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Best Sticky Brown Sugar Bourbon Ribs Recipe

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These sticky brown sugar bourbon glazed grilled ribs are tender, fall-apart pork with a sweet, smoky, boozy glaze. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or backyard cookout, this oven-to-grill method is forgiving and foolproof.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks pork ribs (about 4–5 lbs total)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Ribs: Remove the membrane from the back of each rack. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels.
  2. Make the Dry Rub: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Mix well.
  3. Season the Ribs: Sprinkle the dry rub evenly over both sides of the ribs. Massage into the meat. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  4. Oven-Bake the Ribs: Preheat oven to 300°F. Place ribs on a wire rack inside a foil-lined baking sheet. Add ½ cup water to the pan. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 to 2½ hours until tender but not falling apart.
  5. Make the Bourbon Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, bourbon, butter, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  6. Preheat the Grill: About 15 minutes before ribs are done, preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Clean and oil the grates.
  7. Glaze and Grill: Remove ribs from oven. Brush a generous layer of glaze on both sides. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, basting with more glaze after each flip. Watch for flare-ups.
  8. Rest and Slice: Transfer ribs to a cutting board and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice between the bones and serve with remaining glaze on the side.

Notes

Don’t skip removing the membrane for best texture. Keep a spray bottle of water nearby to tame flare-ups on the grill. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute bourbon with apple cider or unsweetened apple juice mixed with ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Ribs taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: sticky brown sugar bourbon ribs, grilled ribs, bourbon glazed ribs, barbecue ribs, oven-to-grill ribs, pork ribs

Find it online: https://morselora.com/best-sticky-brown-sugar-bourbon-ribs-recipe/