A rack of ribs is great on a grill, but these Oven-Baked Ribs are fantastic all year round … even when you can’t get outside to make them. Follow this recipe, and you’ll have perfectly juicy and savory-sweet BBQ pork ribs every time.
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Fall-Off-the-Bone Oven Baked Ribs
Oven-Baked Ribs are a delicious and easy way to enjoy the flavors of barbecue without the hassle of grilling. With a few simple ingredients and a bit of time, you can have tender, juicy ribs that are full of flavor.
To start, you’ll need to choose your ribs. Baby back ribs are a popular choice, but spare ribs and St. Louis-style ribs also work well. Make sure to remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs before cooking, as this can prevent the meat from cooking evenly.
Next, prepare your seasoning. I also included a recipe for a meat rub that’s to die for. Savory seasonings + BBQ sauce + the oven = rib heaven! Use this recipe whenever you want to make a rack of baby back ribs in the middle of winter, or really, any time of year. Be sure to rub the seasoning into BOTH sides of the ribs, pressing it in so that it adheres to the meat.
Once your ribs are seasoned, it’s time to bake them. Using foil helps to seal in the moisture.
The ribs are done when the meat is tender and pulls away from the bone. After this time, you’ll remove the foil and brush the ribs with your favorite barbecue sauce before returning the ribs to the oven to bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. You want the sauce to be sticky and caramelized.
When the ribs are done, remove them from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. You can serve the ribs with additional barbecue sauce on the side or with your favorite sides like coleslaw or potato salad.
Overall, Oven-Baked Ribs are a delicious and easy way to enjoy the flavors of barbecue in the comfort of your own home. With a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience, you can have delicious, fall-off-the-bone ribs that are sure to impress your family and friends.
Oven Baked Ribs: Ingredients & Equipment
For this Fall-Off-the-Bone Oven Baked Ribs recipe, you will need …
Ingredients
For the ribs
- baby back ribs – about 4 lbs.
- bbq sauce – to brush onto your ribs and to serve with your ribs! Use whatever brand you like. I prefer Sweet Baby Ray’s myself!
For the rub
- brown sugar, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, mustard powder, and ground cinnamon – these simple spices make THE best rub for your ribs you’ll ever taste. Without it, even BBQ sauce will feel bland!
Equipment
- aluminum foil – to cook your ribs.
- cutting board – important while you remove the membrane from your ribs.
- baking sheet – to hold your ribs while they’re in the oven.
How to make Oven Baked Ribs Recipe
First, prep your supplies and meat. Preheat the oven to 275°F. Remove the excess moisture from the ribs using paper towels. Next, on a cutting board, remove the thin membrane covering the back of the ribs. (It’s easy! Place the ribs meat side down, run a knife over the back of the ribs lightly, and, using your fingers, pull the membrane away and discard.) Finally, place the ribs over 2 sheets of aluminum foil and set them aside.
Second, make the rub. In a small bowl, mix together the rib rub ingredients. Rub the mixed seasoning over both sides of the ribs.
Third, bake the ribs. Fold both sides of the foil over the ribs and crimp the ends up. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 2.5 to 3 hours (basically, until the ribs have an internal temperature of 190°F).
Fourth, braise the ribs. Raise the oven temperature to 425°F. Carefully open the foil from the ribs and remove any juices. Place the ribs directly on the baking sheet, then, using a pastry brush, brush the bbq sauce on top. Bake for an additional 10 mins.
Finally, enjoy those ribs! Remove the ribs from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving. (They’ll cook a little more during this time, even though they’re outside of the oven.) Serve them with more BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Baked Ribs in Oven: FAQs
Put them in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. As always, use an airtight or freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to “nom” on them again, wrap them in aluminum foil and bake them again for about a half hour at 300F.
This recipe takes about 3 and a half hours, so it’s not fast. HOWEVER … only 10 minutes of that is actually prep time. The rest is hands-off baking time, so there’s no need to stand around in the kitchen. Plus, the results are SO good, y’all.
As written, this recipe makes 4 lbs of ribs or about 1 rack.
Yes, it’s recommended to wrap your ribs in foil when baking to help lock in moisture and ensure tender meat. This also helps to prevent the meat from drying out.
Yes, you can certainly use a store-bought BBQ sauce for oven-baked ribs. However, homemade sauces can also be delicious and allow you to adjust the flavors to your liking.
Yes, it’s recommended to remove the membrane from the underside of the ribs before cooking. This can help the meat cook more evenly and prevent tough, chewy bits in the finished product.
The best way to know when your ribs are done is by checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be around 190-203 degrees Fahrenheit. Another indicator of doneness is when the meat starts to pull away from the bone.
Yes, you can prepare oven-baked ribs in advance by seasoning and wrapping them in foil, then storing them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Just be sure to let the ribs come to room temperature before baking to ensure even cooking.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Oven-Baked Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
For the ribs
- 1 rack baby back ribs 4 pounds
- 1 cup BBQ sauce I used Sweet Baby Rays
For The Rub
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°F.
- Remove excess moisture from the ribs using paper towels.
- On a cutting board, remove the thin membrane covering the back of the ribs by placing the ribs' meat side down. Run a knife over the back of the ribs lightly. Using your fingers, pull the membrane away and discard it.
- Place the ribs over 2 sheets of aluminum foil, and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the rib rub ingredients.
- Rub the mixed seasoning over both sides of the ribs.
- Fold both sides of the foil over the ribs and crimp the ends up.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 2-1/2 to 3 hours until the ribs have an internal temperature of 190°F.
- Raise the oven temperature to 425°F.
- Carefully open the foil from the ribs and remove any juices. Remove the ribs from the foil and place them directly on the baking sheet.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the bbq sauce on the top and bake for an additional 10 mins. Remove from the oven and let cook for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with more BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat the ribs, wrap them in aluminum foil and bake them for 30 minutes at 300°F.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
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