COOK IT.
Optional: The night before, prepare the ribs by removing the flap, extra cartilage, and the silverskin. Combine your favorite BBQ seasoning for pork and the brown sugar. Season the ribs on both sides, then place onto a rack over a tray in the fridge overnight.
Preheat the charcoal kettle by placing paper into the bottom of a charcoal starter, then fill the starter 1/3 of the way with charcoal. Ignite the paper and let the charcoal ash over and fully ignite. While waiting for the charcoal to light, place a thin layer of charcoal along one wall of the barbecue. Place some smoking wood throughout. Once the charcoal is ready, pour it at one end of the unlit charcoal. Allow the grill to warm up to approximately 225°F (107°C). To maintain a cool temperature, keep the bottom vent nearly closed, only opening it one notch.
Once heated, place the ribs on the cool side of the BBQ away from the charcoal. Smoke the ribs for approximately 3 hours until they develop a deep mahogany color.
After 3 hours, wrap the ribs in foil, pouring a little apple juice or beer into the packet before sealing it up. Then, continue cooking using indirect heat for an additional 2 hours.
After 2 hours, you may need to add more charcoal. Check and add a couple more lumps as needed. Unwrap the ribs and remove them from the packet. Cook, uncovered for 10 to 20 minutes to resolidify the bark, then begin adding sauce.
For the sauce, combine your BBQ sauce with the honey or syrup and brush the mixture onto the ribs. Baste both sides until the sauce has become tacky and caramelized. You can move the ribs over direct heat to help this process in the last 5 to 10 minutes of your cook.
Serve immediately with your favorite barbecue side dishes like cornbread, potato salad, and corn on the cob. Learn more about the different kinds of ribs and why you should cook them past done .
This recipe for 3-2-1 Style Smoked Ribs is easy to prepare on a charcoal kettle grill and even easier to customize by using your favorite rubs and sauces. How did you customize your pork ribs? Share your Kettle Grill Smoked Ribs recipes, ideas, and photos on our social pages like Facebook and TikTok , using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #NapoleonGrill.
Happy Grilling!