Chipotle-Honey Barbecue Ribs

5 from 3 votes

A little spicy and a little sweet, this recipe for Chipotle-Honey Barbecue Ribs is mouthwatering delicious! These are best when grilled, but can also be made in the oven when firing up the grill isn't a possibility.

Prep Time20

Cook Time2 30

Total Time2 50

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Pork

Servings: servings

Calories: 849kcal

Author: Lauren Harris

Ingredients

Pork Ribs

1 rack pork ribs * any variety will work

Chipotle Rub

2 tablespoons chipotle chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Honey Barbecue Sauce

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Apple Cider Vinegar Blend

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water

Instructions

Trim the excess fat off the ribs and place them on a large piece of foil.
Mix together the spices for the chipotle rub and rub half onto the top of meat, flip and repeat on the other side with the remaining rub. Let sit for 20-30 minutes.
While the ribs are sitting, whisk together all of the ingredients for the honey barbecue sauce in a medium bowl. Cover and keep in the refrigerator until needed.
Mix together the apple cider vinegar and water and set aside.
Turn only one side of your grill on. You can either lay the ribs directly on the grill rack or on top of the foil, but be sure to place them to the side of the grill without the flame.
Close the lid of the grill and cook for 30 minutes, maintaining a temperature of 350°F. Adjust the heat as needed by lowering the burner rather than opening the grill.
After the 30 minutes is up, put the ribs back onto the foil and fold the sides up to prevent any liquid from running off.
Pour the apple cider vinegar mixture over the ribs and wrap tightly in the foil. Return the ribs to the same area of the grill and cook at 375°F for another 30 minutes.
Check the ribs after 30 minutes. If they still appear to be under-cooked, return them to the grill for another 10-15 minutes until they are cooked through.
Once the ribs are cooked through, lower the heat so the temperature stays around 250°F.
Open the foil and baste the top half of the ribs with some of the honey barbecue sauce. Close the grill lid.
After 5 minutes, flip the ribs out and repeat the process on the other side. Continue flipping the ribs and basting every 5 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
After the last 5 minute cooking cycle, remove the ribs from the grill. Slice and serve.

Notes

How to Make Chipotle-Honey Barbecue Ribs in the Oven

Follow steps 1-4 above, and preheat your oven to 250°F.

Once you are ready to begin cooking, wrap the ribs tightly in aluminum foil and place them, meat side down, on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven.
Cook for 1 hour undisturbed.
Remove the ribs from the oven and open only the top part (meat side) of the foil. Pour on the apple cider vinegar mixture, then rewrap the ribs and place them back in the oven.
Cook for another hour, undisturbed.
Open the foil so that the meat side is up. They should be cooked through, but if not return to the oven and cook for 20-30 minutes longer, or as needed.
Increase the temperature of the oven to 350°F.
Brush the barbecue sauce on the meat side of the ribs. Leave the foil open and return them to the oven for 10 minutes.
Repeat this step 2 more times, then remove the ribs from the oven.

Tips and Techniques for the Best Chipotle Honey Barbecue Ribs

While the recipe is really easy, barbecuing ribs the right way does take some time, so definitely plan for at least 2-3 hours of cooking time.
When grilling ribs, adjust the temperature by lowering the burner rather than opening the grill. You want to limit opening the grill as much as possible.
Store leftover barbecue ribs tightly wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition