Rib Tips

If you ain’t never had Rib Tips, you are in for a serious treat boos! These meaty bites are marinated in a savory dry rub then slow grilled to get that smoky, tender, juicy, and finger-licking flavor before being tossed in an addictive bbq sauce. And let me tell you, they are the truth! Real BBQ fans know that rib tips are a whole mood.

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Listen boos, I’ve had my fill of rib tips. Living on the Southside of Chicago meant ample access to the good stuff. From Lem’s Bar-B-Q to Honey 1’s, I’ve ordered a bucket of Southside rib tips just to enjoy while watching Hulu. I guess you could say I’m an expert. And trust me, I won’t steer you wrong with this rib tip recipe.

What are Rib Tips?

Rib tips are the super meaty and succulent ends of pork spare ribs or St. Louis style ribs. Because they are super cartilage rich, they are also more chewy. Folks love them because they are pretty affordable, and they have such a tender texture and great flavor once cooked. These delicious morsels of meat are considered a delicacy when it comes to Southern and Chicago barbecue culture. They are usually smoked, grilled or baked up.

The Lowdown on the Best BBQ Rib Tip Recipe Online!

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern and Chicago Style BBQ
Primary Cooking Method: Grilling or Baking
Dietary Info: Meat lovers, this goes out to you! Can be Gluten Free based on the ingredients you use.
Key Flavor: Savory, Sweet, Smoky, Tender, Juicy
Skill Level: Intermediate

• Fall-Off-The-Bone Tender: Low and slow cooking creates melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness y’all.
• Intense Flavors: The dry rub gives those rib tips all the sweet, savory and smoky notes we like in bbq.
• Versatile: You can cook these up on the grill or in the oven based on your mood. Do you boos!
• Budget-Friendly: Rib tips are an affordable way to enjoy BBQ.
• Endless Customization: Get creative with your favorite BBQ sauce or homemade rubs! It’s your world!

Ingredients Needed to Make This Pork Rib Tips Recipe

• Rib tips: Pork rib tips are straight-up known for their richness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can find these bad boys at any local grocery store or butcher shop. You can also grab beef rib tips for this as well.
• Brown sugar: This is a key ingredient in our rub. It adds sweetness and complexity that balances the heat and savory vibes from all the spices.
• Dry rub seasonings: Listen, I like my big, bold, smoky flavors so I grabbed my onion powder, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, smoked paprika, salt, cumin, chili powder and mustard powder. That’s gonna infuse those ribs with so much goodness, you won’t even need a sauce unless you want it.
• Cooking spray: We are gonna use this to prevent the ribs from sticking when we grill. The foil wrap helps with this too! I also spray the rib tips with this to make sure our dry rub really sticks.
• BBQ sauce: And for that final basting, use your fave store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce. It’s gonna give that final sticky, tangy and sweet goodness we all crave boos.

How to Make Rib Tips

Step 1: Prep the Pork Rib Tips

1. Make sure you remove the membrane, extra fat and skin on the tips with a sharp knife so they can cook evenly. We want to leave mostly just the meaty part. Start by rinsing and drying the rib tips. Grab some paper towels and get out as much moisture as you can.
2. Add all the dry rub sugar and spices to a plastic bag and shake it up good so they all blend super well.

Step 2: Apply the Dry Rub

1. Next lay the rib tips on a foil lined baking sheet. Make sure the sheet of foil is much longer than the tips. We are going to use it to wrap them up later on.
2. Spray the ribs with the oil spray then massage that delish dry rub into each and all sides of the Southside rib tips. Get em good.
3. Cover em up with the foil super well then add them to the fridge and let those babies marinate for at least 6-8 hours. Let them go overnight if you can.

Step 3: Cook Up the BBQ Rib Tips

1. To grill the BBQ rib tips, lightly oil the grates then cook them over indirect heat for about 3 to 4 hours, turning and basting with BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes. For the most tender result, aim for an internal temperature of 190-220F.
2. To bake the BBQ rib tips, bake them low and slow at 300F for at least 2 ½ hours. Toward the end, broil them with BBQ sauce to achieve a sticky glaze. For the most tender result, aim for an internal temperature of 190-220F.

