There’s nothing quite like a rack of smoked ribs. It’s what made me fall in love with BBQ food. Over the years I’ve smoked my fair share of ribs and made different homemade BBQ sauces through trial and error. And let me tell you that these Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs are by best one’s yet! Sweet, smoky, tangy, and just a little bold, they combine the smooth notes of Tennessee whiskey with the caramel sweetness of cola from the homemade BBQ sauce that makes every bite unforgettable. If you’re looking for a rib recipe that stands out at your next backyard cookout or game day, this is the one.

Enjoy ribs packed with flavor, then you must try my famous Dr. Pepper Ribs, Horseradish Mustard Baby Back Ribs or Cajun Honey Party Ribs!

What’s the difference between spare ribs and baby back ribs?

When selecting ribs for your next BBQ cookout, you have to consider what ribs you want. Are you going for the spare ribs or the classic baby back ribs? What’s the difference you ask? Well…

Spare ribs are trimmed from the lower part of the rib cage located near the belly making them fattier and more flavorful. Because of the location and fattiness, spare ribs have more connective tissue and cartilage making them more frustrating to cook for many.

That is why Baby Back ribs are the more common and popular choice. These are trimmed from the upper cage near the spine. They are leaner and meatier than spare ribs. This cut of ribs gets the name “baby” because they are shorter than other cuts of ribs.

Homemade BBQ sauce

I always tell people, once you nail down a homemade BBQ sauce, you will never go back to a store bought option. Get a base recipe and then build on the flavors. Bottle it, store in and enjoy!

I’ve mixed more versions of my ideal sauce than I want to admit but finally nailed down what I think is the perfect BBQ sauce. My sweat and tangy recipe has the perfect balance of the sweetness from the brown sugar and honey and tanginess to balance the savoriness of the recipe from the apple cider vinegar and mustard.

I used this base with minor alterations to create this Jack and Coke BBQ sauce. Ingredients are simple which you probably already have in your pantry. Trust me, give this one a try and you will not regret it.

Why Jack and Coke Works on Ribs?

Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola are a classic combo in a glass, but they’re just as good on the grill. The whiskey brings depth with a slight bite of oak and vanilla, while the Coke caramelizes beautifully as it cooks, leaving behind a sticky-sweet glaze. Together, they balance out the smoky richness of pork ribs and create layers of flavor that keep you going back for more.

Ingredient List for Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs

• Ribs: I used baby back ribs for this recipe.
• Jack Daniels: Can’t have a jack and coke recipe with out Jack Daniels. The whiskey adds a smokey smooth oak flavor that elevates the savoriness the BBQ needs.
• Coca Cola: make sure to use the bottle cane sugar coke. Real sugar is what makes this recipe perfect.
• Seasoning: I used an all purpose seasoning to provide balance between the sweet and savory flavors in the recipe.
• Ketchup: base for any tomato based BBQ sauce.
• Mustard: provides acidy and tanginess to the sauce.
• Brown sugar: adds caramelization to the sauce when brushed on meats.
• Soy sauce: provides an umami flavor profile that add complexity and savoriness.
• Pineapple juice: a sweet balance and great substitute for honey. Not only is it sweet but has adds an acidy level to breakdown all the sugar.

Step 1. Prepare the Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs

I like to stick to the basics. Remove the ribs from the packaging and pat them dry. This will make them easier to handle and make the process much simpler.

How to remove the membrane

This is a popular topic of discussion in the BBQ community. Do you keep the membrane or remove it? I honestly do both, but the deciding factor is the grill I use. When smoking ribs on a pellet grill, I remove the membrane since it’s a milder heat and smoke. The membrane will get chewy so it’s best to remove it. If I’m grilling my ribs on a charcoal grill, I usually just score the membrane and leave it on. The more intense heat will get it crispy and there’s no need to remove it.

Removing the membrane is simple. Push one or two fingers under the membrane just above the bone on one side of the ribs. Gently push that finger through to the other end, grab the loose membrane from both sides and pull off.

Once the membrane is removed, trim off any fatty or loose ends. This will give the ribs a nice clean look.

Marinate and Season the ribs

Here’s where I change things up. Normally, I would use a binder like yellow mustard, spread it all over the ribs and season for flavor.

However, for this Jack and Coke Smoke Ribs recipe, I wanted to take the flavor level up a notch.

Place the trimmed baby back ribs in a large container and pour enough coca-cola to fully submerge them. Ideally, they should marinate in the sweet soda overnight, but if you are making the recipe the same day, leave it in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Pork is the perfect protein to combine with sugary sweet flavors. This coca-cola marinade is no different. While the ribs bath is a pool of coke, the sweet flavor will penetrate the meat and tenderize the meat from the carbonation.

Once the ribs have marinated, remove them from the liquid, pat dry and season with Dad’s All Purpose seasoning. This has the perfect balance of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic to add savory notes to the protein.

Dad’s Seasonings

Must have grillin seasonings!

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Step 2. Smoking the perfect Jack and Coke Ribs

Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees and set for indirect heat. I used my Big Green Egg for this cook. If you are using any other grill, pellet smoker or oven, follow along using the same times and temps.

