Classic Kansas City Style Barbecued Ribs

Kansas City has a rich history of barbecued ribs and the tradition continues to grow stronger.

Kansas City ribs are serious business when it comes to BBQ. Traditionally, Kansas City ribs are seasoned with Dry Rub, smoked with hickory and doused with a KC style sauce. For Kansas City, sauce means a thick, rich and flavorful tomato sauce with molasses and sometimes a hint of vinegar. The meat is seared, slow-cooked and mop basted with the sauce until the meat is tender and a nice crust has formed on the outside. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a sauce you’ll love to have under your fingernails.

Kansas City’s first registered barbecuer was Henry Perry in 1908. Perry became very well known for his juicy ribs and served them to customers who came from far and wide. Perry converted an old waggon barn into a restaurant and served his ribs on newsprint for 25 cents each. The “Old Man Perry” restaurant was located at the corner of 19th & Highland and was later sold to George Gates and Charlie Bryant. It became known as Arthur Bryantís and is still considered one of the best rib restaurants in America. As of 2021, there are over 100 rib restaurants in Kansas City.

As with any rib, you must first remove the membrane on the back of the rib. This can be difficult with wet fingers. Dry hands and a paper towel work well for this. The paper towel will help you grip the membrane. Coat the ribs evenly with the Dry Rub, wrap them in plastic wrap and then in foil. Place the ribs in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours, preferably overnight. Remove the ribs from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking and allow them to come to room temperature. Keep spraying the ribs with the sauce until the end of the cooking time.

Kansas City Style Dry Rub

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• ½ c brown sugar
• ¼ c paprika
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp cumin (optional)
• 2 tbsp black pepper freshly cracked
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp dried mustard powder

Instructions

 

• Whisk together the Kansas Style dry rub spices and rub on your meat liberally.

Keyword dry rub, rubs

Classic Kansas City Style Sauce

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups ketchup
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup white wine vinegar
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup dark molasses
• 1 tbsp seasoned salt
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp English-style dried mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 pc. Bayleaf

Instructions

 

• In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce for 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent from scorching.

Notes

The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.

Keyword bbq, bbq rubs, kansas bbq sauce, sauce