Serving a plate of individually cut Smoked Party Ribs celebrates crusty bark, juicy pork, and that smoky sweet flavor with every bite. Are you preparing for a last-minute party, or are you simply impatient? Either way, there is good news, these party ribs are ready in just about an hour! It’s crazy, and they are crazy delicious.

Why This Method Works

Smoking ribs doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task. Slicing pork ribs into individual servings greatly speeds up the process and delivers more smoked bark in every bite.

Smoked pork ribs typically take around 4-6 hours to cook. They turn out incredibly delicious too, but let’s face it, not everyone has that kind of time. Sometimes, I just want pork ribs NOW!

Here we have the solution with BBQ Party Ribs! Let’s celebrate after you try them out.

Related: Don’t forget our other smoked pork favorites such as Grilled Pork Steaks, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, or even a Smoked Rack of Pork!

Grab a hold of these individual party style bbq ribs, which are simple to make.

Table of Contents

Baby Back Ribs vs. Spare Ribs

When it comes to smoking party ribs, baby back ribs tend to work the best. However, the choice is really up to you. While spare ribs can be used, baby back ribs are preferred for their meatier texture and quicker cooking time.

Spare ribs should be cooked at lower temperatures to properly render the fat. Through testing at higher temperatures, I’ve found that the fat can crisp up too quickly, leaving the meat a bit tougher. Lower temperatures (~300°F) help to soften the fat more but will add significantly to the cooking time.

Slather these smoked pork ribs with plenty of homemade bbq sauce.

Which Grill is Best for Party Ribs?

Any grill that can cook indirectly will work well for preparing these party ribs.

CHARCOAL GRILL: Set the coals in the middle (Weber kettle) or banked to the side. Place the ribs on the cooler side, away from the direct heat. Add wood chunks for additional flavor and smoke color.
PELLET GRILL: Place the ribs in the middle of the grill, making sure to flip them halfway through the cook. They should cook very evenly.
GAS GRILL: Turn on the burners to medium heat, leaving a set of burners turned off. Place the ribs on the cool side. You may use a foil pack or wood chip box for your gas grill to generate smoke.

Slice the baby back ribs into individual bones and season generously.

Watch the Video Recipe

Watch the video if you’d prefer, otherwise instructions are below!

Prepping the Ribs

Trim up any loose fat or funny bits, and then remove the membrane on the back of the ribs. This is important as the ribs will be cooked hot and fast.

Slice the ribs into individual ribs, taking a sharp knife and cutting between the bones.

Season the individual ribs generously with your favorite BBQ seasoning. We recommend Canyon Crust for this recipe!

Cook the party ribs indirectly from the heat using a pellet grill or charcoal grill.

Smoking the Ribs

Preheat your grill or smoker to 350°F, having it ready for indirect cooking. See the grilling recommendations for setup.

Place the seasoned ribs on your grill on the cool side of the grates. Allow them to cook undisturbed for about 30 minutes before checking on them.

Flip the ribs if needed to ensure they cook evenly. This is more important when using a charcoal grill, as the temperatures can fluctuate.

Cook the ribs until they have an internal temperature of about 195°F. The temp probe should slide into the meat with little resistance.

Brush both sides of the baby back ribs with the sauce before finishing.

Glaze the Ribs with Sauce

This step is optional but delicious. Using a brush or a mop, lightly baste the outside of the ribs. Make sure to flip them, and glaze the other side as well.

Allow the ribs to sit in the grill for another 10 minutes or so, which helps to set the BBQ sauce.

Related: Check out our list of recommended BBQ sauces, including the Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce pictured in the photos.

Try our homemade honey bourbon BBQ sauce on these party style bbq ribs.

How to Store and REheat Ribs

Store the ribs in a sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Use a vacuum sealer to keep the ribs longer than a few days.

The easiest way to reheat smoked pork ribs is to place them on a baking sheet inside a preheated oven set at 350°F. Bake them for about 15-20 minutes, depending on the amount, and make sure they are warmed completely.

Air fryers also work for reheating, but I recommend using 300-325°F instead, monitoring the ribs to ensure the sauce doesn’t burn. Don’t ask me how I know this.

What if I like Ribs that fall off the bone?

Once the ribs hit about 165°F, around the 35-40 minute mark, you can wrap them in a foil pan with a little butter and BBQ sauce. This will prompt braising and steaming, softening the meat and the bark.

Use heavy-duty aluminum foil to tightly seal the foil pan and allow them to cook until tender, around 200°F. Make sure they have time to rest for about 15-20 minutes.

SMOKED Party Ribs RECIPE

Once you try this smoked party BBQ ribs recipe, you may end up preferring them to the low and slow style! So fire up that grill, gather your friends, and get ready to feast like never before. At Chiles and Smoke, we’re here to bring people together with bold flavors, using spice and flames to ignite the food and friendships.

If you try this recipe, please consider leaving an honest review below. You can also find more content by following Chiles and Smoke on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Smoked Party Ribs

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Print Recipe

Serving a plate of individually cut Smoked Party Ribs celebrates crusty bark, juicy pork, and that smoky sweet flavor with every bite.

Total Time: 65 minutes
Yield: About 3-4 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 rack of baby back pork ribs
2 tablespoons Canyon Crust Rub
1/2 cup Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce

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Instructions

Preheat the grill for indirect cooking. Warm up the coals and bank them to one side, or in the very center. If using a pellet smoker, set the temperature to 350°F.
Prep the pork ribs. Remove any loose skin or meat from the sides. Slice the baby back ribs into individual portions of 1 rib. Season generously with your BBQ seasoning.
Cook the party ribs. Place the ribs in the grill on the cool side, away from the heat. Let the ribs cook undisturbed at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
Flip the ribs and continue to cook. Check the temperature and the bark of the ribs. Flip as needed, which is very important for charcoal grills to ensure even cooking. Continue to cook for another 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reads about 195°F.
Glaze with sauce (optional). Brush the sauce on both sides of the ribs and let them cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has set.
Rest and serve. Once the ribs are probe tender, around 200-203°F remove them from the grill and allow them to rest for a few minutes before digging in.