Phase 1: Smoke the BBQ ribs directly on the grates

In the first phase of the cooking process, the ribs should go directly on the grates meat side up. Let them smoke for 2 hours or until the internal temperature on the ribs reaches 175 degrees Fahrenheit. By this time the bones should be peaking out.

Phase 2: Wrap the ribs

Remove the ribs from the grill and place them meat side down on a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Wrap up the ribs leaving just the tip open. Pour in 1/4 bottle of Coca-cola into the foil wrap and close shut

Wrap tightly making sure the bones do not rip through the foil. You need an airtight pouch to keep the moisture in and allow the meat to get nice and tender.

Place the wrapped ribs back on the smoker, meat side down, and cook for an additional hour. At this point you can also place them in the oven since they are wrapped in foil and won’t be getting any more smoke flavor.

How to make a Jack and Coke BBQ sauce

The star of this Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs recipe is the sauce. Simple and delicious, adjust sweet, savory and spicy notes to your desired taste.

In a saucepan add Jack Daniels, Coca-cola, brown sugar, pineapple juice, soy sauce, ketchup, yellow mustard, crushed red pepper flakes and Dad’s All Purpose seasoning.

Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Sauce up the Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs

When the smoked ribs hit 190 degrees internal temperature, open the foil wrap and flip the ribs meat side up. Roll up the sides of the foil and shape it into a boat. This will help keep all the liquids in the foil and your smoker clean.

Brush the ribs with the homemade Jack and Coke BBQ sauce and close the lid. Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to set. You can use your favorite store bough sauce or make your own.

Once the ribs hit that perfect tenderness — where the meat pulls cleanly from the bone but still has a little bite — let them rest before slicing.

Serve them as the star of your cookout with classic BBQ sides like potato salad, baked beans, or cornbread. And if you really want to lean into the theme, pour yourself an ice-cold Jack and Coke to enjoy alongside your plate. Don’t forget a dipping dish with more Jack and Coke BBQ sauce! Enjoy!

Final Thoughts

Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs are proof that grilling and smoking are all about having fun with flavor. This recipe takes something familiar and turns it into a bold, smoky, and slightly sweet dish that’s guaranteed to turn heads at any gathering. Whether you’re smoking ribs for a holiday, game day, or just a weekend with the family, this recipe delivers every single time.

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Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs

Fire up the smoker for these bold and flavorful Jack and Coke Smoked Ribs. Sweet, sticky, and smoky with a whiskey kick, this rib recipe is perfect for game day, cookouts, or any weekend BBQ feast.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword jack and coke smoked ribs, baby back ribs, bbq sauce recipe, smoked ribs, big green egg, tailgating, game day, ribs recipe, grillin with dad recipes, grilling with dad recipes.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 6 People

Calories 917kcal

Author Maciek Zurawski

Ingredients

Rib Ingredients

• 3 racks Baby Back Ribs
• 4 Coca-cola bottles (real cane sugar)
• 1/4 cup All purpose seasoning

Jack and Coke BBQ Sauce Ingredients

• 3 oz Jack Daniels
• 1/2 bottle Coca-cola
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Pineapple juice
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tbsp All purpose seasoning
• 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
• 1 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Remove the ribs from the packaging and pat them dry.
• Remove the membrane by pushing a finger between the membrane and ribs. Push through to the other end, grab both sides of the membrane and pull it off.
• Marinate the ribs in coca cola for at least 1 hour - ideally overnight.
• Pat the ribs dry and season with an All Purpose seasoning.
• Preheat the grill to 250 degrees set for indirect heat. Place the ribs directly on the grates, bone side down. Close the lid and smoke for 2 hours or until they reach internal temperature of 175 degrees in the thickest part.
• Remove the ribs from the grill and place them meat side down on a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Wrap up the ribs leaving just the tip open. Pour in 1/4 can of Coca-cola into foil wrap and close shut.
• Place the ribs back on the smoker, meat side down this time, and continue cooking them for 1 hour or until they reach an internal temperature of 190-195 degrees.
• While the ribs of on the grill make the homemade Jack and Coke sauce. In a saucepan add Jack Daniels, coca-cola, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, ketchup, yellow mustard, crushed red pepper flakes and Dad's All Purpose seasoning.

  Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• When the ribs are ready, open the foil wrap, flip the ribs meat side up and roll up the edges of the foil to create a boat. Brush the ribs with the Jack and Coke BBQ sauce, close the lid and continue cooking for 20 minutes to allow the sauce to set.
• Remove the ribs from the smoker, bring them inside and let them rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice between each bone, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Season the bone side first, flip, and repeat on the meat side. You always want to season the presentation side last so it will look nicer when the ribs are done. Remember, we eat with our eyes first and you want these ribs to look great!

Check the ribs after the first hour. If they are looking dry on the outside, spritz them with coke. This step is optional and will largely depend on the size and quality of ribs and your smoker.

For the sauce: if you’re not a fan of heat, reduce the crushed red pepper flakes to 1/2 tsp. You need some heat to breakthrough the sweetness but not to overpower all the other flavors.

Trick to slicing smoked ribs - flip them with rib side up and cut in between.

Nutrition

Calories: 917kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 993mg | Potassium: 995mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 693IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 7mg