Easy, make ahead Baby-back Ribs… just in time for your summer BBQs.

With summer here and 4th of July festivities just around the corner, lots of people start thinking about BBQs.  Burgers and hot dogs are usually the go-to menu, simply because they’re so easy.

You know what else is super easy and can be prepped ahead of time?  Ribs.

Want to know how to give them loads of flavor and then have them so tender they just fall apart on you? Rub them, smoke them, then bake them.  (You can finish them up on the BBQ if you really want to, but we don’t.)

I cook my ribs based on Emeril’s recipe in this cookbook: Prime Time Emeril: More TV Dinners From America’s Favorite Chef I make his Orange Chipotle Glaze, which is ah-mazing.  I combine equal amounts of Chinese Five Spice, kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper in a bowl and rub into both sides of the racks of ribs.

If you don’t have a smoker, no worries.  Wood chips can usually be purchased in any grocery store, near the charcoal.  Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes.  Set your gas BBQ to low, or get your coals to a nice low temperature.  You want it about 250 degrees or so.  Make a foil “trough” for the wet wood chips to sit in, put it on the grill and close the lid.  When the chips start smoking, add the racks of ribs.

I smoke them for about 30 minutes, then bring them in and wrap them in plastic wrap then wrap them in foil.  (The first time I tried this, I worried that the plastic wrap would melt all over the ribs while in the oven.  I guess the foil protects it, because it was fine.)

Bake them for about an hour and a half at 350 degrees, then let them sit about 20 minutes.  Unwrap, coat with that fab glaze or your favorite BBQ sauce and cut apart.

You can cook them up, cut them and then just keep them warm until your guests arrive.  Easy-peasy!