Smoked St. Louis Ribs

Finger licking tender ribs with a hint of smoke and pull-off-the-bone perfection is what these Smoked St. Louis Ribs are all about. Loaded with flavor and sauced just right, you’d better make extra because these will disappear fast! 

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of smoked meats, and these ribs are some of the best I’ve ever made. They’re tender and pull away from the bone in a satisfying way that lets you mop up all the sauce from the bones. 

And, with just the right amount of smoked, these slow-cooked Smoked St. Louis Ribs are just about as good as ribs can get.

What Are St. Louis Ribs?

St. Louis style spare ribs are cut from the pork belly, and the hard breastbone is removed, and while these ribs are flatter and longer than baby back ribs, they’re also fattier, making them some of the tastiest pork ribs around. 

These smoked pork ribs also benefit from being less expensive than baby back ribs, so if you’re a baby back rib fan, give these a try! 

What You’ll Need

• St. Louis style ribs – 2 racks.
• Salt – Kosher – don’t use too fine a grain or too flakey a salt. Kosher is perfect for this recipe.
• GirlsCanGrill Pork Rub – If you can’t get these spices, see my comments below and my alternative recipe in the recipe card.
• OverTheFireCooking Adobo Honey – See my notes below.
• Sasquatch Fire Rib – See my notes below.
• Mustard – Yellow mustard is fine.
• BBQ sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce.
• Wood chips or chunks

The Best Rib Rub For Smoked Ribs

I love using my signature spice blends which are available at Spiceology, but if you can’t get those, you can swap out the spice blends and rubs for brown sugar, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and black pepper in this recipe. 

How Many St. Loius Ribs Per Person

St. Louis style ribs are larger and heavier than baby back ribs, so look for about 1 pound of raw ribs per person (bones included) or about 4-5 rib bones.

What’s The Best Wood for Smoking Ribs?

Delicious ribs pair best with a sweeter, less assertive wood. I love using post oak, pecan, or hickory.

How To Make The Best Smoked St. Louis Ribs

Smoking ribs isn’t difficult; it just takes some time! Start the day before by rubbing the ribs with the spices and letting them sit in the fridge overnight. Then, start smoking the pork ribs a few hours before you plan on eating.

Trim the ribs to remove excess fat and oddly shaped end pieces.

Remove the membrane on the back side of the ribs. Cut a corner of it away from the meat with a sharp knife, then grab the corner with a paper towel and pull it off. 

Rub the mustard over the ribs, then mix the spices and spread this dry rub evenly over the ribs.

Wrap the ribs in plastic and refrigerate them overnight.

Heat the grill to 225-250F, and add wood chunks. 

Hang the ribs in the smoker and smoke them until they reach 195-200F.

Remove the ribs from the smoker and add coals to heat the grill. Add the grill grate and let it heat up.

Remove the hooks from the ribs, brush the ribs with the BBQ sauce, and sear them meat-side down until the barbecue sauce is thick, tacky, and caramelized. 

Take the ribs off the grill, let them rest a few minutes, then cut along the bones to serve.

How Long Do Ribs Take To Smoke?

Every smoker is different as are the racks of ribs. If they’re super cold (just from the fridge) they’ll take longer, too. Give yourself between 5 and 6 hours to make the best smoked pork ribs.

What Goes With Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs?

Anything you want! Seriously though, my favorites are baked potatoes, mac and cheese, corn on the cob (give me all the carbs!) and even fries. Coleslaw, tangy pickles to cut through the richness, and a tasty veggie-packed salad will also pair nicely with this smoked ribs recipe.

Recipe Tips

• When using wood chunks or chips, don’t soak them first. 
• If using wood chips, use a smoker box, or for a barrel cooker, put them into a foil pan and replace them with fresh chips every 35 minutes or so.
• Smoke ribs on a rib hook so they get even exposure to the smoke.
• Serve your ribs with additional sauce.

Storage Instructions

If, and that’s a big IF, you have leftover ribs, wrap them tightly and store them in the fridge for 4-5 days.

More Delicious Smoked Ribs Recipes

If you’ve tried my Smoked Bar-B-Q St Louis-Style Ribs recipe, 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. I get inspired by your feedback and comments! You can also FOLLOW ME  on Instagram @girlcarnivore as well as on  Twitter and Facebook.