Beef short ribs are the heavyweight champions of BBQ. They’re rich, meaty, full of flavour, and when done right, they’re as tender as brisket but with even more beefy punch. Our Rubsmiths Bare Bones Rub was created to let the meat speak for itself — savoury, balanced, and stripped back to the essentials.

Think of these as the BBQ version of caveman food: primal, juicy, and best eaten with your hands.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

• 2 racks of beef short ribs (about 2.5–3kg total)
• 4–5 tbsp Rubsmiths Bare Bones Rub
• 200ml beef stock or stout beer (for wrapping)
• 2 tbsp olive oil or mustard (optional binder)
• Butcher’s paper or foil

Method

1. Prep the ribs

• Trim any excess fat or silverskin from the ribs, leaving the good fat layer intact.
• Lightly coat the ribs with oil or mustard, then apply a generous layer of Bare Bones Rub all over.
• Rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight for maximum flavour.

2. Fire up the smoker

• Set your BBQ or smoker for indirect cooking at 120–130°C.
• Use oak or hickory wood chunks for that deep beefy smoke.

3. Low and slow

• Place the ribs bone side down on the grill and smoke for 6–7 hours.
• After 3 hours, start spritzing occasionally with water or beef stock to keep the bark from drying out.

4. Wrap and braise

• When the bark is set and the internal temp is around 75–80°C, wrap the ribs tightly in butcher’s paper or foil with a splash of beef stock or stout.
• Return to the smoker and continue cooking until the ribs hit 95–98°C and a probe slides in like butter (usually another 2–3 hours).

5. Rest

• Let the ribs rest, still wrapped, for at least 45 minutes before slicing.

6. Serve

• Slice between the bones for massive, meaty portions.

Serving Ideas

• Serve with pickles, BBQ beans, and cornbread for a proper feast.
• Shred the meat into tacos or pile onto sourdough with melted cheese for the ultimate sandwich.

Butcher’s Tip

Good beef short ribs should feel heavy for their size, with plenty of marbling. The Bare Bones Rub is all about enhancing that natural richness, not hiding it.