How to Smoke Spare Ribs On A Pellet Grill

Smoking racks of spare ribs on a pellet grill is an easy way to serve delicious smoked meat to whomever you have over for dinner. The question comes up often, how do I smoke spare ribs? There isn’t much to it, and once you’ve read through this article and done completed the steps a couple of times, you’ll be ready to experiment with an endless array of options to bring more flavors and aromas to your meal. 

What are Spare Ribs? 

Whole Spare ribs, or you may hear them called belly ribs, are the full rack of ribs on the lower section of a pig’s rib cage. They are usually made up of 11-13 bones and still have the breastplate attached. Once that is removed, you have yourself St. Louis cut ribs (a trimmed-down version of spare ribs). This recipe is all about smoking spare ribs on the pellet grill. These are easily found at your grocery store. I bought mine at Costco. 

Smoked spare ribs on your pellet grill are fattier than baby back ribs. This gives them a lot of flavors, helps them stay juicy during the smoking process, and is simple to prepare. This makes them a staple for BBQ restaurants who often serve them smothered in a sweet and delicious barbecue sauce. I suggest putting these in mid-morning, so you’ll have delicious, moist, and tender ribs by supper.

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Do You Trim Spare Ribs? 

Yes, a little. 

Spare ribs typically arrive in a cryovac sealed pack from the processing center. A little bit of trimming is important before seasoning and smoking. 

Before you do anything, remove the membrane from the bone side of the ribs. To do this, I suggest taking a butter knife and lifting a piece of the membrane from one of the bones on either end. Then grab the edge of the membrane with a paper towel and peel off the membrane slowly. If you’re lucky, it’ll come off in one piece. 

Sometimes whole spare ribs will have an inner skirt or flap of meat still attached. You can leave it on and turn it into pretty good bark, but you can trim it off if you prefer. That’s it! Remove the membrane and trim any excess fat you’d like. 

How Do You Season Spare Ribs?  

You can get creative and add your seasoning of choice, making sure you have plenty of salt. It’s common to season with your desired seasoning blend you pick up at the store or online, plus add some kosher salt. I suggest going more conservative on the rub and letting the smoke work in its magic. Think of the smoke as an added ingredient.   

How Do You Smoke Spare Ribs On A Pellet Grill? 

Even though I’m using the Camp Chef Woodwind SG, you can make smoked spare ribs on any pellet grill or smoking device. The critical thing is smoking the spare ribs over indirect heat. The cooking temp needs to be right around 250⁰F. Smoking spare ribs on a pellet grill makes this process of keeping the temperature constant very simple.

You may find a lot of 3-2-1 methods online for smoking ribs where you wrap in foil and apply the liquid. However, you can skip the complexity and make the process more straightforward with spare ribs. 

What Wood Should I Use To Smoke Spare Ribs? 

I prefer fruit woods when choosing pellets, but you can also go with a classic barbecue and smoke with hickory or oak.

How Long Will It Take To Smoke Spare Ribs on a Pellet Grill? 

It will take between 4.5 – 5.5 hours to smoke these ribs entirely. Do not open the lid or check on the spare ribs for any reason during the first 4 hours. 

Use an instant-read thermometer to watch the spare rib’s internal temp. Once they reach 200-205⁰F, they’re done. 

To learn more, read How Long Does It Take To Smoke Ribs?

Should You Add Sauce While Smoking Spare Ribs? 

This is optional and worthy of trying. If you go this route, after the initial 4 hours of smoking, where you don’t check on the spare ribs at all, I suggest braising them with butter and brown sugar. To do this, spread brown sugar over the meat side of the spareribs and place several butter cubes on top of the spare ribs throughout. Wrap in tin foil well to create a space for the brown sugar and butter to do their magic. Now continue smoking for an hour or until done. 

Now remove the spare ribs, slice them between the bones,  mop on a BBQ sauce of your choice, and place them back on the rack. Crank up the temperature to high heat and grill for a few minutes, turning them a few times. This will produce a nice char and caramelize the barbeque sauce. 

How Will You Know When the Spare Ribs Are Done? 

These ribs will be done when there is a good bark on the outside, the meat pulls back from the bones, and/or when the spare ribs hit an internal temperature between 200-205 degrees F. 

Here are three tests you can perform to know if your spare ribs are ready to come off. Click over to this article to learn more: How Do You Know When Rib Are Done?

1. Bend test – Lift the spare ribs by using tongs to hold onto the last three or so ribs, giving the rack a slight bend. It should begin to flex and break. You want to see the ribs begin to split and shred a bit.  
2. Bone exposure – Look at the rib bones. You want them to be exposed, and the meat pulled back from the bone. 
3. Temp test – The spare ribs are done if the internal temperature is between 200-205⁰F. Make sure to use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat without touching any bone to get an accurate reading. 

Should You Rest Your Spare Ribs? 

Yes, rest your spare ribs. Let them rest for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. If you have more time before serving the food, wrap the spare ribs in foil, then in a towel, and place in a cooler. This will keep them piping hot for hours.  

How Do You Serve Your Spare Ribs? 

Use a good sharp knife that will slice through the entire slab and slice between each bone. You can then serve them in individual bone pieces.

You can also sprinkle on a little dry rub and use a good BBQ sauce for dipping. 

These Are The Steps For Smoking Spare Ribs on a Pellet Grill

1. Unpackage the spare ribs and pat dry with paper towels. 
2. Trim them and remove the membrane. 
3. Fill the hopper with fruit, hickory, or oak pellets 
4. Set smoker to 250⁰F
5. Season with kosher salt and a rub of choice 
6. Place spare ribs bone side down onto the rack inside the smoker 
7. Smoke unchecked for 4 hours
   • Optional: Add brown sugar and butter, wrap in foil, then continue smoking until done
8. Finished when they hit 200-205⁰F
9. Rest at least 15-20 minutes 
10. Cut into pieces and serve 

Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Smoking Food Board!!