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Perfectly sliced BBQ ribs served with baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread.

BBQ Ribs Cooked in Foil

Feast Camp
Enjoy tender, flavorful BBQ ribs cooked in foil, perfect for campfire meals or backyard grilling. A simple recipe with step-by-step instructions.
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Equipment

  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil
  • Tongs
  • Grill Grate or Portable Grill
  • Basting Brush
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Knife
  • Disposable Gloves
  • Cooler

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs:

  • 2 full racks of pork ribs baby back or spare ribs
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar or apple juice optional
  • ½ cup unsalted butter optional

For the Dry Rub:

  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the BBQ Sauce:

  • 1 cup BBQ sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 2 tablespoons honey optional
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce optional

Instructions
 

Prepare the Ribs

  • Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs for better seasoning absorption.
  • Pat the ribs dry to ensure the rub sticks.

Season the Ribs

  • Generously coat both sides with the dry rub, massaging it into the meat.
  • Drizzle apple cider vinegar or apple juice for extra moisture (optional).

Wrap the Ribs in Foil

  • Tear a large sheet of heavy-duty foil for each rack of ribs.
  • Place ribs bone-side down, add pats of butter (optional), and tightly seal the foil.

Cook the Ribs

  • Preheat grill or campfire to 300°F.
  • Place the foil-wrapped ribs on the grill or over indirect heat.
  • Cook for 2.5–3 hours, flipping occasionally.

Sauce and Sear

  • Unwrap the ribs and discard the foil and juices.
  • Brush BBQ sauce generously on both sides.
  • Grill uncovered for 5–10 minutes to caramelize the sauce.

Rest and Serve

  • Let the ribs rest for 5 minutes to retain juices.
  • Slice between the bones and serve hot with your favorite sides.