How to Make The Most Tender Chipotle Grilled Ribs

by Alli

This shop, Chipotle Grilled Ribs, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GetGrillingAmerica #CollectiveBias

It’s officially grilling season! Actually, here in the south, we grill all year long. However, once spring and summer arrive, we grill most days of the week. Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner and the hubs and I are grilling up Tender Chipotle Grilled Ribs for our patriotic party. The chipotle rub has only four ingredients and I’m sure you have three of them hanging out in your pantry.

It is time to get the grill out and grill some tender, chipotle ribs! Don't be intimidated by ribs. They are so easy to grill and my chipotle rub adds the right amount of flavor. Your family will love these grilled ribs.

My husband and I love to cook together, especially when it comes to grilling. I usually mix up the marinade and work on the sides like coleslaw and grilled corn-on-the-cob while he gets the grill going.

If you’ve always been a little unsure about grilling ribs, put your worries aside. It’s one of the easiest things to cook and your Memorial Day guests will all agree that you’re the hostess with the mostess!

Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Let’s Make Tender Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Whenever I’m preparing to get my grill on, the first stop is Walmart to grab a slab or three of Smithfield Pork Back Ribs. Smithfield® is always my go-to for ribs because they are hand-trimmed, extra tender and juicy. Knowing that there’s no added hormones or steroids makes me feel good about serving Smithfield Fresh Pork.

While I’m at Walmart shopping for Memorial Day, I also pick up Kingsford Charcoal because we like to grill our ribs on the charcoal grill. Since I’m out of chipotle peppers in adobe sauce and KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce (a family fave), I grab these items and I’m good to go.

Chipotle Grilled Ribs

 

Chipotle Rub

Dice the chipotle peppers and mix with brown sugar, chili pepper, and salt. Be sure and coat both sides of the ribs with the chipotle mixture and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Remove the ribs from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling.

Chipotle Grilled Ribs - How to Make the Rub

How to Grill Ribs

I don’t like using lighter fluid, so I buy Kingsford® Match Light®.

Kingsford Match Light - Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Remove the grill grates. Add the charcoal briquets and light with a match. Easy, peasy!

How to Make Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Helpful Hint: Your grill is ready for the ribs when the charcoal briquets are covered with gray ash.

My husband likes to add his trusty pan of water next to the charcoal. He says it improves the flavor of the ribs and keeps the temperature down. Since he thinks he’s the king of the grill, I go along with it. However, you don’t have to use a pan of water.

Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Add Smithfield® ribs and grill, covered, for approximately 2-2-1/2 hours. Ribs are done at 180-190° F when checked with an instant-read thermometer.

Chipotle Grilled Ribs

How to Make The Most Tender Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Chipotle Grilled Ribs

Ingredients

  • 3 Chipotle Peppers in Adobe Sauce, diced
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Smithfield Pork Back Ribs

Instructions

  1. Two to four hours before you plan to grill, mix together the chipotle peppers, brown sugar, chili powder and salt.
  2. Coat the ribs on both sides with the chipotle mixture and place in the fridge for 2-4 hours. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling.
  3. Once the charcoal is covered with gray ash, place the ribs on the grill. Cover.
  4. Turn occasionally and cook for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until ribs are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside (180-190º on instant read thermometer)

Did you make this recipe?

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If you’re looking for a different twist on Chipotle Ribs, check out this video by Tuffy Stone. I’m looking forward to trying his recipe ASAP.

It’s definitely grilling season at my house. Be sure and visit Smithfield’s Get Grilling America site.   Check out the opportunity to win $5,000 cash plus multiple prizes throughout the summer.

How to Grill Ribs - Chipotle Grilled Ribs

How will you get your grill on during the Memorial Day Weekend?

28 comments

Robin rue May 16, 2017 - 6:12 am

Mmmmm! We love ribs in our house and we are so happy it’s finally grilling season again here so we can have LOTS of them this summer. Yours sound ah-mazing.

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valmg @ Mom Knows It All May 16, 2017 - 7:12 am

Hubby and much of the rest of the family love ribs. I think most men think they are the king of the grill, women can work a grill too!

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candy May 16, 2017 - 8:11 am

We love the taste of chipotle and who doesn’t love ribs. Will have to show my husband this since he does all the grilling out for us.

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Jeanette May 16, 2017 - 9:58 am

Oh my gosh this would be perfect for memorial weekend! I cannot wait to try this recipe. My mouth is drooling.

