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    Home » Main Dishes

    Updated: Feb 27, 2024 · Published: Jul 1, 2023 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

    How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250°

    Jump to Recipe

    The low-and-slow method is the way to go when it comes to tender & juicy ribs. We love to smoke baby back ribs for the best fall-off-the-bone recipe. Cooking ribs at 250° in the smoker is the best way to make pork or beef ribs.

    Weber smoker with the lid on and showing 250°.
    The smoker should be between 250-300°

    Lucky for me, my lovely husband has mastered the baby back rib smoking process over the years.  We worked together to come up with a method that we find is foolproof every time.  It takes about 4 hours to slow cook in the smoker but the level of effort is pretty minimal.  

    It is so easy that Ian will get those ribs on the smoker, manage a game of baseball, and return home just in time to get dinner on the table.  I am one lucky gal.

    Baby Back ribs before game time
    Jump to:
    • Which Ribs are Best for Smoking at 250°?
    • Prepping the Ribs
    • Prep the Smokers
    • How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250°
    • Do I need to Babysit the Smoker?
    • How to Tell the Ribs Are Ready
    • Internal-Temperature for Ribs
    • Secret to the Best Juicy Smoked Ribs
    • Pairing
    • How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250°

    Which Ribs are Best for Smoking at 250°?

    We love pork ribs and baby back ribs are our favorite. Throughout this post that is what I will be referring to. However, St Louise style, spareribs, or beef ribs also are great to smoke at 250°. Many cuts of beef or pork ribs will work.

    Ian starts off with the baby back ribs from Costco.  They are economical and the meat always turns out great.  They come shrunk-wrapped in the refrigerator section with 3 racks in a pack.  

    We typically make 2-3 racks depending on what else we are making.  Our family of 5 finishes close to 2 racks. We love leftover ribs reheated in the air fryer the next day. If guests are coming, 3 racks are often perfect to feed 8-12 adults & kids with side dishes.

    Prepping the Ribs

    For this day, Ian prepared the ribs as always with a dry rub. My homemade sweet, savory, & spicy pork dry rub with brown sugar is our go-to recipe. It is great on any pork including chops & roasts.

    Use whatever you like if you have a recipe for a dry rub or buy a prepared mix since there are many found in stores nowadays. He covered all sides of the ribs with the rub and put them directly on the racks in the smoker, bone side down.

    Prep the Smokers

    We have a Weber smoker, the medium-sized option.  It is great for smoking several racks of ribs or ribs and chicken at the same time.

    Ian uses hickory wood chips along with the charcoal in the smoker and once it reaches 250°, the ribs go on.  Maintaining the heat in the 250-275° range is key. He has done it enough times that he knows what amount of chips and charcoal will maintain that heat range without having to tend to it and just lets it just go for hours like it is on cruise control.

    How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250°

    The baby back ribs take about 4 hours in total. We like to get these on the grate and then an hour later start a Whole Chicken on the Smoker. They will then both finish at the same time for the ultimate BBQ feast.

    The best way to ensure the kids do not dry out and are not tough is to cook them in 2 different stages. Each method for takes 2 hours at 250°.

    Here are the steps to making the best tender & moist ribs in your smoker.

    Cook Ribs on the Smoker Grate

    • Place seasoned ribs directly on the grate of your smoker.
    • Place them so the meat is facing up (see the image below).
    • Let them smoke for 2 hours this way while maintaining the heat between 250°-275° for best results.
    Baby Back Ribs with bones facing down on the rack of the smoker.

    Cook Ribs Wrapped in the Smoker

    • Remove the ribs and place each rack on a sheet of heavy-duty foil with a few pats of butter.
    • Brush sauce on all sides of the ribs & then wrap the ribs tightly with the foil sealed closed.
    • Place the ribs back on the smoker grates with the meat side down this time.
    • Let them smoke between 250°-275° for another 2 hours.
    Baby Back ribs with sauce on a sheet of foil.

    Do I need to Babysit the Smoker?

    Once the smoker is maintaining the heat, you can let the smoker do the magic. As long as you have enough fuel, the heat level should stay within the optimal range. If it goes a bit out of range say 225°-300° it is still fine. It just means the ribs will take longer or be done faster.

    We have even gone to watch our kids' sports games for a few hours and came back to a perfect BBQ. One time, we watched Landon's Little league game & dinner was done when we returned. It was the first time he was taking the pitcher's mound so it was all around a great day!  

    A young boy on the pitching mound ready to throw a baseball.

    Win or lose, at this level in Little League they play Fun to Fun.  I will say that Landon did a great job on the mound and threw several strikes.  So enjoy time with your family & friends while dinner cooks almost all by itself.

    Landon pitching
    Here comes the heat!

    How to Tell the Ribs Are Ready

    The smoked baby back ribs will be done when the edges are a bit crispy and the sauce is caramelized. If you use tongs to grab them they will likely fall apart or the meat will start to flake off. It is a thing of beauty and hard to resist grabbing a few nibbles

    Internal-Temperature for Ribs

    An internal temperature of 190°-195° on an instant-read thermometer will tell you the ribs are done smoking and ready to come off. This high temperature allows the collagen & fat to break down & render a tender bite.

    Let the ribs rest in the foil packets with the juices for 15-20 minutes. Then you can slice them into individual ribs or smaller racks to serve.

