This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The Best Apple Butter BBQ Ribs, these ribs are based with a delicious dry rub blend, slow cooked to perfection until fall off the bone tender, and slathered with an irresistible homemade Apple Butter BBQ sauce. It’s easy, delicious and the perfect addition to the dinner table as apart of a main or entree dish.
What is Apple Butter?
It’s actually not butter! Despite the name “Apple Butter“, it does not contain any butter. In simple Taneisha terms, apple butter is essentially concentrated apple sauce, with spreadability like butter. Similar to apple sauce, apple butter contain warm autumn spices like cinnamon, all spice, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg, however, it is cooked for a longer period of time. You slow cook the apples for a lengthy period of time which draws out the water and allows it to caramelize all the more. In return, you are left with a dark brown, deeply caramelized, apple “sauce” with strong apple flavours.
My Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter, is the staple ingredient in this recipe. Check out the recipe to make it yourself in less than 30 minutes!
How to Make The Best Apple Butter BBQ Ribs
The Dry Rub – every rack of ribs needs a good seasoning blend as a base. It’s a mixture of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powder, salt, black pepper, parsley, and of course some brown sugar. It creates a delicious blend of flavour and pairs well with this the apple butter bbq sauce.
The Meat, The Rack – for this recipe, you can use any rack of ribs you prefer, however you will need to adjust the cooking times depending on the type of meat. I used Pork Back Ribs, also called baby back ribs. They come from the blade and centre section of the loin, they’re meaty, easy to handle and often times less “fatty”.
TSS Tip: always remember to remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs as it will prevent the ribs from fully absorbing the flavour from the dry rub and helps with tenderizing the meat.
The Cooking Process – below are pictures after the 3 hours cooking period, after BBQ sauce has been applied, and when done.
Grab the Grocery List (Screenshot The Below)!
- Pork (Baby) Back Ribs
- Apple Butter – here’s a link to the recipe
- Tomato Ketchup
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Low Sodium Soya Sauce
- Yellow Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Liquid Smoke
- Dried Parsley
- Paprika
- Brown Sugar
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ground Ginger
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper
Other Recipes You’ll Enjoy!
Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter, Ultimate Twice Baked Loaded Potato Casserole, The Best Browned Butter Skor Toffee Cookies
The Best Apple Butter BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 Rack Pork, Baby Back Ribs
- Dry Rub
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Coarse Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Apple Butter BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup Apple Butter, my recipe is linked above
- 1/2 cup Tomato Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Rice Wine Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Low Sodium Soya Sauce
- 1 tbsp Yellow Mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Liquid Smoke
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried Parsley
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine and mix together the paprika, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, ground ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, coarse salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, set aside.
- Remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs. Use the tip of the knife to lift the membrane, and then use your finger to get underneath, then pull it back.
- Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Tear off two additional pieces of foil large enough to create a packet around the rack of ribs.
- Place ribs onto the two sheets of aluminum foil, and generously coat each side with the dry rub seasoning. Fold over the pieces of aluminum foil, creating a packet around the ribs – ensure it is well sealed.
- Bake in oven for 3 hours.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients – apple butter, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, low sodium soya sauce, yellow mustard, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, mix until incorporated.
- Remove from oven, increase heat to 400 degree F.
- Open foil packet and brush ribs generously with Apply Butter BBQ Sauce. Return to oven for 20 minutes, leaving the foil flattened on the baking sheet. Do not drain the liquid.
- If wanting a caramelized finish, turn oven on broil, watching carefully for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from oven, and enjoy!
