How to Cook Juicy, Tender Beef Ribs on a Gas Grill Using the Foil Method

Beef ribs can be intimidating to cook on a gas grill for beginners. But with the right technique, you can make fall-off-the-bone tender barbecue beef ribs at home with ease. The secret is using an indirect heat foil method to steam and smoke the ribs to perfection.

Follow this simple guide to mastering flavorful beef ribs using aluminum foil on your gas grill.

Benefits of Foil-Cooking Beef Ribs

Grilling beef ribs over direct heat can lead to burning or drying out. Foil-cooking provides these advantages:

• Moisture is locked in
• Fat renders slowly
• Meat becomes incredibly tender
• More smoke flavor infuses the ribs

Tips for Choosing Beef Ribs

Look for racks of beef back ribs or beef short ribs at your local butcher or grocery store. Ideal qualities to seek out:

• Good marbling – this keeps the ribs juicy
• Thick ribs with meaty sections
• Avoid racks with large globs of hard fat
• Pick racks that are similar in size for even cooking

Must-Have Tools for Foil-Grilling Beef Ribs

You’ll want these handy when foil-cooking ribs:

• Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil – Use extra thick foil so it doesn’t tear. Get heavy duty or grill-specific foil.

• Tongs – Needed to handle hot ribs when transferring between grill and foil.

• Instant Read Thermometer – Essential for monitoring doneness of ribs. Remove when internal temp hits 185-205°F.

• Spray Bottle with Water or Juice – Use to spritz and moisten ribs if needed while grilling.

Step-by-Step Guide to Foil-Cooking Beef Ribs on a Gas Grill

Follow these simple steps for finger-licking ribs off your gas grill:

1. Prepare the Ribs

• Remove membrane from back of ribs
• Trim off any excess hard fat
• Apply dry rub generously on both sides
• Let rub settle into meat for 15-30 minutes

2. Double Wrap Ribs in Foil

• Place each rack of ribs meat-side up on foil
• Wrap tightly in 2 layers of heavy duty foil
• Try to get an airtight seal to lock in moisture

3. Indirect Grill for 1-2 Hours

• Preheat grill to 225-250°F
• Place foil ribs away from burners on one side
• Close lid and grill for 1-2 hours, rotating periodically

4. Check for Doneness

• Carefully open foil and test ribs with thermometer
• Target internal temp is 185-205°F for tender ribs
• If under, re-wrap and grill longer, checking every 30 mins

5. Unwrap and Grill Uncovered to Finish

• Once at temp, remove ribs from foil
• Discard rendered fat drippings
• Grill unwrapped over direct medium heat for 10-15 minutes
• This firms up the bark and adds char
• Brush with sauce in last 5 minutes if desired

6. Remove, Rest and Serve Hot

• Take ribs off grill and let rest for 5-10 minutes
• Cut into portions and serve immediately
• Enjoy with extra barbecue sauce on the side if wanted

Tips for the Best Gas Grill Foil-Cooked Beef Ribs

• Keep an eye on the grill temp – lower heat ensures tender ribs
• Spritz ribs with juice or broth if they look dry while grilling
• Make sure foil packets are well-sealed
• Let ribs rest before cutting so juices redistribute
• Slice ribs between bones to serve (don’t just grab and pull)

Know Your Beef Rib Options

For gas grill foil cooking, these two rib cuts work great:

Beef Back Ribs – From along the backbone. More bark, leaner meat.

Beef Short Ribs – From bellyside. Very marbled and thick meat.

Both make tasty foiled ribs, so choose based on preference. Adjust cook times as needed for different thicknesses.

Delicious Sauces for Beef Ribs

Once rested, serve your barbecue beef ribs with:

• Classic BBQ Sauce – Sweet, tangy, smoky flavors

• Spicy Buffalo Sauce – Butter, hot sauce, vinegar

• Korean BBQ Sauce – Soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame

• Chili Lime Sauce – Zesty citrus and spice

Get creative and make your own signature sauce! The ribs’ juice and smoke flavor also shine on their own.

Handy Foil-Grilling Tips

• If ribs look done but are under temp, keep cooking – appearance can be misleading

• Use a foil pan rather than foil packets if grilling multiple racks for larger cookouts

• Add soaked woodchips inside foil for extra smoky flavor

• Grill with lid down as much as possible to contain heat

• Use tongs and oven mitts for safe handling of hot foiled ribs

• Double wrap ribs in a foil pouch, don’t just loosely tent foil over the top

Get Grilling Juicy Beef Ribs!

Now you’re ready to impress your family with incredible barbecue beef ribs using the easy foil method on your gas grill. Infuse them with smokey flavor and make them fall-off-the-bone tender.

Experiment with different dry rubs, wood smoke, sauces and grill times until you perfect your special beef rib recipe. Once you master the technique, tasty grilled ribs will become a go-to item in your grilling arsenal.