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Danik May 16, 2017 - 10:43 am

I havent had ribs in ages. Now I so want to have some. Getting Ribs in Latvia right now is hard so I think I have to wait until I get back to the UK. This looks so yummy I want this in my tummy and I might give this a try later this week 🙂

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lisa May 16, 2017 - 12:17 pm

We love ribs and we grill a lot during the summer. I usually grill every day, so I will be adding this recipe to my must grill recipes!

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Sarah Bailey May 16, 2017 - 12:47 pm

Oh my what a delicious sounding recipe for ribs! I can definitely see me trying to get the other half on the BBQ with this.

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Amanda Love May 16, 2017 - 1:27 pm

It’s time to bring out the grill and start grilling indeed. This recipe is something that my boys will love. I’m sure they’re going to enjoy this very much.

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Carol Cassara May 16, 2017 - 1:29 pm

I would love to make this when the whole family comes over to visit. I love thar the marinade is so easy to make! That charcoal makes lighting the grill easier!

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My Teen Guide May 16, 2017 - 3:28 pm

I love grilled anything. Summer cookouts are always the best. I hope the weather gets better soon, because I can’t wait to fire up the grill. I am saving your recipe and rest assured, this will be another family favorite.

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Pam Wattenbarger May 16, 2017 - 3:31 pm

It’s finally grilling season and I am so ready for some ribs. These chipotle ribs sound really tasty.

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Jenn @ EngineerMommy May 16, 2017 - 4:44 pm

My husband is a rib expert and we all love the way he makes them. This recipe sounds absolutely mouth watering. Ill share this with him!

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Maurene Cab May 16, 2017 - 9:01 pm

Grilling is just one of my favorite pastime during Sundays. It’s a great way to get the family together.

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Destany May 16, 2017 - 11:49 pm

Yum!!! This year, my husband is getting a new grill. I can’t wait until we get it – I’ve been dying to try new recipes. This looks like one I need to try out.

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Anosa May 17, 2017 - 4:12 am

How I wish I could declare its grilling season here in the UK too but alas it’s been pouring none stop in my neck of the woods but these ribs have definitely lighted up my soggy morning

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David @ Spiced May 17, 2017 - 10:09 am

We love grilling ribs, and we actually just made some last weekend! But this chipotle rub sounds amazing, and now I want to make ’em again this weekend! Thanks for sharing! #client

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Rebecca Swenor May 17, 2017 - 1:53 pm

I have to admit that the chipotle grilled ribs sound and look so good. We are having a family cookout Memorial day weekend so I will have to pick some ribs up. Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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Jasmine Eclipse May 18, 2017 - 8:09 pm

Mmmmmmm this looks so good, and perfect for summer time!! I need new recipes, because I’m so sick of always eating the same things for dinner. Definitely trying this one!

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Cesar Diaz May 19, 2017 - 7:10 am

It looks so good! I can’t wait to try this delicious recipe. You can always count me in when you combine chipotle and ribs. Thanks for the idea.

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Paul May 20, 2017 - 7:45 pm

Can I use the recipe but smoke the ribs in my smoker?

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Alli May 22, 2017 - 7:14 am

Sure! Just remember to cook low and slow so that the brown sugar in the rub will caramelize instead of burning.

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Oyinkan Ogunleye May 22, 2017 - 2:47 am

I’m not a meat eater but I believe everything tastes better grilled. Good choice.

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soumya May 25, 2017 - 10:42 am

I love the taste of chipotle.

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Aline Dias June 25, 2017 - 8:27 pm

Mmmm. That’s delicious.

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7 Best Grilling Recipes in My World - An Alli Event September 1, 2017 - 6:07 am

[…] you like a little spice in your life, this is the way to go. My Chipotle Grilled Ribs are slightly spicy and really tender and juicy. Serve them with grilled corn and a huge tossed salad […]

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Richard Henry December 5, 2017 - 10:38 am

By the looks of it, This is a must try recipe. especially because the marinade is easy to make, coal used is easy to light and I guess has a promising taste. Can’t wait to try this with my family.
Just in case, Is it okay to boil the ribs in its marinade instead of keeping it in the freezer for hours?
Thank you!

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Alli December 5, 2017 - 10:43 am

You marinade the ribs for only 2-4 hours in the fridge, not freezer. 🙂 Hope that helps clarify!

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Richard Henry December 11, 2017 - 12:15 am

I meant fridge. Thanks for your detailed reply Alli. My friends and family loved The recipe and I have been recently visiting your article to learn more from your recipes for my colleagues and family. Happy cooking and thank you.

Reply

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