How to make TENDER RIBS for BEGINNERS on the Lone Star Grillz Pellet Smoker

pork ribs

🥗Healthier: turkey ribs

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Turkey ribs are leaner, while pork shoulder is often more affordable.

barbecue sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade barbecue sauce

💰Cheaper: ketchup with spices

Homemade sauce can be lower in sugar, while ketchup is budget-friendly.

Unpackage the baby back ribs and gently pat them dry with a paper towel, starting with the top and then flipping to do the bottom.

Trim off any unwanted areas, including bone fragments and hanging fat.

Remove the membrane by using a flat edge like a butter knife to go underneath it on one side, then grab a paper towel for traction to pull it off completely.

Season the ribs with your favorite barbecue rub, starting on the bottom first and then doing the top last, being generous with the rub.

Preheat the Lone Star grills pellet smoker to 250°F and allow it to fully preheat.

Place the ribs on the bottom grate of the smoker, close the lid, and begin cooking. Note that cooking will typically take 1.5 to 2 hours per pound, but it's more important to go by temperature and feel than time.

Optionally, spritz the ribs a couple of times throughout the cook with a mixture of 50/50 water and apple juice.

Check if the ribs are done using the bend test; they should bend easily with little resistance. Also, check for meat pulling back from the bones and use a temperature probe to check for doneness (around 200°F).

If desired, add sauce to the ribs before the end of the cook.

Remove the ribs from the cooker, wrap them in foil, and let them rest on the counter for about 30 minutes before unwrapping.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: