Easy Traeger Ribs for Game Day
Around here, anything cooked outside automatically becomes one of Johnny B’s specialties.
These ribs are a perfect example. I peel off the membrane, cut and season the ribs, get everything ready…and then hand them over.
Johnny puts them on the Traeger.
A few hours later, everyone tells him what amazing ribs he made. It makes me giggle every time.
These ribs have become one of our favorite Game Day meals because most of the work happens ahead of time, they feed a crowd, and once they’re cooking, there’s plenty of time to deal with everything else.
Just give yourself enough time—the ribs are easy, but they are not a last-minute decision.
This website contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Want the recipe? No judgment—jump straight there:
Jump to the Recipe ↓
Why You’ll Love It
Cutting the ribs first means more seasoning and sauce on every piece.
They’re already portioned and ready to serve when they come out of the oven.
Most of the cooking happens while you’re taking care of everything else.
Three racks will feed 8–10 people when served with Game Day sides.
Finishing them covered in the oven keeps them tender—and frees up the Traeger.
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 4 hours | Rest time: 10–15 minutes | Total time: About 4½ hours | Serves: 8–10 | Course: Main Dish
Ingredients
3 racks baby back ribs
¼ cup yellow mustard, optional
BBQ rub or pork seasoning - season generously
¾ cup water
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
For the BBQ-honey sauce
½ cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving if desired
3 tablespoons honey
How to Make It
Preheat the pellet grill. Set the Traeger or other pellet grill to 225°F.
Prepare the ribs. Remove the membrane from the back of each rack, if necessary, and pat the ribs dry. Cut between the bones to separate the racks into individual ribs.
Season the ribs. Lightly coat all sides with mustard, if using. Sprinkle the BBQ rub generously over the ribs and press it into the meat.
Prepare the spritz. Combine the water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
Smoke for 2 hours. Arrange the ribs directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and smoke at 225°F, giving them one or two light spritzes during the cooking time.
Transfer to a foil pan. Place the ribs in a large foil pan, cover tightly with foil and return the pan to the pellet grill for 1 hour at 225°F.
Make the sauce. Toward the end of the Traeger cooking time, preheat the oven to 250°F. Stir together the BBQ sauce and honey.
Sauce and finish in the oven. Coat the ribs with the BBQ-honey sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake at 250°F for approximately 1 hour, or until the ribs are tender.
Rest and serve. Let the covered ribs rest for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Pro Tips & Notes
Cut them first. More seasoning and sauce on every rib — and nobody's stuck carving a sticky rack while the room watches football without them.
Mustard is optional, but it earns its spot. It helps the rub stick and disappears completely once it cooks — the ribs will not taste like a hot dog stand, promise.
Don't fuss with the spritzing. Once or twice in the first two hours is plenty.
Start early. Plan for the better part of an afternoon, most of it hands-off — this isn't a "start when guests arrive" kind of recipe.
Finish them covered. The foil-pan step is what keeps them tender instead of jerky. Don't skip it to save time.
What to Serve With It
Game Day calls for a full spread, and ribs are happy to share the table:
Italian Marinated Olives — something to pick at before the ribs are ready
Grumpy Sicilian Pizza — because one main dish per Game Day has never been the rule at our house
Pizza stone →— if the pizza's happening too, this is what gets you a crust that doesn't apologize for itself
A cold drink and something to wipe your hands on. No linen napkins today.
Want the Printable Recipe?
Prefer this one on the counter instead of your phone, sauce-fingers and all?
Download the printable Easy Traeger Ribs recipe →
Hosting friends for football?
My free Game Day on the Patio guide has the menu, shopping list, prep timeline, setup checklist, and printable labels—all handled before kickoff.
Looking for more great recipes, entertaining ideas, and weekend getaways?
Here’s the latest from the blog.
