Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs

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Fire up your smoker for these irresistible Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs! Sweet, smoky, and fall-apart tender, these ribs feature layers of honey, brown sugar, and a rich bourbon BBQ glaze that will make your taste buds sing.

Simple Irresistible Ribs!

If you’re craving something hearty, smoky, and downright irresistible, these Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs are the answer. They combine the deep, slow-cooked flavor of the smoker with the sweetness of honey, brown sugar, and bourbon BBQ sauce.

Every bite melts in your mouth, creating a perfect balance of savory and sweet. Whether you’re firing up the smoker for a weekend cookout or looking to impress the family at dinner, this recipe hits the spot every single time.

We’re Serious About our Smoked Meats

At Backyard Texas Grill, we take smoking meat seriously—it’s more than a weekend hobby; it’s a way of life. After years of experimenting with rubs, marinades, and smoke times, we’ve perfected these Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs, a recipe that captures the heart of true Texas barbecue.

Each step has been tested right here on our family smoker, ensuring that every rib turns out tender, juicy, and bursting with sweet, smoky flavor.

Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or firing up your smoker for the first time, you can count on this method to deliver competition-worthy ribs with that backyard comfort you’ll crave again and again.

Simple. . .But Delicious!

These ribs are proof that a few simple ingredients—when combined the right way—can create something extraordinary. With a rich bourbon glaze, a touch of honey, and just the right amount of heat from Meat Church’s “The Gospel” seasoning, every bite tells a story of slow smoke, sweet flavor, and that unmistakable Texas flair.

What are we waiting for? Let’s fire up the smoker and walk through exactly how to make these melt-in-your-mouth Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs from start to finish.

Honey Bourbon Rib Ingredients

You will find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a look at what you will need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your pantry or fridge.

• 4.5 pounds country style pork ribs
• ½ cup Meat Church “The Gospel” seasoning
• ½ cup honey bourbon BBQ marinade
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 4 tablespoons butter

How to Make Country Ribs

These come together so easily. You’ll enjoy the process as much as we did!

Preheat smoker to 240°F.

Prepare the ribs: Lay ribs on a cutting board and season generously on all sides with “The Gospel.”

Rest: Let ribs sit for about 10 minutes so the seasoning can soak in.

Smoke: Place ribs directly on the smoker grates and close the lid.

Cook until internal temperature reaches 150°F, about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Add the glaze: Transfer ribs to an aluminum pan.

Drizzle with honey.

Pour honey bourbon BBQ marinade over the top, and sprinkle with brown sugar.

Place sliced butter evenly across the ribs.

Cover and cook: Seal the pan tightly with foil. Raise smoker temperature to 250°F. Continue cooking until ribs reach an internal temperature of 205°F. (This will typically take about 1½–2 hours depending on your smoker.)

Rest: Remove the pan from the smoker and let the ribs sit for 10–15 minutes before serving.

Serve: Spoon some of the flavorful juices from the pan over the ribs or use them as a dipping sauce.

Pitmaster’s Tip

Don’t toss those juices! The combination of butter, brown sugar, honey, and bourbon BBQ creates a rich, silky glaze that’s perfect for brushing over the ribs right before serving—or for dipping each bite.

What to Expect from these Ribs

These ribs are the ultimate mix of sweet, smoky, and savory. The bourbon BBQ adds a deep, caramelized flavor, while the honey and brown sugar bring out just the right touch of sweetness. The butter ties it all together, creating that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness every rib lover dreams of.

These Smoked Honey Bourbon Country Style Ribs prove that backyard cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be legendary. Fire up that smoker, pour yourself a cold drink, and let the aroma of sweet bourbon and smoke fill the air. Once you take that first bite, you’ll know exactly why this recipe belongs in your regular rotation.

Other Meats from Backyard Texas Grill

If you’re crazy about meat, we’ve got recipes you’re going to love. Here are some fan favorites:

Texas Style Smoked Beef Brisket: If you love smoked beef brisket, but the thought of making one yourself feels daunting, this post is for you. This Texas-Style brisket is juicy, tender and full of flavor. And it’s so easy to make!

Simple Reverse Seared Steak: Nothing is quite as satisfying to the palette as a tender and juice, perfectly cooked steak. In this post, I’m going to show you how to use a method known as reverse searing. You’ll end up with a great steak, perfectly cooked, if you follow this simple method.

Herb-Crusted Pork Tenderloin: In this post, we’ll show you how to make a tender and juicy pork tenderloin encrusted with the unmatchable flavors of fresh rosemary, sage & thyme. Keep reading for the delicious recipe!

The Perfect Smoked Honey Ham: If you’re looking for the perfect smoked honey ham recipe, you’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’ll show you how to perfectly smoke your spiral ham (yes, even if it’s already “pre-smoked”). We’ll also teach you how to take it up a notch with our own homemade brown sugar, honey butter glaze!

Drunken Chicken (Beer Butt Chicken): Drunken Chicken is also known as Beer Butt Chicken or Beer-in-the-Rear chicken. This is a popular barbecue and grilling technique for cooking chicken, and it’s the method we used for ours. You’re going to love this simple but delicious recipe.

That’s it for this post, friends!

We’re so glad you stopped by. Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Pitmaster

At Backyard Texas Grill, Zach loves experimenting with Texas flavors, classic smoke techniques, and bold marinades. This recipe was born out of a “what’s in the freezer” moment and turned into one of the most-requested dishes in their backyard cookouts. Every smoky bite is proof that the best grilling ideas often come from a little creativity—and a whole lot of love for good food.