BBQ recipes, product reviews, & how-to's

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Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

This smoked cream cheese with apple cinnamon is the ultimate cream cheese dessert recipe! This dip is very easy to make and is sure to vanish fast at your holiday party or any other gathering! Let’s dig into the process. The Ingredients Why Cream Cheese…

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

This smoked pork belly recipe is an absolute must try for any BBQ lover! This pork belly brisket uses simple ingredients and cooks in less time than the traditional beef brisket. As a bonus, it also costs less. Let me show you the process. Watch…

Smoked Spare Ribs (Texas Style)

Smoked Spare Ribs (Texas Style)

Texas style smoked spare ribs are an absolute must for anyone who enjoys BBQ! All you need for this Texas style ribs recipe is smoke, salt, and pepper. In this recipe, I’ll walk you through the of making the best pork ribs!

Ingredients for Texas Style Ribs

  • Kosher salt
  • Coarse black pepper
  • Optional: 50/50 mix of apple juice and apple cider vinegar

I list the apple juice and apple cider vinegar mixture for the spritz while the ribs are cooking. This is to keep them from drying out. Note that you can put a water pan in the main chamber of the grill instead. However, I like to have a wet mixture with a little flavor applied directly to the meat.

Watch the Video!

Difference Between Pork Spare Ribs and St. Louis Style Ribs

What’s the difference between pork spare ribs and St. Louis style ribs? Simple answer: it’s all in how it’s cut. St. Louis style ribs are a trimmed down version of spare ribs cut into a long, rectangular shape. I have a great recipe for saucy St. Louis ribs here.

Pork spare ribs are longer and have extra meat, as well as extra cartilage, on their racks. The extra meat extends off the rack of ribs between two to five inches in length. We’ll go into the process of cooking them this way.

Preheat the Grill

Getting the grill ready.

Since this recipe has a short prep time, preheat the grill first. We will cook these at 250 degrees over indirect heat. Depending on the grill, this could take anywhere between 15-30 minutes.

Regarding smoking wood, fruit woods such as cherry, peach, and apple go great with this recipe. Hard woods like oak, maple, and hickory are very good, too. For this recipe, I am doing a blend of maple, cherry, and oak.

Preparing the Ribs

Salt and peppered seasoned ribs.

Prepare the ribs by removing from the vacuum sealed package and patting dry any excess liquid. Flip over to back side (bone side up) and use a knife to remove the extra flap of meat covering the bones. This will likely overcook during the process.

Also, the smaller end of the ribs won’t have any bones (maybe one or two really small ones). Cut this section off closest to the last bone.

But don’t discard these excess portions of meat. You can cook them alongside the ribs and these small portions will finish sooner. Thus, making a perfect snack for the pitmaster during the cook.

Salt and Pepper for Dry Rub Ribs

Season the ribs by mixing equal parts kosher salt and coarse black pepper. I recommend one fourth cup of each. Mix these together to make the dry rub.

Apply the dry rub on the ribs on both the front and back sides. Doing this will help the flavor of the salt and pepper ribs stand out.

Smoking Texas Style Ribs

A rack of ribs being smoked.

Place ribs on grill at 250 degrees over indirect heat and smoke for five hours. Spritz ribs once an hour with a 50/50 mix of apple juice and apple cider vinegar. To make a spritz for ribs, pour one fourth cup of both apple juice and apple cider vinegar into your spray bottle and briefly shake to mix.

Cooking ribs is pretty simple process, actually. For true Texas style ribs, smoke with oak wood. But ultimately, use your favorite smoking wood for ribs because you are the one eating them.

How to Tell When Smoked Spare Ribs are Done

A rack of ribs fresh off the grill.

The way I prefer to tell when ribs are done cooking is by using a digital food thermometer. Place the tip of the probe into the meat in between the bones.

Since I prefer a clean bite through, the internal meat temp to look for is between 180 to 195 degrees. For fall off the bone ribs, look for an internal temperature between 196 to 210 degrees.

