual ribs are easy to grab and eat, making them great for parties.
- Sweet and Spicy Flavor: The pineapple juice spritz adds sweetness to balance the bold BBQ rub.
- Simple Process: Requires minimal prep and just a few hours of hands-off grilling.
- Tender and Juicy: Low and slow cooking at 225°F ensures the ribs stay moist and flavorful.
- Customizable Finish: You control the level of doneness and can adjust the spice or BBQ sauce to taste.
More incredible Ribs Recipes here!
Party Ribs shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Ingredients
- Baby Back Pork Ribs
- Spicy Pork Rub
- Pineapple Juice
- BBQ Sauce
Try with our Vinegar BBQ Sauce!
How to make Party Ribs on the Smoker
This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
How to Make Smoked Party Ribs in 5 Steps
- Preheat the Grill: Set your grill to 225°F for low, slow cooking.
- Prep the Ribs: Cut each rack into individual ribs and coat evenly with the rub. Reserve a small portion of the rub for later.
- Grill the Ribs: Place the ribs bone-side down on the grill, leaving space between them. Spritz with pineapple juice every 30 minutes.
- Flip and Check Doneness: After 1.5 hours, flip the ribs and continue spritzing every 30 minutes. Taste-test at 2.5 hours for tenderness.
- Toss in Sauce and Serve: Remove from the grill, toss with the remaining rub, and coat with BBQ sauce before serving.
We love this Honey BBQ Sauce recipe!
FAQs
How should I store leftover smoked ribs?
Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How do I reheat these ribs?
Reheat in the oven at 300°F, covered in foil to retain moisture, for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, warm them on the grill over low heat.
Can I prepare the ribs in advance?
Yes. Rub the ribs a few hours or the night before to allow the flavors to penetrate. Store in the fridge and grill when ready.
What variations can I try?
You can swap the spicy pork rub with a sweeter or milder rub. Substitute apple juice or beer for pineapple juice to experiment with different flavors.
Leftovers? Take the meat off the bone and make these Traeger BBQ Pork Nachos!
Serve This With…
Smoked party ribs are easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for sharing. The mix of spice, smoke, and sweetness will satisfy everyone, whether they prefer ribs falling off the bone or with a bit of chew. These ribs make for a fun, interactive meal that’s sure to impress at your next gathering.
You’ll love this Whiskey Coke Barbecue Sauce!
More great ribs recipes to love!
More Side Dishes To Serve With These Ribs
Smoked Party Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back pork ribs
- 1/2 cup OWYD spicy pork rub
- 8 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 cups bbq sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to 225°F.
- While your grill is preheating, use a sharp knife to cut your rib racks up into individual rib bones with meat on both sides of the bone.
- Place all the individual ribs into a large bowl and pour all but about 2 tablespoons of the rub on top.
- Toss the ribs into the bowl until all ribs are coated evenly with the rub.
- Using tongs, place each rib onto the grill top bone side down.(leave at least 1/2″ space between each rib.)
- Spritz the ribs with pineapple juice every 30 minutes.
- After the ribs have been on the grill for 1 1/2 hours, flip them over.
- Keep spritzing with pineapple juice every 30 minutes.
- Feel free to taste test one of the ribs after 2 1/2 hours to see if they are done to your liking.
- The ribs should be completely done in a maximum time of three hours. If they are still not done to your liking, check the temperature of your grill.
- Pull the ribs from the grill and put the back into a big bowl and toss them in the rest of the rub.
- Pour the bbq sauce on top, toss and serve.
