Meaty, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender, Traeger 3-2-1 Ribs is the way to go if you’re cooking ribs on your pellet smoker. Turning out perfectly every time, give your racks of ribs the royal treatment with this smoker recipe! Show
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This Traeger 3-2-1 Ribs recipe is just about as easy as smoked ribs get, and with this tried-and-true no-fail method, you’ll be ready to tear into meaty and oh-so-delicious tender ribs with a great smoky flavor. I love using my Traeger pellet smoker for smoking ribs. Accurate temperature control and the perfect amount of smoke make these some of my favorite pork ribs, and I love ribs! You can’t go wrong with this recipe. It starts with meaty ribs, a spice blend that’s so good you don’t need any brown sugar, and my secret ingredient for keeping the ribs moist and tender throughout the long smoking process. Ingredients
What Ribs Are Best For Smoking?I love baby back ribs. No, they’re not from baby pigs, and they’re called baby back ribs because they’re smaller than the other rib bones and are cut from near the top of the back where the ribs meet the spine. Baby back ribs smoke nicely and I like not paying for a huge amount of bone. However, you can also smoke St. Louis-style ribs, which are larger and meatier, or any cut of spare ribs. This recipe is scaled and timed for baby back ribs. How To Make The Best 3-2-1 Ribs On Your Pellet SmokerThere are a few steps in making 3-2-1 ribs, but never fear, I’ve got it all broken down for you. Prep the ribs:Remove the thin membrane on the back of the ribs by cutting a corner of it away from the backside of the ribs, then grabbing it with a paper towel and giving it a good pull. The membrane should pull away from the ribs. Whisk the salt, paprika, mustard powder, garlic and onion powders, pepper, oregano, and chili powder together. Rub the ribs with the mayo, then sprinkle them evenly with the dry rub. Refrigerate the ribs until ready to use, or for 1-4 hours. Prep your Traeger pellet grill:Set the Traeger grill/smoker to 225-F. Place the ribs on the smoker, bone side down, and smoke for 3 hours. Wrap the ribs:Lay a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a counter or work surface. Place three 1 tablespoon dollops of butter in a line down the center of the sheet, a few inches apart. Drizzle the syrup over the butter. Lay the ribs, meat side down, onto the butter, and fold the foil up around the ribs. Repeat for the second rack of ribs. Return the ribs to the smoker and cook for an additional 2 hours, meat side down. Sauce the ribs:Remove the ribs from the smoker and let them rest for 5 minutes before unwrapping. Place the ribs onto the smoker and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce. We love our homemade keto bbq sauce. Smoke for 1 hour or until the sauce is set and tacky. Rest the ribs for 5 minutes before cutting and serving your juicy ribs! Recipe Tips
How To Serve 3-2-1 RibsI love having extra sauce on the side for dipping my ribs, and cool and creamy coleslaw goes so well with hot and meaty smoked ribs. Or, while you’ve got the smoker going, make this creamy and spicy Smoked Jalapeno Mac and Cheese or Smoked Potato Salad. StorageIf you’ve got leftover ribs, package them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Warm them in the microwave or oven to heat them, or nosh on them right out of the fridge! Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long does it take to make Traeger 3-2-1 Ribs? The 3-2-1 refers to how long the ribs cook in each stage of the process, so in total, these ribs will take 6 hours on your smoker. Can you do 3-2-1 ribs in an electric smoker? Yes, you can use any smoker, event electric smokers or any other pellet smoker, as long as it can hold the heat at a consistent temperature. Running the grill too hot changes the timeline of this cook, so make sure to check temperature more than time. What is the final temp for smoked ribs? Ribs should have an internal temp of 185-190-F for them to be perfectly tender and delicious. MORE PELLET SMOKER RECIPESPork Recipes Smoked Pork Butt (on a Traeger)Poultry Recipes Traeger Smoked Chicken ThighsPoultry Recipes Smoked Beer Can ChickenPoultry Recipes Smoked Chicken QuartersIf you’ve tried my Traeger 3-2-1 Ribs or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. Traeger 3-2-1 Ribs5 from 23 votes Prep: 1 hr 15 mins Cook: 6 hrs Resting Time: 5 mins Total: 7 hrs 20 mins Servings: 6 For tender ribs that are guaranteed to turn out right every time, try the 3-2-1 method. It's a simple formula to the time and method for perfect ribs. 3 hours on heat, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour basted in sauce and finished! Ingredients 1x2x3xFor the ribs:
For the spice mix:
For the binder:
For the Wrap:
Serving:
InstructionsPrep the ribs:
Prep the pellet smoker:
Wrap the ribs:
Sauce the ribs:
Rest & Serve:
NotesAdd wood chunks to your pellet smoker. Place them in the hot corners and allow the chunks to add extra smoked flavor to your grill.An instant read thermometer, like the one I use from Thermoworks, will go a long way to making sure your ribs are progressing correctly through this cook. If you cook them too far, the meat will actually fall off the bone. You want a good bite, and tender meat, but not bones that pull out of the ribs. This recipe was tested in a Traeger pellet smoker but will work in any pellet grill. The 3-2-1 ribs method also works on any grill.To Cook 3-2-1 Ribs on a Gas grill or Charcoal grill, set the grills to maintain a temperature of 225. Check the grill’s internal temp and use a thermometer with an ambient temperature probe to make sure you are holding heat. Swings in temperature will cause these ribs to cook longer or faster. How long do you cook pork ribs on a Traeger grill?Ingredients. When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 275℉ and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Place the ribs, bone-side down, directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook for 45 minutes.
How long to cook ribs on Traeger at 225?225 for 3 hours or to around 150-160 degrees. If cold outside, do 180 for an hour, then 225 to the above temp.
How long does it take to smoke ribs on a Traeger pellet grill?Ingredients. When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 180℉ and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes. Smoke the ribs, meat-side up for 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160℉.
How long to cook pork ribs on pellet grill?They should be starting to take on a red color from the smoke. Cover and cook until they are deep red, 30 to 45 minutes. Spray the ribs once more, then brush the meaty part of each rack with 1/4 cup of the sauce. Close the grill and cook for another 15 minutes so the sauce can set.
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