Another method people use to tell if ribs are done is to pick up the rack from the center and see how they bend. If they flap like a bird, without breaking in half, then they are done.

The last method, which is the oldest and most basic, is if the bones are showing. Meat will retract as it cooks and when the bones show, the expectation is the ribs are done.

With that said, using a digital meat thermometer will ensure you don’t overcook them.

How to Slice Pork Ribs

Whole rack of spare ribs and another rack sliced.

The easiest way to slice ribs is to place the rack bone side up. Rib racks are usually angled and it takes lots of practice to get an accurate cut meat side up. Seeing the direction of the bones helps you get the straightest, most symmetrical cut ribs.

Wrap or No Wrap?

You can speed up the cooking process by wrapping the rack of ribs in aluminum foil and placing back on the grill for another two hours. This will shave an hour off of cooking. Keep in mind you may not get as much smoke flavor this way.

Can I Cook Pork Ribs in the Oven?

This recipe is adaptable so you can cook pork ribs in the oven. Use the same cooking time and amount of seasoning. No need to spritz oven ribs as there is no drying out due to airflow like there is on a smoker.

Side Dishes That Go Best with Ribs

Smoked Mac and Cheese

Grilled Elotes (Mexican Street Corn)

Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans with Bacon and Onion

Two racks of pork ribs.

Smoked Spare Ribs (Texas Style)

Yield: 10-12 individual ribs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes

Texas style smoked spare ribs are an absolute must for anyone who enjoys BBQ! All you need for this Texas style ribs recipe is smoke, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients

  • 1 rack pork spare ribs (10-12 bones)
  • 1/4 Cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 Cup black pepper (coarse)
  • 1/4 Cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 Cup apple juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to 250 degrees over indirect heat; oak or hickory wood preferred.
  2. Prepare ribs by cutting off the excess flap on the back of the rack and cut off the excess meat on the end of the rack with the smallest rib bone.
  3. Mix equal parts kosher salt and coarse black pepper. Season both sides of the rack of ribs.
  4. Place ribs on grill and smoke for five hours or until internal meat temperature reaches 195 degrees. Spritz once an hour with apple juice and apple cider vinegar.
  5. Slice ribs bone side up to get perfectly even slices. Serve.

Notes

  1. Use a water pan in the smoker to help the ribs from drying out. This can be done instead of spritzing.
  2. Save the excess meat flap and small end of ribs for cooking on the side. Will be done sooner and make for a tasty treat for the pitmaster during the cook.
  3. After ribs are done, rest in foil if desired. Brush melted butter on the top of rack while resting for improved flavor.
  4. Double the salt and pepper dry rub recipe for each additional rack of ribs.
  5. For best results, use a a reliable digital food thermometer.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 3 ribs
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 390Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 100mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 22g

NOTE: Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso fundido is the easiest dip to make and only takes two ingredients. Also known as queso flameado or chorizo con queso, this melty, cheesy dip recipe is one that you’ll love! One Dip, Two Ingredients This Mexican dip only takes two ingredients: That’s it.…

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Pickles have grown in even more popularity recently and the fried pickle dip recipe is now the perfect dip to try! This easy pickle dip recipe stands out as it uses smoked cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and bacon. And dill pickles, of course (amongst other…

Easy Hot Dog Chili Recipe

Easy Hot Dog Chili Recipe

Do you love chili dogs? If you’re like most people, then yes! This hot dog chili recipe is surprisingly easy to make! It has the perfect balance of savory, heat, and a little sweet. Let me walk you through the process.

What is the Difference Between Hot Dog Chili and Regular Chili?

Hot dog chili is different from traditional chili in that most traditional chilis are soupy in texture and contain beans. It is mostly ground beef in a little bit of thickened sauce and has a touch of sweet to it. It helps balance the savory of the chili and the hot dog itself.

The Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Chili Powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Ketchup

And don’t forget the hot dogs, buns, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onion.

