When it comes to any BBQ platter, beef ribs are going to be the center of attention, dressed to impress. You may not realize it but smoked beef ribs are fairly new to the BBQ scene when compared to brisket or sausage. Nonetheless, this massive piece of meat is one of the most sought-after offerings on menus everywhere, and understandably so. When seasoned and cooked properly, these ribs will develop a dark bark-like crust, a beautiful scarlet smoked ring, and become fall-off-the-bone tender.
An easy and delicious beef rib recipe that’s perfect for the smoker would be Smoked Jack Daniels beef ribs. Just think about it… You’re combining two American favorites: beef and Jack Daniels Whiskey. It truly is the perfect combination in a savory form.
Again, this piece of meat can be so delicious and tender, but only if it’s cooked right, and the best way to cook beef ribs is to smoke them. If you’ve never smoked beef ribs, the key here is low and slow. The reason for this is that not only are beef ribs a rather large piece of meat but they’re also not cheap. So when preparing and cooking these, you want to take your time with it. But not to confuse what you’re looking for when preparing this meat, it’s not about the actual cook time you’re keeping track of; it’s the internal temperature of the meat. So, yes, time is a factor but your best friend when smoking beef ribs is going to be a meat thermometer.
While the process of smoking beef ribs may sound a bit intimidating, the process actually is not. All you’re doing is seasoning the meat, and then setting a timer to make sure you’re not under or overcooking the meat. Here’s a quick overview of the entire smoking process.
Beef Rib Smoking Process: A Quick Overview
To get your ribs that beautiful smoky flavor, you’ll first smoke your ribs at 300°F for three hours. When those first three hours are done, you’ll spray the ribs with a mixture of Jack Daniels Whiskey and white vinegar, then smoke the ribs for another three hours at 300°F. This time, you’ll want to make sure the ribs reach an internal temperature of 205°F. Once the ribs have reached that internal temp, wrap them in foil or butcher paper if you have it, and let them cool for an hour. You can put the ribs in a cooler as well to speed up the cooling time. This ensures the ribs don’t lose all their flavorful juices. Once the ribs have properly cooled, you can then start slicing and serving!
The Best Smoked Ribs: Jack Daniels Edition
Ingredients
- 1 whole beef rib plate, about 3-4 lbs
- ¼ cup of Jack Daniels Beef Rub
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- 2 tbsp of Jack Daniels
Smoking Instructions
- Use some Cowboy Southern Style Hardwood Lump Charcoal to light the fire and let it burn for 10-15 minutes. Once the charcoal has turned white-hot, push it into two separate piles for 2-zone grilling.
- With a beef rib plate, score the top layer of fat and season using Jack Daniels Beef Rub thoroughly.
- When the fire hits a consistent 300°F, add the beef rib plate to the grill and additional add some Western BBQ Pecan wood chips. Let it smoke for three hours.
- Once it has been smoked for three hours, add some white vinegar and Jack Daniels whiskey to a squirt bottle and spray the beef down every hour on the hour for the next three hours until the internal temperature reaches 205°F.
- When the beef hits the right internal temperature, pull off the grill and wrap it in tin foil or parchment paper. Put the beef ribs into a well-insulated cooler for an additional one hour to let them rest.
- Pull ribs out, slice, and enjoy!
As you can see, this recipe isn’t too difficult but is more so time-consuming. This is not a meal you want to prepare when you’re short on time; low and slow truly is the name of the game. If you’re tired of eating the same old meals, consider trying this Smoked Jack Daniels Beef Ribs recipe from Over the Fire Cooking. For access to more great smoked meat recipes, subscribe to our newsletter!
