Mastering Perfectly Cooked BBQ Beef Ribs on a Gas Grill

Juicy, tender bbq beef ribs may seem like backyard smoker territory, but you can achieve competition-worthy results right on your gas grill. While gas grills can’t replicate the exact flavor of cooking over real wood and charcoal, with a few tips you can make incredible barbecue ribs with your convenient gas grill.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide steps for selecting, prepping, seasoning, and slowly cooking beef ribs on a gas grill for finger-licking results. Let’s get grilling!

Picking the Best Beef Ribs for BBQ

For your gas grill bbq ribs, look for racks of beef back ribs or short ribs that are

• 1.5 to 2 inches thick – avoids drying out
• Well-marbled with streaks of fat – keeps ribs juicy
• Uniform shape and thickness – cooks evenly
• Deep red color with no gray spots – fresher meat

Prepping Beef Ribs for Maximum Tenderness

Beef ribs contain connective tissue that needs breaking down for tenderness. Try these prep tips:

• Trim off any excess fat or membranes for better texture.

• Pound ribs gently with a meat mallet or tenderizer to help break down fibers.

• Marinate for at least 2 hours in an acidic sauce with ingredients like vinegar, citrus, wine, pineapple, etc. This tenderizes.

• Apply a dry rub at least 40 minutes before grilling for added flavor and tenderizing saltiness.

Grilling Tips for Perfectly Cooked BBQ Beef Ribs

• Arrange your gas grill so only one burner is on. This creates an indirect cooking zone for bbq ribs.

• Place a drip pan with water or juice under the ribs to catch drippings. This prevents burning and adds steam.

• Cook between 225-250°F, rotating every 30 minutes for even doneness on both sides.

• Wrap ribs in foil packets with marinade or juice midway through cooking to baste in steam.

• Grill about 5-6 hours for fork tender ribs, less for boneless. Check for doneness with a toothpick test.

Building Deep Smoky BBQ Flavor

To get authentic barbecue flavor on a gas grill, try these tips:

• Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes then drain. Try oak, hickory, cherry, or mesquite wood.

• Make a foil pouch for the chips. Poke holes for ventilation. Place directly on grill grates off heat while cooking.

• Apply a spice rub containing paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic, salt, brown sugar, and cayenne before grilling.

• Glaze ribs with bbq sauce during last 15-30 minutes of grilling time to caramelize but avoid burning.

• After grilling, let ribs rest 10 minutes before cutting into individual ribs and serving with more bbq sauce.

With the right prep, seasoning, indirect cooking method, and smoke techniques, you can achieve competition-worthy bbq beef ribs from your gas grill. Patience is key, as is cooking over low heat. Follow these tips and enjoy tender, juicy, smoky beef rib perfection.