2-2-1 BBQ Ribs Recipe – Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Cook Temp: 225
Cook Time: 5 hours
How Long Do You BBQ Ribs – 2,2,1?
The 2,2,1 method for BBQ ribs take 5 hours to cook. The 2,2,1 stands for 2 hours unwrapped, 2 hours wrapped in foil and 1 hour unwrapped. This means – you cook your smoked baby back ribs for 2 hours on the grill in indirect heat, then you wrap your smoked ribs for 2 hours in foil, then you cook the final hour unwrapped.
Preparation:
Heat Your Grill
Heat your grill to 225 and toss in your favorite wood
Pull your ribs from the fridge and rinse.
There is a thin film on the back of the ribs called a membrane. You want to remove this.
Grab a butter knife and slide it under the membrane on the back of the rips. Once you get under the membrane, wiggle the knife so it loosens and you can grab it. I use a paper towel to grab the membrane because it gives me a better grip. You might be able to pull it off in one piece or it might tear and need to be removed in smaller pieces.
Once the membrane is removed – put a light coat of mustard on the ribs. Not a lot of mustard, just enough to get the rub to stick.
Evenly put the rub onto the bbq ribs.
Put the ribs in your smoker for 2 hours at 225 degrees.
While these are cooking you can make a mix to put in with the ribs for the next phase of the 2,2,1 baby back rib process.
In a sauce pan – put a stick of butter, ¼ cup of brown sugar and 2 table spoons of honey. Simmer and let it all melt in the pan.
After 2 hours of smoking – They will look something like this:
Pull the bbq ribs off and wrap each individually in aluminum foil.
• Side note – If you’re using a Komodo grill, make sure not to keep the grill open for an extended time or your temp will spike. I will normally put the foil beside the grill, open it and grab one rack, then shut the grill. Wrap that rack then open the grill and grab the next.
You have a few options when wrapping your bbq ribs.
# 1 – Pour the butter, sugar, honey mix in with each rack of ribs. This will give the baby back ribs some sweetness and keep them moist.
#2 – You can also use a 50/50 apple juice and apple vinegar mix instead of the sugar mix if you prefer.
#3 – OR… you don’t have to put anything in the ribs and just wrap them.
Test different ways to cook them and see what you like. 😊
After 2 hours – unwrap your rips and place back on the smoker for the final hour. You’ll notice the meat pulling back from the bones and the smoked ribs are starting to look awesome.
Keep an eye on your ribs and determine how you like them. A good way to tell your ribs are done is when you pick them up – if they bend and the meat “cracks” If they bend and break – that is a good indication to pull them as well.
I like to put the Jack Daniels sauce on the ribs when there is about 30 min left. I brush it on it on 2 times, every 15 minutes. Click here to see the Jack Daniels Sauce
Do a few A/B tests to see what you like the best.
Pull the smoked bbq ribs after they’re on for the final hour.
Cut and enjoy!
This is an awesome method- 2/2/1 vs. 3/2/1. Doesn’t take as long and is still fall off the bone tender. I smoked mine with apple wood chunks. At the 2 hr. mark, I sprinkled them with brown sugar, added 3 tablespoons of butter and then 1/2 cup apple cider and 1/2 cup Jack Daniels whiskey. Wrapped in foil and put back on the green egg for the next 2hrs. Wow!! Amazing ribs!
I’m new to smoking and this was my 3rd try with a new 3rd method. I was not happy with the other approaches. These were AMAZING!!! I will never do them a different way. 2-2-1 always! Thank you Bryan! I can’t wait to try other recipes of yours.
Glad you enjoyed it – I def like the 2-2-1 approach as well over the other methods.