Step 4: Rest then let those rib tips up!

1. Allow the rib tips to rest for at least 10 minutes, which helps the juices redistribute resulting in a juicier texture.
2. Chop them into small pieces (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches is good!) and serve them with extra BBQ sauce and your fave sides.

How to Serve BBQ Rib Tips

• Try a Fun BBQ Sauce: You can definitely go with a classic store bought or try this chipotle bbq sauce for a ton of flavor.
• Classic Summer BBQ Vibes: Ain’t nothing like serving up this rib tip recipe with Southern potato salad, fried corn, coleslaw, baked beans, and ambrosia.
• Get Southern With It: Serve it up with classic sides like collard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, Southern corn muffins, sweet tea and don’t forget the peach cobbler.
• Build a Sandwich: Throw the meat on a delish brioche bun and add some sauteed onions, cheese and serve it up with sweet potato fries and onion rings.
• Make a Bowl: Serve the tips on a delish bed of rice.
• Get Tex Mex with It: I love these BBQ rib tips served on top of Mexican rice with a side of guacamole, Mexican corn and salsa verde.

Recipe Substitutions

• Rib Tips: If you can’t find pork rib tips or beef rib tips, you can easily sub in baby back ribs, country-style ribs, pork shoulder or brisket. Just cut it all up in the end.
• Spice Ingredients: You can definitely have a little fun with the ratios of this dry rub along with the components boos. Sub in chili flakes for cayenne or try an already made steak or rib seasoning at the store to save time and get with the fun.
• Brown Sugar: You can sub in another sweetener like maple syrup or honey but it will now be a wet rub. To keep it dry, use granulated sugar. It just won’t get as caramelized in the end.
• Oil Spray: While oil spray keeps the process a little cleaner, you can just use some olive oil or melted butter instead. Just spread on the tips and keep it moving.

Recipe Additions and Variations

• Jerk it Up: Switch out the dry rub for some jerk seasoning flavor. Then pair them with fried plantains and rice and peas.
• Change the Sauce: Instead of barbecue sauce, try a honey mustard or teriyaki sauce.
• Spice it up: Y’all can turn up the heat by adding cayenne, chipotles in adobo, or Sriracha hot sauce. You can even add in chili powder and crushed red pepper flakes to the dry rub. Remember to taste as you go along so you don’t turn the heat up too dang on high.
• Asian-inspired: Add rich, savory flavors with a hoisin or soy sauce-based glaze.
• Smoke it up: This pork rib tips recipe tastes so bomb when you smoke them too! Use applewood, mesquite or hickory wood chips to really get that bomb smokiness in there.

Expert Tips and Tricks for this Perfect Rib Tip Recipe

• Get Quality Meat: If you have an amazing butcher, try going there first. You want a nice amount of marbling in the meat with good fat too. That’s gonna give that juicy flavor y’all.
• Remove the membrane boos: Remove that silvery membrane before starting this rib tip recipe y’all. And get all that extra fat. This is gonna make for better flavor absorption and a more tender result.
• Let the ribs marinate: For maximum flavor absorption and the juiciest textures, allow the rib tips to marinate for at least 6 hours, but I recommend leaving them overnight.
• Cook low and slow: Whether you’re using a grill or the oven, keep the ribs over low heat to get that tender, juicy meat. Not rushing is the name of the game.
• Test them out: If you wanna make sure they are super tender, grab two forks and try to pull the meat apart after its been cooking a while. If it shreds super easily, it’s good to go boos.
• Let the ribs chill out: Resting cooked rib tips gives the juices time to redistribute so they get all juicy y’all. Don’t nobody want any tough dry meat.

How to Store Leftover Southside Rib Tips

• Fridge: Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.
• Freezer: You can wrap the rib tips tightly in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Reheat this rib tips recipe in the oven or on the grill over low heat for the best texture and flavor. You can even add them to an air fryer for a quick and convenient option.
• Prep ahead: Marinate rib tips ahead of time and freeze them until you are ready to fire up the grill!

Frequently asked questions

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