How to Make Kansas City Style St. Louis Ribs - A Step-by-Step Guide

One of the most beloved dishes in the world of BBQ is the Kansas City Style St. Louis Ribs. These delectable ribs are slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in tender, juicy meat that falls off the bone. The Kansas City style of BBQ is known for its rich, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors, and these ribs are the epitome of that.

While St. Louis ribs are distinct from other cuts of ribs due to their rectangular shape and higher meat-to-bone ratio, the Kansas City style of cooking elevates th...

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Ingredients

  • 2 racks Smithfield® Extra Tender St. Louis Pork Spareribs, membrane removed
  • Vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup favorite barbecue seasoning rub
  • 1 cup Handful hickory or apple wood chips for smoking, soaked in water and drained
  • 1 (18 ounce) bottle ketchup
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup light molasses
  • 1 tablespoon chili seasoning blend
  • 2 teaspoons hickory liquid smoke
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 4 hrs 40 mins
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 4 servings

  • About one hour before smoking, coat both sides of ribs with a little vegetable oil and sprinkle with barbecue seasoning rub. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Heat charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking at 230 to 250 degrees F. Add drained wood chips, if using.
  • Place the ribs, meaty side down, over a drip pan and cook for 2 hours. Add about 12 coals to a charcoal grill every 45 minutes or so to maintain the heat.
  • Remove ribs from grill. Double-wrap each rack in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Return wrapped ribs to the grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 3 hours more over indirect heat, until very tender. Add more coals as needed to maintain temperature for a charcoal grill.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Remove ribs from grill and unwrap. Place ribs over direct heat on grill and brush with Kansas City-style barbecue sauce. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce is set. Turn ribs and repeat with more sauce.
  • Nutrition

    1475 cal.

    • Total Fat: 87g
    • Saturated Fat: 31g
    • Cholesterol: 275mg
    • Sodium: 4631mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 122g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 110g
    • Protein: 58g
    • Vitamin C: 21mg
    • Calcium: 239mg
    • Iron: 6mg
    • Potassium: 1688mg