How to Cook Perfect Country Style Pork Ribs on a Pellet Grill

Country style pork ribs are a delicious cut of meat that come from the blade end of the pork loin. They contain a good amount of fat marbling which makes them tender and flavorful when cooked properly. While these ribs can be prepared in the oven, cooking them on a pellet grill results in ribs that are infused with smoky flavor.

In this article, we’ll walk through the steps on how to cook juicy, fall-off-the-bone country style pork ribs on a pellet grill.

Benefits of Cooking Country Style Ribs on a Pellet Grill

There are several advantages to using a pellet grill instead of the oven to cook country style pork ribs:

• Infuses smoky flavor – The wood pellets in a pellet grill produce smoke that gives food an irresistible smoky taste. This adds so much flavor to the pork ribs.

• Provides consistent temperature – Pellet grills allow you to set a precise temperature and maintain it throughout the cook time. This is important for low and slow cooking.

• Adds moisture – The smoke and enclosed environment help keep moisture in the meat. Ribs cooked in the oven can dry out quickly.

• Requires less monitoring – Once the temperature is set, pellet grills don’t require much babysitting. The oven needs to be checked more frequently.

• Uses 100% natural wood pellets – Pellet grills burn small compressed wood pellets made of natural hardwoods like hickory, maple, cherry etc. This imparts a subtle flavor profile based on the wood variety.

So if you want ribs that are fall-off-the-bone tender with a lovely smoky flavor. then you need to cook them on a pellet grill!

Step 1 – Choose Meaty Country Style Ribs

The first step is to start with high quality country style pork ribs. Look for ribs that have good marbling and meat throughout. Avoid ribs that look overly lean or bony. Thicker ribs work better than thin ribs on a pellet grill because they take longer to cook allowing more time for the smoke to penetrate.

Ribs that are 1.5 to 2 inches thick are ideal. Plan on about half a pound of bone-in country style ribs per person if serving as a main course.

Step 2 – Remove Membrane

Country style ribs usually have a thick membrane on the backside or underside of the slab. This membrane will cause the ribs to curl up while cooking.

To remove it, slide a butter knife under the membrane at one end to loosen it up. Then grab a hold of it with a paper towel and peel it off slowly. Use the butter knife to help scrape any remaining bits of membrane off the ribs.

Removing this will help the ribs cook evenly and absorb more smoke and seasoning.

Step 3 – Apply Dry Rub

A good dry rub adds so much flavor to the pork ribs. While you can use a store-bought rub, making your own rib rub is quick, easy, and allows you to add the seasonings you like best.

Here is a simple but tasty rib rub recipe:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Apply the dry rub generously on all sides of the ribs. Gently pat it onto the meat so it adheres.

Let the ribs sit for 15-30 minutes after applying the rub to allow flavors to penetrate. Or for even more flavor, you can cover the seasoned ribs and let them rest in the fridge overnight. The longer the rub sits on the meat, the more it will sink into the ribs.

Step 4 – Set Up Pellet Grill

Before turning on your pellet grill, make sure you have enough wood pellets in the hopper to last the length of cook time. Use a high quality brand of 100% natural wood pellets like oak, hickory or maple.

It’s always a good idea to start heating up the grill 10-15 minutes prior to cooking to allow it time to reach the set temperature. Turn on your pellet grill, open the lid and set it to 225°F degrees.

Once it preheats, you can start loading the ribs onto the cooking grates. Place the ribs meaty side up and leave a little space around each rib for optimum smoke circulation.

Step 5 – Smoke the Ribs

With the grill preheated to 225°F, keep the lid closed as much as possible to allow the ribs to cook low and slow while absorbing smoke. Maintaining a consistent low temperature is key for tender juicy ribs.

Cook time can vary quite a bit depending on the size and thickness of the slabs, but plan on around 5-7 hours for most country style rib slabs. Spritz the ribs with apple juice or water a few times during the cook to help keep the outside from drying out.

Monitor the doneness after 5 hours. The ribs should look caramelized on the outside with some nice bark forming. Check for tenderness by poking the ribs with a fork or skewer. When done, the meat should be very tender and almost falling off the bone.

If the ribs need more time, continue cooking and check them every 30 minutes until fork tender. The internal temperature of the ribs should reach 195-205°F when done.

Step 6 – Apply BBQ Sauce (Optional)

During the last 15-30 minutes of cook time, you can coat the ribs with barbecue sauce if desired. Use as much or as little BBQ sauce as you like based on your preferences. Sweet, tangy or spicy – any type of sauce works well with pork ribs.

Brush the sauce generously on both sides of the slabs and let it caramelize into the meat. This helps create sticky glazed ribs with finger-licking sauce in every bite. Be sure to keep the grill lid closed as much as possible during this final phase so the sauce doesn’t burn.

Step 7 – Rest and Slice Ribs

Once the ribs are fully cooked, tender and glazed in sauce, remove them from the pellet grill and let them rest for about 5-10 minutes before cutting into individual ribs. This short resting period allows the juices to reabsorb back into the meat.

Slice the ribs between each bone into individual portions. Serve them warm right off the grill!

Juicy, smoked country style pork ribs make an incredible entree or appetizer. The smoky flavor pairs so well with the pork. Enjoy them on their own, with cornbread, coleslaw, beans, mac and cheese, potato salad or your other favorite BBQ sides.

Tips for the Best Ribs Ever

• Always remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. This helps ribs cook evenly.

• Apply a flavorful dry rub. Let it sit on the meat for up to 24 hours before cooking if possible.

• Use the best quality hardwood pellets, like oak, hickory or mesquite. This impacts flavor.

• Cook low and slow at 225-250°F for best texture. Higher heat makes ribs tough.

• Spritz ribs periodically with juice to prevent drying out. Apple, orange, pineapple juice all work great.

• Baste ribs with BBQ sauce the last 15-30 minutes for sticky glazed ribs if desired.

• Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before slicing for juicier meat.

• Cook to 195-205°F internal temperature for tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

• Enjoy ribs fresh off the pellet grill and savor all the smokey juiciness!

With the right preparation and cooking technique, country style pork ribs turn out incredibly juicy, smoky and flavorful on the pellet grill. Next time you are craving ribs, give this method a try. The delicious wood fired taste and tender meat are so worth the effort.