Print

Savory BBQ Pork Ribs Memphis Style Perfect Sticky Glaze Recipe

Memphis style BBQ pork ribs - featured image
Print Recipe

Tender, smoky pork ribs glazed with a thick, sweet, and tangy Memphis-style barbecue sauce. This recipe delivers authentic Memphis flavor with a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy notes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork spare ribs or baby back ribs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons paprika (smoked paprika optional)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt (kosher salt recommended)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C).
  2. Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs using a paper towel to grip and pull it off.
  3. Pat ribs dry with paper towels and rub olive oil all over both sides.
  4. In a small bowl, mix paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper to make the dry rub.
  5. Generously coat ribs with the dry rub on both sides, pressing firmly.
  6. Place ribs bone side down on a large baking sheet and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
  7. Bake ribs in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours.
  8. While ribs bake, prepare the sticky glaze by whisking ketchup, honey, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan.
  9. Simmer glaze over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and shiny.
  10. After baking, remove ribs from oven and discard foil.
  11. Brush a generous layer of sticky glaze over ribs.
  12. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (205°C) and return ribs uncovered for 15-20 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
  13. Check ribs for tenderness; meat should pull slightly away from bones and glaze should be sticky and bubbling. If needed, cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
  14. Let ribs rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Remove the membrane for tenderness. Cook low and slow at 275°F for 2.5-3 hours covered with foil to keep ribs juicy. Apply glaze only at the end to avoid burning sugars. For smoky flavor without a smoker, add smoked paprika or smoke-infused salt. Leftovers keep well refrigerated up to 3 days and reheat best wrapped in foil at 300°F.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ pork ribs, Memphis style ribs, sticky glaze, barbecue ribs, smoky ribs, easy ribs recipe, pork spare ribs, baby back ribs

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/savory-bbq-pork-ribs-memphis-style-perfect-sticky-glaze-recipe/