Hot Dog Chili Recipe Video

Ground Beef and Seasonings

Ground beef in a skillet on the grill.

To make this hot dog chili recipe, place a pound (16 oz.) of ground beef in a large skillet and cook over medium heat. Season with two teaspoons of salt, two tsp pepper, one tsp garlic powder, and one tsp onion powder. Cook for 10 minutes or until browned. Drain grease by either pouring into a colander or use a few paper towels and absorb grease from the pan.

Ground beef with an 80/20 blend is perfect for this recipe. It has a decent amount of fat, which provides more flavor. With that said, other blends with less fat will work for this recipe too.

Sauce and Simmer

With ground beef cooked and grease drained, add six ounces of tomato sauce and six ounces of ketchup. I like ketchup in this recipe because it adds some sweetness to it. Next, add one teaspoon of chili powder and a half teaspoon of cumin. Stir all of the ingredients in the skillet until well mixed.

Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to let the ingredients cook together, but also for the sauce to thicken. Once done, remove from the heat and serve!

What to Serve with Hot Dog Chili

Hot dog with chili on a bun.

You might not be surprised to hear this, but serve hot dogs with your hot dog chili. Because that’s what it’s made for! But this recipe is also great for chili cheese burgers and chili cheese fries, too. Try this chili on my Five Guys copycat fries recipe!

Wanna make this chili dog even better? Use Hawaiian rolls for a bun! Simply slice three connected Hawaiian rolls in half, about 3/4 of the way. Butter the insides and place face down on the griddle until toasted to your liking.

How Long Can It Be Stored?

Hot dog on a Hawaiian bun. So good!

This dish can be stored in a container and chilled in the refrigerator for up to four days. Make extra chili for topping burgers and fries. Or more hot dogs.

Similar Recipes to Try

Crack Burgers

Smoked Tri Tip Sandwich

Steak and Chimichurri Sandwich

Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders

Garlic Bacon Burgers

Hot dogs with chili

Easy Hot Dog Chili Recipe

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes

Make the best chili dogs with this easy hot dog chili recipe! Can be made in a manner of minutes and elevates your hot dogs to the next level of flavor!

Ingredients

  • 1 lbs. ground beef
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 4 oz. tomato sauce
  • 6 oz. ketchup
  • 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 6 hot dogs
  • 6 hot dog buns
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 Cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Place ground beef in skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and cook until browned. Drain grease.
  2. Add in tomato sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin. Let simmer at medium low heat for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. While hot dog chili is simmering, cook hot dogs to your liking.
  4. Once chili is done cooking, pour into open hot dog bun. Place hot dog in and top with diced onions and shredded cheese.

Notes

  1. Make hot dog chili spicier by adding another teaspoon of chili powder.
  2. For chunkier chili, add diced tomatoes.
  3. Instead of a traditional hot dog bun, serve on Hawaiian rolls by taking three connected rolls and slicing mostly in half, about 3/4.
  4. Try this chili on hamburgers! Also use my homemade french fries recipe to make chili cheese fries!

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 chili dog
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 663mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 20g

Note: Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

BBQ Party Ribs

BBQ Party Ribs

Party ribs are the viral sensation in which ribs are cut into individual pieces and smoked, giving you that soft crust and saucy flavor on all four sides (instead of two). They cook faster this way, in only three hours. Serve them up for a…

Crack Burger Recipe

Crack Burger Recipe

Crack burgers are very addictive due to the tasty combo of flavors such as bacon, ranch seasoning, and cheddar. This burger gets its name, as well as most of its ingredients, from crack chicken. The recipe is simple and the end result is addicting…hence the…

BBQ Burger Sauce

BBQ Burger Sauce

Elevate your burger game with the flavors of BBQ burger sauce! This burger sauce is made of condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, and BBQ sauce. It’s the perfect compliment to your burger and is great on sandwiches. It is also the perfect dipping sauce for your fries!

Burger Sauce Ingredients

Only five ingredients needed.

