How to Make Smoked Pork Ribs: Mango Habanero Pork Ribs

Learn how easy it is to make smoked pork ribs with fall off the bone tender meat! Mango Habanero Pork Ribs are full of flavor and perfect for your next summer BBQ.

This post was originally written and sponsored by KC Masterpiece in 2016. The opinions and text are all mine. The product featured in this Smoked Pork Ribs recipe is no longer available. The post has been edited and improved to include new instructions using available products.

Creating this Smoked Pork Ribs Recipe

I have been eating a lot more BBQ lately. In part because I love the simplicity of throwing something on the grill and having relatively no clean up in the kitchen.

During the summer months, especially, I’m drawn to cooking (and eating) outside because food is very much a social thing for me. I hate to pull the kids away from playing with friends out front and getting the physical activity that they need, running up and down the street in the sunshine.

Last summer, I cooked almost all of our meals on the grill. And while the grill is great, I really love smoked meats.

I love how a smoker is almost a little bit like the slow cooker of outdoor cooking. If that doesn’t make sense, let me explain – I can put a rack of ribs on the smoker in the early afternoon and pretty much forget about it until it is almost time to start thinking about dinner.

It makes my life totally easy when it is a busy day…and I LOVE the flavor that smoking infuses into meats, like ribs, compared to grilling.

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Tools Needed to Make Smoked Pork Ribs

The following kitchen tools will be helpful when preparing these Mango Habanero Pork Ribs:

• Cutting Board – keeps your counter clean while you’re prepping the pork ribs.
• Sharp Knife – to remove the silver skin and trim any excess fat.
• Pellet Grill, Pellet Smoker, or Electric Smoker – these amazing ribs are best cooked using the smoking method. We like to use our Traeger Grill.
• Meat Thermometer – helpful for checking the internal temperature of the smoking ribs
• Basting Brush – to apply the barbecue sauce on top of the ribs.

Ingredients in these Mango Habanero Smoked Pork Ribs

This delicious Here’s what you’ll need to make this smoked pork ribs recipe:

• Pork Ribs
• Rib Rub
• Barbecue Sauce

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

What are the Best Ribs to Smoke?

If you didn’t already know, there are multiple choices when it comes to pork ribs.

The main types of pork ribs are: spare ribs, country style ribs, and baby back ribs. You may also see St. Louis Style ribs, but those are just spare ribs that have already been trimmed down

You can use any of those rib styles when making this recipe, however, this recipe includes instructions and cooking time based on using baby back ribs.

Baby back ribs may also be labeled as back ribs or loin ribs. They’re shorter than spare ribs and considered the most tender and leanest of rib styles, which makes them simple to prepare because they don’t require much trimming.

Smoked Pork Ribs Ingredient Notes

New Recipe:

This product this recipe was created for is no longer available. I have tested it using similar products and edited the recipe to include instructions using a new rib rub and BBQ sauce combination thatI think create a very similar flavor.

• Honey Habanero Rub
• Mango Habanero Glaze

Another idea, though not one I have tested yet, would be to mix a habanero bbq sauce with some mango jam to make your own mango habanero bbq sauce.

Original Recipe:

If you’ve been to the BBQ sauce aisle at your local Wal-mart recently, you may have seen the new KC Masterpiece® BBQ Sauce Mix and Dry Rub.

I was totally inspired by the Spicy Habanero BBQ Sauce Mix and Dry Rub flavor. First, I used one of the packets as a rub for my smoked pork ribs. I seasoned the ribs the night before and let them sit in the fridge to infuse the flavor, kind of like dry marinating them.

Then, I smoked the pork ribs. I like a little sauce on mine, so during the last hour I basted the ribs with a BBQ sauce I prepared using the other packet of the rub. By adding a little bit of Mango juice, I had a Mango Habanero BBQ sauce.

Ingredient Substitutions in this Recipe

Feel free to use your favorite dry rub and barbecue sauce combination when preparing this recipe. My only suggestion is to make sure you choose a rib rub and a BBQ sauce that have complimenting flavors.

The method will remain the same, but you can easily switch up the flavors using different products. We also like this Homemade Southwestern Pork Rub.

How to Make with BBQ Smoked Ribs with Mango Habanero Sauce

Here’s a quick over view of the cooking process:

1. First, you’ll trim any excess fat and remove the silver skin from the back of the rib rack.
2. Then, rub meat side of the ribs with the habanero rib rub. After that, place the ribs bone side down on the grate of the preheated smoker.
3. After 3-4 hours of smoking, increase smoker temperature to 225 degrees F, wrap the ribs with foil and continue cooking.
4. After 5-6 total hours of cooking, remove the foil, and baste the ribs with the BBQ sauce for the final hour of cooking.
5. Cook for another hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 200-205 degrees F.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the step by step instructions in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

How Long Does it Take to Smoke Pork Ribs

The total time to cook this recipe for smoked pork ribs is about 6 – 8 hours.

