How to Smoke Pork Ribs Using the 3-2-1 Method

Using the popular 3-2-1 method for smoking ribs is incredibly easy! Learn how to smoke ribs like a pro, and you’ll be the star of any backyard bbq!

Do you love incredibly tender pork ribs?  If you do, then you’re about to get reallllly excited!  This 3-2-1 method for smoking ribs will give you the most flavorful, tender and delicious ribs ever!

This post was sponsored by Ohio Pork, but as always, all opinions are my own.

I can’t believe it’s nearly September, and here I am posting a smoker recipe.  But you know, I plan on using my smoker year-round, and even have one of those smoker blanket things in my Amazon cart ready to go for the bone-chilling winter.  The amazing deliciousness of smoked meats and other foods just can’t be narrowed down to a few measly summer months!

Plus, at the end of this recipe, I’ll share how to cook these baby back ribs on a regular grill and in the oven.  Obviously they won’t have that classic smoked meat flavor, but they’ll still be tender and yummy!  Year-round ribs… comin’ up!

WHY THE 3-2-1 METHOD

A quick Google search for smoked ribs will show you a bunch of different ways to cook them.  For a smoking newbie, like myself, it can be overwhelming!  I have a trusty mini cookbook that came with my smoker, and it has a recipe called 3-2-1 ribs, and it piqued my interest.  It seemed simple enough, and promised fall off the bone tender ribs.  Here’s the basics:

• The first 3 hours, you’re infusing the meat with smoke flavor.
• The next 2 hours, you’re “steaming” the meat, which makes it incredibly moist.
• The last hour, you’re basting and glazing the meat with a bbq sauce of your choice.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE 3-2-1 METHOD

Here’s the rub…. pardon my shameless pun there… in bbq competition circles, fall off the bone ribs are terrible.  For rib connoisseurs, a great rib should be tender, and pull away cleanly from the bone as you bite into it, but it shouldn’t be SO tender that the bones slide out super easily.  However, for most people, and myself included, fall off the bone ribs are the best way to enjoy ribs.  So for probably 90-95% of people, these ribs would be perfect.

DO I SMOKE RIBS BONE SIDE UP OR BONE SIDE DOWN

I always smoke mine bone side down (so the meaty side is facing up), for two reasons.  First, I want the smoke to penetrate the bone side too, so each and every bite of the ribs is equally smoky and delicious.  Secondly, if you cook them bone side UP, the juices will pool in the concave center of the bones.  Which sounds like it would keep the meat nice and juicy, and it does, but what it also does is create a barrier that blocks the smoke from penetrating the meat.  So for me, bone side down, always.

HOW TO SMOKE RIBS USING THE 3-2-1 METHOD

In it’s simpler form, you’re breaking the cooking time into 3 easy time blocks.  A smoking time, a wrapped cooking time, and a basting time.

• Set smoker to 225 F degrees.  Brush a glaze over the ribs, on both sides.  Sprinkle generously with rub, then smoke for 3 hours.
• Transfer ribs to aluminum foil sheets, season with sugar, fold foil up on the sides and top with another sheet of foil, wrap together to seal the top and bottom sheets, leaving one end open.  Pour in some liquid (apple cider, bourbon, etc), then seal completely and return to smoker for another 2 hours.
• Remove ribs from foil and place back in smoker and brush with bbq sauce.  Smoke for 1 hour, cranking up the temperature the last 15 minutes or so to get stickier ribs.

If you’re in the mood for amazingly tender ribs, you simply have to try these 3-2-1 ribs!  My version uses a store-bought rub for convenience, and you can use any bbq sauce that you love.  If you’re in the mood for something deliciously boozy, you’ve got to check out my bourbon bbq sauce!

RECIPES TO SERVE ALONGSIDE SMOKED RIBS

• Mac and Cheese
• Baked Beans
• Roasted Corn on the Cob
• Tomato Avocado Salad
• Potluck Potato Salad