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My wife requested that I make these ribs. As a man who believes the term “happy wife, happy life” I started on them right away. Plus, if I’m honest, I never miss a chance to chow down on some delicious, savory ribs. This recipe is simple and packs a mouthwatering flavor you’re going to love.
People use beer and Coke in cooking everything from chili to turkeys. Well, I decided to play off the idea and use Dr. Pepper. I started with some high quality ribs from my friends over at Cheshire Farms, used some flavorful spices, and a can of Dr. Pepper. This recipe is good for serving a big crowd at Sunday dinner or eating with the family on any night of the week.
My choice for grilling today was my Traeger Pellet Grill with Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets.
I shot a video of me making these ribs and uploaded it to my Youtube channel. If you’d like to watch the process, head over there and tune in.
I used Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets for this recipe. I didn’t want it too hot, so it didn’t take long to heat my Pellet Grill to 250 degrees F.
Putting on nitrile gloves, I slid the slabs of ribs out of the packaging, wiped them off with a paper towel, and laid them on a large pan.
These ribs had a little loose meat hanging off them and some fat, so I used a knife to trim them up a bit.
Oil and water make good binders, but I decided to go with yellow mustard on these ribs. I learned to cook by using mustard as a binder, so that’s why I still like it.
I rubbed a layer of mustard into the top, turned it over, and did the same to the bottom of both slabs.
First off I laid down a base of my Hot BBQ Rub. It has onion and garlic powder, paprika and some chili powder to give a good kick of heat to the ribs. I sprinkled a medium coat on both sides of the ribs, not too thin or thick. Then I took my Cherry Rub and sprinkled it over the ribs to get another taste added into the crust. This Cherry Rub is a beautiful color, too.
I let the spices mingle and sweat into the ribs for about 10 minutes, then I turned them over and repeated the process on the backside.
Once my Traeger Pellet Grill was heated to around 250 degrees F, I laid both racks directly on the grill grates and closed the lid to let them cook.
The ribs had been on the grill for about 2 hours when I spritzed them with some Dr. Pepper. When I opened the lid I could tell the ribs were already starting to bark up. After spritzing, I closed them up to cook some more.
I mixed apple juice and my Butter Bath & Wrap together in a shaker bottle. I took the slabs off the grill and laid them on a pan covered with double aluminum foil. I poured half the contents of the shaker bottle on the first slab, flipped it upside down in the butter bath, wrapped in the foil (long sides first), did the same with the second slab, and put them back on the grill.
The ribs stayed on the grill another 2 hours before I checked their temps. They were hitting 204-205 degrees, F, so knew they were ready to come off the heat and get sauced up.
I poured a can of Dr. Pepper in a small saucepan, reduced it by half, and mixed it with my Sweet BBQ Sauce.
The ribs rested for about 10 minutes before I took them out of the foil and brushed both sides with the sauce. They looked perfectly cooked and the color was fantastic!
The sauce needed some time to penetrate the ribs, so I put them on the grill for about 25 more minutes. I used a cake knife (so I wouldn’t mess the sauce up) to scoop them off the grill.
I sliced them up and taste tested one right in the middle of the slab.
Saucy, sticky, tender, and delicious. I don’t know what else anyone could ask for in a rib. The taste was unique and flavorful. The Dr. Pepper added a delicious taste and the hint of cherry from the Cherry Rub really brought it home.
Some people like eating a whole rack while others are satisfied with half a rack. Serve it with a couple of sides like baked beans and coleslaw to make a hearty meal.
Store any leftovers in a ziplock baggie in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Traeger Timberline 1300
Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets
Hi-Temp Silicone Brush