Increasing the heat significantly will decrease the cook time, but will not give you the same flavor or texture results. It is best to cook pork ribs low and slow.

Tips for Making the Best Smoked Pork Ribs

Here are a few pro-tips to get you started if you haven’t cooked ribs on a smoker before:

Make sure you remove the silver skin from the ribs.

The silver skin is located on the back of the ribs. It is a thin membrane that covers the bones and can easily be removed by slipping a knife between it and the bones. Then, using your hands, pull it away and discard.

If you don’t remove this, the flavors from the rub and the smoke won’t penetrate the meat. The silver skin also cooks into a leathery skin that is difficult to bite through.

Apply the rib rub in advance.

I like to add the rub the night before, place the ribs on a rimmed baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap, then transfer to the refrigerator.

This extra time with the rub on the meat before cooking allows the seasonings to seep into the meat for more flavor. This is just personal preference, but I definitely recommend it.

Smoked ribs cooking time can vary based on weather conditions.

Cold or windy days may cause your pellet smoker to run cooler. Keep an eye on the temperature readings as you cook to ensure your ribs are cooked properly.

Use a thermometer to test pork ribs internal temperature.

Ribs can be safely eaten at 145 degrees F internal temperature, however, at this temperature they are more like pork chop consistency.

In order to get that tender, fall off the bone meat, you’ll need to cook the pork ribs to the internal temperature of 200-205 degrees F. Cooking past “done,” will allow the meat to break down and be extra tender.

Don’t forget to let the smoked ribs rest.

Just like other cuts of meat, you should let the ribs rest at room temperature after they finish smoking (before you cut into them). Resting meat allows the juices to redistribute throughout.

I like to place them on a large cutting board with an edge or on a baking sheet and have them wrapped in aluminum foil.

Then, I place them in a cold oven while I finish any remaining elements of the meal. After resting, remove and discard the foil wrap. After that, cut the ribs.

How to Store Leftover Smoked Pork Ribs

The best way to store leftover pork ribs is in the refrigerator.

Cool them completely first, then transfer them to your preferred storage container. They’ll stay good for about 3 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container or heavy duty zip top bag.

What to Serve with these Smoked Pork Ribs

It was a gorgeous evening, so we ate out on the deck and totally enjoyed our meal. I thought these Mango Habanero Pork Ribs were really tasty.

I garnished them with a little chopped cilantro for a pop of color and flavor. Cilantro pairs well with mango and habanero and gives a little fresh taste to the smokey pork.

I definitely look forward to more experimenting with the smoker, as well as more BBQ meals outside. We served the ribs with a side of Slow Cooker Baked Bean Trio with Bacon and our Creamy Jalapeño BBQ Coleslaw.

• Smokey Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges, Classic Potato Salad, or Macaroni Salad would also taste awesome as a side!
• For a salad dish, Zucchini Tomato Basil Salad or Watermelon Mint Salad are both light and refreshing summertime salads for the later summer months.
• If you’re serving this for a crowd, you might like to offer pitchers of Mango Raspberry Sangria,  Strawberry Lime Agua Fresca, Strawberry Lemonade, or Watermelon Lemonade to wash it all down.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

Try these Mango Habanero Smoked Pork Ribs!

Next time you’re looking for a recipe for bone tender ribs, give these Mango Habanero Ribs a try! Did you think it was the best smoked pork ribs? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of these delicious ribs.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this recipe!

More Smoker Recipes

Looking for more recipes to cook on your Traeger or pellet grill? Here are a few that are delicious and very popular:

Smoked Pork Shoulder is a classic summertime BBQ recipe. Come check out my tried and true method for making Traeger Smoked Pulled Pork along with my favorite pork shoulder brine and pulled pork rub to use when making this pulled pork recipe.

Traeger Smoked Turkey is one of my favorite ways to cook turkey. Check out my tried and true method on how to smoke a turkey, along with my 8 pro tips for the best smoked turkey!

Easy Smoked Chicken is a great summer meal. The chicken turns out incredibly flavorful, tender and juicy. Perfect for BBQs or any time you want to cook a whole chicken but want to do something a little different than traditional roasting.

Do you like pork smoked ribs?

Get More Recipes via Email

Did you love this recipe? Sign up to receive Good Life Eats Email Updates and never miss another recipe!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of KC Masterpiece. The opinions and text are all mine.