Want to save this recipe for later?

Create a free account to organize your favorite recipes with AI-powered tools.

Smokey Joe BBQ Legend
about 4 hours ago

Smoked Rib Sandwich (McRib Copycat)

Smoked Rib Sandwich (McRib Copycat)

Recipe Details

Author Susie Bulloch
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 30 minutes

Summary

Ultra-tender, smoky baby back ribs are braised with butter, brown sugar, and apple juice, then deboned and piled onto soft buns with tangy pickles, sweet onions, and a generous splash of classic BBQ sauce. It’s the nostalgic McRib flavor elevated with real wood smoke and rich, saucy decadence.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat a smoker to 225°F with your preferred hardwood. Remove the membrane from the bone side of the ribs and pat dry.

  2. 2

    Season ribs generously on all sides with rib rub.

  3. 3

    Place ribs bone-side down on the smoker, close the lid, and smoke for 3 hours.

  4. 4

    Prepare two large sheets of heavy-duty foil. Place each rack meat-side down in the center of a foil sheet. Sprinkle each with 1/4 cup brown sugar, top with 1/4 cup sliced pats of butter, and pour 1/2 cup apple juice into the foil packet.

  5. 5

    Seal the foil tightly and return the ribs to the smoker, meat-side down. Continue cooking for 2 1/2 hours.

  6. 6

    Carefully open the foil to check doneness: the meat should have pulled back about 1/2 inch from the bones and the bones should loosen easily when tugged. Remove from the smoker and rest the ribs in the foil for 10–15 minutes.

  7. 7

    Open the foil and gently pull out the rib bones with tongs or your fingers, checking for any stray bone fragments.

  8. 8

    Transfer the boneless racks to a cutting board. For 8 servings, cut each rack into 4 equal slabs: slice in half lengthwise, then crosswise.

  9. 9

    Assemble sandwiches: place a rib slab on the bottom bun, top with sliced sweet onions and dill pickle slices, and douse with BBQ sauce. Cap with the top bun and serve immediately.

Ingredients

  • 2 racks baby back ribs
  • 1/4 cup rib rub (Hey Grill Hey Rib Rub or Sweet Rub)
  • 8 sandwich buns (soft white)
  • 1 cup dill pickles (sandwich slices)
  • 1/2 large sweet onion (sliced)
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (Hey Grill Hey Everything BBQ Sauce or favorite ketchup-based)
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (cut into pats)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
Recipe Preview

This is a recipe preview shared on Recipio. Click "View Original Recipe" above for the complete instructions.

Ready to organize your recipes like a pro?

Save recipes from anywhere online, get AI-powered ingredient extraction, create smart shopping lists, and join a community of passionate home cooks.

✨ Free to start 🤖 AI-powered 👥 Join thousands of cooks