Best BBQ Ribs

Spiced, smoked and slathered in sauce: These rib recipes represent the best of barbecue, as well as some international twists.

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Neelys' Wet BBQ Ribs

The Neelys' secret seasoning mix is the final touch in their fall-off-the-bone tender ribs recipe.

Get the Recipe: Neely's Wet BBQ Ribs

Easy BBQ Short Ribs

Sunny makes short ribs a cinch: Simply pour her homemade BBQ sauce over the ribs, cover wth aluminum foil and roast until deliciously tender.

Get the Recipe: Easy BBQ Short Ribs

Smoked Ribs with Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce

Going to Carolina in your mind? Consider this recipe your ticket. Bobby layers on the flavor with a dry rub packed with ancho chile powder, a tangy vinegar-based "mop" for basting, and a BBQ sauce sweetened with brown sugar, molasses and honey.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Ribs with Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce

Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Don't slather sauce on your ribs before smoking if you aim to cook them in true Tennessee fashion. Here we apply a complex rub –– coriander, mustard powder, paprika, cayenne and more –– marinate them overnight and then cook them until the ribs develop a rich, dark crust.

Get the Recipe: Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Northern-Style Ribs

This rib recipe doesn't require any special seasonings before cooking; the smoker and rich, red-colored bbq sauce add more than enough flavor.

Get the Recipe: Northern-Style Ribs

Memphis-Style Dry Rub Ribs

Made with cayenne pepper, ground cumin, paprika and dried oregano, this rub gets the spicy-to-smoky ratio just right.

Get the Recipe: Dry Rub Ribs- Memphis (Dave's Dinners)

Golden Gate Chili Ribs

Hoisin and honey give Ching's Asian-inspired ribs a sweet base, while Chinese five spice and Fresno chiles add a spicy kick to each bite.

Get the Recipe: Golden Gate Chili Ribs

Michael Chiarello's Babyback Ribs With Espresso Barbecue Sauce

Michael Chiarello's one-of-a-kind barbecue sauce separates itself from the crowd with soy sauce, ketchup and 2 cups of espresso.

Get the Recipe: Michael Chiarello's Babyback Ribs with Espresso Barbecue Sauce

The Ultimate Barbecued Ribs

Tyler's sticky rib sauce gets a smoky infusion from the most irresistible lardon: rendered bacon fat.

Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Barbecued Ribs

Tiffani Thiessen's Texas BBQ Ribs

Tiffani learned a thing or two about barbecue from her Texan husband. She marinates baby backs over night with a sweet and spicy rub and then slathers on her favorite homemade sauce.

Get the Recipe: Barbecue Ribs

Spicy Soy Ribs With Sweet and Sour Slaw

Ching's succulent pork spare ribs get a healthy dose of heat from red-hot chili sauce.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Soy Ribs with Sweet and Sour Slaw

Barbecue Championship Ribs

The ribs that are prepared for the big cook-offs around the country are quite different than what you would normally cook at home or eat in a restaurant. Over years of cooking, the barbecue pros have learned that making your ribs a little bit too tender and a little bit too sweet can get you a good score when they are judged.

Get the Recipe: Barbecue Championship Ribs

Cumin Scented Oven-Baked Ribs

No smoker is necessary for these easy, oven-baked ribs.

Get the Recipe: Cumin Scented Oven-Baked Ribs with Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce

Jan Birnbaum's New Orleans-Style Babyback Beer Ribs

A potent spice rub containing chili powder, paprika, cumin, lime zest and nutmeg-like achiote give New Orleans-style ribs tremendous flavor.

Get the Recipe: Jan Birnbaum's New Orleans-Style Babyback Beer Ribs

Backyard Barbecue Ribs With Spicy Cola Barbecue Sauce

St. Louis-style ribs, aka Kansas City ribs, work best in this recipe; they're a leaner cut of the sparerib that lays flat for ideal grilling. Slathered with a sweet and spicy sauce, they're simply irresistible.

Get the Recipe: Backyard Barbecue Ribs with Spicy Cola Barbecue Sauce

Slow Cooker Asian BBQ Ribs

Slather baby back ribs with a spicy-sweet ginger chili sauce for a fun Asian-fusion twist. Slow cook them until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, then throw the ribs under the broiler or on the grill for a crisp, caramelized finish.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Asian BBQ Ribs

Banging Baby's-Got-Back Ribs

Aarón Sánchez's strategy with ribs is simple: Load on the flavor. First, these baby backs get a spice massage. Then, while the pork is cooking, he whips up a sweet and tangy sauce to brush on the ribs just before they're done.

Get the Recipe: Banging Baby's-Got-Back Ribs

'Barbecued' Baby Back Ribs

Chuck balances out his ribs with spicy chipotle peppers and sweet maple syrup. Serve them with a side of his anchovy- and egg-infused potato salad for a satisfying summer meal.

Get the Recipe: 'Barbecued' Baby Back Ribs

Alton's Baby-Back Ribs

Cooking baby back ribs is akin to a fine art. Alton seasons his with a flavorful dry rub containing chili powder, cayenne pepper, rubbed thyme, and jalapeño and Old Bay seasonings. He then bakes them in foil packets filled with a braising liquid, ensuring that they remain moist and flavorful.

Get the Recipe: Who Loves Ya Baby-Back?

Miso-Marinated Ribs

Roger Mooking has a flair for the exotic, and his miso-marinated ribs — made with miso paste and orange zest and topped with toasted soy nuts — are no exception.

Get the Recipe: Miso Marinated Ribs with Soy Smashed Potatoes and Green Bean Salad

Smoked St. Louis-Style Ribs

Sweet and slightly acidic, these ribs may get their flavor from a tomato-based sauce, but look out for hints of spicy mustard and hot sauce.

Get the Recipe: Smoked St. Louis-Style Ribs

Baby Back Ribs

Not your average rack, these finger-licking ribs get lathered in a homemade bourbon barbecue sauce.

Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs

Dad's Spare Ribs

Honey, cider vinegar and dark soy sauce give these ribs a finger-licking dose of sweet and sour.

Get the Recipe: Dad's Spare Ribs

Jerk Ribs

Take your taste buds on a trip to the islands with these Caribbean-inspired ribs, but don't let the heat take you by surprise. Scotch bonnet peppers are a key ingredient in any jerk spice recipe, and they're up to 140 times hotter than jalapenos.

Get the Recipe: Jerk Ribs

Balsamic Baby Back Ribs with Truffled Twice-Baked Potatoes

With a brown sugar, smoked paprika and maple flake rub — plus irresistible homemade balsamic barbecue sauce — Nadia G.'s baby back ribs are bad to the bone.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Baby Back Ribs with Truffled Twice-Baked Potatoes