How to Smoke Ribs at Camp
BBQ ribs in camp? Yes it is possible and easier than you think when you have a simple tool such as the Camp Chef Big Gas Grill. This is the grill you see me using all of the time in my outdoor cooking adventures. I have found the Big Gas Grill one of the most flexible tools in my Outdoor Cooking arsenal; quick set up, portable, versatile and great heat control. One of the challenges I had was producing my boys favorite meal, BBQ Baby Back ribs while camping. They specifically requested ribs on our next camping trip and how could dad refuse? But low and slow takes a lot of time and extra equipment right? So I thought until I realised that the Big Gas Grill has everything I need already and it is the unit I will be bringing to camp along with my Dutch ovens.
So how did I do it? Here is the practice run:
How to smoke ribs at camp
My Camp Chef Big Gas Grill, perfect for smoking Baby Back Ribs at camp!
What you'll need: Single rack of Baby Back Ribs (cut in half), aluminum foil, smoker chips, yellow mustard, BBQ rib rub of your choice (I used Camp Chefs “Log Cabin Grub” all-purpose seasoning) and your favorite BBQ sauce.
First you need to remove the membrane on the back of the ribs, then cut the rack in have to fit the Big Gas Grill. Apply enough yellow mustard to coat the ribs lightly, this is only placed on the ribs to use as a binder for the rub.
Apply BBQ rub generously to all sides including the ends.
Add about 2 cups of smoking wood chips to a large sheet of aluminum foil. No need to soak the chips, we are using them dry.
Here is the foil smoking packet. Notice that I pierced the packet on the top with several holes to let the smoke escape and I placed the packet at the bottom of the Big Gas Grill barbecue box under the grilling grate. You could just throw your wood chips in the bottom of the barbecue box but I think the clean-up would be a lot worse.
temperature control: You are using only one burner so make sure it is the burner under the smoke packet. Mine was on the left so I used the left burner. Preheat your barbecue box to 300 degrees F then turn the single burner down to low. I found that this maintained a uniform heat of 250 degrees F for the whole cook time.
Here you can see the smoking packet placement under the grilling grate to the left of the ribs.
We are going to smoke the ribs at 250 degrees for about 5 hours using the 2 – 2 – 1 Baby Back Rib BBQ method.
2 hours smoking with just the rub, 2 hours in the foil packet and 1 hour of sauce time.
If you are using a larger rack of ribs just increase the first 2 hours cooking time to 3 hours.
I added some potatoes to make Twice Baked Potatoes.
At the two-hour make we are going to wrap the Baby Back Ribs in aluminum foil and cook for another two hours.
Here the Baby Back Ribs have been removed from the foil packet for the final hour of cooking. Notice the “pull back” of the rib meat from the bones. You want about a 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch pull back exposing the rib bones on the side, indicating the ribs are cooked completely or very close to it. Sauce for the next hour two to three times creating a beautiful glaze.
Here is a teaser shot of those Baby Back Ribs and the Twice Baked Potatoes!
I can't wait to prepare a rack of smoked Baby Back Ribs for my boys on our next camping trip!
Happy camping everyone!
