Rib Rub Recipe and Copy Cat Baby Back Rib Recipe

Dear Friends,

Here is the recipe for the rib rub we use:

This makes 1 cup of mix.

1/4 cup paprika
2 Tbls. salt
2 Tbls. granulated sugar
2 Tbls. packed brown sugar
2 Tbls. ground cumin
2 Tbls. chili powder
2 Tbls. black pepper
*1 Tbls. cayenne pepper ( Optional as is very hot )

Source: Down Home Cooking

We use this on ribs , steaks at times etc. Keep in a plastic container will keep many months. I am severely allergic to MSG, and with the new labeling and MSG can be listed as a spice at times we make our own to be safe.

For our copy cat Applebees ribs:


Take your ribs we have used baby back , pork and beef with this. The baby back is my families favorite.

Wrap the ribs in tin foil and before sealing lightly rub some spice mixture, go sparingly as is very hot . I use just a tiny bit, then barbecue sauce ( to follow) and seal put in oven for 4 hours at 250. Take out , put a little more sauce if you want and sear on the grill ( optional for 5 minutes).

Barbecue sauce:

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbls. dark brown sugar
3 Tbls. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. liquid smoke ( optional)
*Please Note:

*Or we have used bottled Rays or Hunts sauce as I have got so many on sale lately.:)

Then to the homemade or bottled sauce add our secret ingredient of 16 ounces homemade or store apple butter. Warm the apple butter and sauce on the stove before putting on ribs.


Even though our family considers this very close to Applebee's recipe it is not the the proprietary recipe from Applebee's to get their real thing you would have to go there...LOL

Hope you enjoy as much as we do.

Angel Mama ():)