    Foil packets resting on the counter.
    Packets of ribs

    Secret to the Best Juicy Smoked Ribs

    When we open the packets and put the racks of meat on the cutting board, I save the drippings from the foil into a glass measuring cup.  You DO NOT want to waste that liquid goodness.  

    Once the ribs are cut up, I pour the juices back over the ribs. This not only ensures all the flavor remains on every bite but helps keep the meat juicy and tender.

    How long to smoke ribs at 250° - when ready Pour the juices over the cut ribs.
    Pour juices back over ribs

    Get out your wet naps and dig in!  You now have all the makings for amazing baby back ribs.  Feel confident that you can do this.  Would love to hear how you like to make your baby back ribs.

    How long to smoke ribs at 250° on a cutting board ready to eat.

    Pairing

    Here are some great sides to serve with smoked baby back ribs:

    • Old-Fashioned Baked Mac & Cheese
    • Slow Cooker Collard Greens
    • Air Fryer Green Beans
    • Jiffy Corn Casserole
    A plate of ribs ready to eat.

    How Long to Smoke Ribs at 250°

    Angela
    For the best way to cook ribs on the smoker, maintain the heat around 250°. Find out how long it takes to make seasoned & sauced baby back ribs or other beef & pork cuts. Tips to smoke ribs plus how to prep ribs, prep a smoker, & how to tell when the ribs are fall-off-the-bone ready.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6

    Equipment

    • Smoker
    • heavy-duty aluminum foil

    Ingredients
      

    • 2-3 racks baby back ribs
    • pork rub
    • 1 stick salted butter
    • BBQ sauce
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare your smoker with coals & wood.
    • While the smoker is coming to heat, prepare the ribs. Remove the membranes if still intact. Season the outside of the ribs liberally with a lot of pork rub or your favorite seasoning blend. Let the ribs sit at room temperature while waiting for the smoker.
    • When the smoker reaches 250°, time to add the ribs for cooking.
      Place seasoned ribs directly on the grate of your smoker. Place them so the meat is facing up.
    • Let them smoke for 2 hours this way while maintaining the heat between 250°-275° for best results.
    • Remove the ribs and place each rack on a sheet of heavy-duty foil with a few pats of butter. Brush sauce on all sides of the ribs & then wrap the ribs tightly with the foil sealed closed.
    • Place the ribs back on the smoker grates with the meat side down this time. Let them smoke between 250°-275° for another 2 hours.
    • Maintain the heat as best you can. If it runs too hot or too cold it may change the timing of when the ribs are ready.
    • An internal temperature of 190°-195° on an instant-read thermometer will tell you the ribs are done smoking and ready to come off.
    • Let the ribs rest in the foil packets with the juices for 15-20 minutes. Then you can slice them into individual ribs or smaller racks to serve.
      Enjoy!
    Keyword bbq, meat, smoker, summer
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Caroline Parrott says

      May 14, 2019 at 11:45 am

      Those look like I want them right nowwww.!!!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 15, 2019 at 9:46 pm

        I agree, who wouldn't want these right now? A vegetarian maybe?

        Reply
    2. Christy Boston says

      October 01, 2019 at 11:51 am

      I love ribs, and the baseball pics are a nice touch, too. Great post!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        October 01, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        Thanks Christy - busy family and enjoying our time together while amazing food cooks - nothing better!

        Reply
    3. Raquel says

      October 01, 2019 at 12:04 pm

      I officially have the "baby back" song stuck in my head. These look delicious. I'm glad you were able to make delicious food work along with a busy schedule!

      Reply
    4. Erika says

      October 01, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      Ribs in the smoker are the best!!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        October 01, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        I know - many great ways to do ribs but low and slow on the smoker is my favorite for sure!

        Reply
    5. Harriet says

      October 02, 2019 at 2:40 am

      I’ve never made ribs before, and after looking at your recipe I think I will.

      Reply
    6. Jacqueline Debono says

      October 02, 2019 at 8:22 am

      Love your baseball pics! I've been wanting to get a Weber smoker. These ribs look fabulous!

      Reply
    7. Beth says

      October 02, 2019 at 7:37 pm

      Oh, man, that photo where you are pouring the sauce onto the ribs after taking them from the foil, I just want to reach out and grab a hunk. Sadly, we don't have a smoker, but that could change.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        October 02, 2019 at 8:44 pm

        It sounds like a potential holiday gift idea!!!

        Reply
    8. Simone says

      October 03, 2019 at 12:25 am

      I love slow smoked back backs! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    9. Sonila says

      October 03, 2019 at 3:32 am

      Oh my, I am drooling over these ribs and all the yummy pictures. I need to learn to make these at home:). Sooooo goood!!

      Reply
    10. Nart | Cooking with Nart says

      October 03, 2019 at 5:07 am

      Those look AMAZING. I can literally see how tender they are. YUM!

      Reply
    11. Shari L Eckstrom says

      October 03, 2019 at 6:03 am

      Ribs and baseball are a great combo. Wish I had a smoker to give these a try.

      Reply
    12. Lathiya says

      October 03, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      Wow, loved the recipe. The detailed explanation really helps.

      Reply
    13. Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef says

      October 07, 2019 at 10:06 am

      Your ribs look fracking delicious and absolutely the perfect dinner to come home to after a fun day of baseball! Great tips on heat control too, thanks so much for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    14. Angela says

      November 09, 2023 at 3:28 pm

      We have been making ribs this way for years - it has been perfected to say the least. It really is the ONLY way to make teh BEST baby back ribs ever & I am glad you finally found your recipe you have been longing for.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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