Originally an American invention, succulent and smoky barbecue ribs have become one of the most famous dishes in the world. The dish is typically prepared with pork ribs, usually spareribs or the tender, leaner baby back ribs. Pork is the obvious choice for the dish since it tends to be juicier on the bone, allowing the meat to come right off after the grilling process.

It is one of the barbecued dishes which leans on the American-style grilling, in which the meat is cooked long, slow, and at a low temperature. To give the ribs their distinct taste and texture, they are always treated before grilling. Two most common ways include marinating and dry-rubbing.

Marinating is usually done with soy or Worchester sauce, different spices, ketchup, and occasionally even whisky or honey. As the name suggests, dry-rub is usually made with powdered spices such as smoked paprika, garlic, Mediterranean or Oriental spices, sugar, and mustard.

During grilling, the ribs are repeatedly smothered with a spicy barbecue sauce, which eventually provides the ribs with a luscious, viscous, and slightly spicy external layer. Ribs are a typical part of classic American barbecues, although they can be found in restaurants around the world and are also commonly prepared at home.