Here are the ingredients needed to make the best burger sauce:

  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • BBQ sauce
  • Relish
  • Worcestershire sauce

How to Make It

Mixing all of the ingredients together.

Making this special sauce is super simple. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce, and one cup of mayonnaise. Next, add in two tablespoons of relish. I like to use sweet relish, but a dill relish works well in this, too. And finally, add a 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce for a more savory balance.

You will find that burger sauce is an upgraded version of traditional fry sauce, which uses one part ketchup and two parts mayo. Adding the extra ingredients to this sauce gives your burger or sandwich an enhanced flavor profile.

How Long is This Sauce Good For?

That special sauce is perfect for burgers.

Since all of the ingredients in this sauce are usually stored in the refrigerator (after being opened), burger sauce can be good for up to a month. That is, when properly stored in a container in the fridge.

Which Type of BBQ Sauce Should I Use?

The type of BBQ sauce to use depends on the flavor profile you prefer. I use a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce for mine. If you want less sugar and more heat, use a spicier hot sauce such as Patriot Sauce – the spicy version.

How Common is This Type of Sauce for Burgers?

Crack burger with burger sauce.

Burger sauce is actually more common than you think. Most restaurants use it in some variation. For example, the Big Mac has a special sauce just like it. As well as In-N-Out spread, which is used on all of their burgers.

Side note: if you want In-N-Out spread for your fries, you can ask at the counter and they will gladly give you as many packets as you wish. I do this every time!

Other Sauces and Toppings to Try

Chimichurri Sauce

Caramelized Onions

Bacon Jam

Tangy Cilantro Lime Crema

Smoked Queso Dip

The Recipe!

BBQ Burger Sauce

BBQ Burger Sauce

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes

Elevate your burger game with the flavors of BBQ burger sauce! It’s the perfect compliment to your burger and is great on sandwiches, as well as a great dipping sauce for your fries!

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 Cup ketchup
  • 1/4 Cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 Tbsp relish
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Serve immediately.
  2. That's all! It's just that easy.

Notes

  1. Substitute dill relish for sweet relish.
  2. For spicier burger sauce, either use a spicy BBQ sauce or add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce.
  3. Can be stored for up to a month in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 175Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 450mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 0g

NOTE: Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

Breakfast Sliders with Country Gravy

Breakfast Sliders with Country Gravy

Make the ultimate breakfast sandwiches in slider form! These breakfast sliders combine sausage, hash browns, eggs, and cheese all on toasted Hawaiian rolls. Dip in country gravy for the complete breakfast experience! Let’s walk through the simple breakfast recipe. Ingredients for Breakfast Sliders These breakfast…


All Time Favorites

Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

This smoked cream cheese with apple cinnamon is the ultimate cream cheese dessert recipe! This dip is very easy to make and is sure to vanish fast at your holiday party or any other gathering! Let’s dig into the process. The Ingredients Why Cream Cheese…

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

This smoked pork belly recipe is an absolute must try for any BBQ lover! This pork belly brisket uses simple ingredients and cooks in less time than the traditional beef brisket. As a bonus, it also costs less. Let me show you the process. Watch…

Smoked Spare Ribs (Texas Style)

Smoked Spare Ribs (Texas Style)

Texas style smoked spare ribs are an absolute must for anyone who enjoys BBQ! All you need for this Texas style ribs recipe is smoke, salt, and pepper. In this recipe, I’ll walk you through the of making the best pork ribs! Ingredients for Texas…

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso fundido is the easiest dip to make and only takes two ingredients. Also known as queso flameado or chorizo con queso, this melty, cheesy dip recipe is one that you’ll love! One Dip, Two Ingredients This Mexican dip only takes two ingredients: That’s it.…

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Pickles have grown in even more popularity recently and the fried pickle dip recipe is now the perfect dip to try! This easy pickle dip recipe stands out as it uses smoked cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and bacon. And dill pickles, of course (amongst other…