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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Main Dish

    3-Ingredient Classic Ribs

    Published: Jul 3, 2016 · Updated: May 24, 2021 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

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    Ribs stacked on cutting board and brush
    Rib on a cutting board and brush
    Pinterest image for 3 ingredient classic ribs with text

    Classic ribs, a summertime staple. You think ribs take all day and lots of tending. Not these! Tenderize these lip-smacking ribs in the oven, then grill them to perfection.


    Ribs with just three ingredients? You got it! Honestly you have never made such delicious, simple, classic ribs until you've made these. The secret: I start them in the oven and finish them on the grill.

    3-Ingredient Classic Ribs

    All you need are a few racks of baby back ribs (a few because oh my these go fast!), some kosher salt (I like the mild flavor for meats) and good ol' BBQ sauce (your choice here, your favorite bottle or homemade).

    Ohh you're afraid they won't have the smoky flavor from the grill? Ah but they do. The last few minutes of the process they lavish in the char and smoke of the grill. In fact, it's that little blast of smoke that you taste right as they hit your mouth. They are also more tender than if you slaved for hours tending them on the grill.

    Making 3-Ingredient Classic Ribs

    I simply wrap my salted ribs in foil packets, place them on a baking sheet (if you are making a lot you can even stack the packets on top of each other. Just give them a little longer in the oven). Cook those babies for about an hour and a half and they'll be as tender as ever. Brush them with BBQ sauce (they will absorb some of the tangy flavor right out of the oven) then blast them on the grill.

    3-Ingredient Classic Ribs

    I only do a light brushing of BBQ sauce when they come out of the oven. More would cause burning on the grill, but a little helps the outsides to caramelize a bit. Once these classic ribs are off the grill, really soak them with sauce and pull out the napkins!

    📖 Recipe

    3 ingredient ribs on cutting board with brush

    Quick and Easy Classic Ribs

    Tara Teaspoon
    Three ingredients, a little time, and the result is a perfectly cooked and delicious rack of ribs!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 racks (about 5 lbs total) baby back ribs
    • 2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup barbecue sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 400ºF and place rack in lower third.
    • Place each rack of ribs on a sheet of heavy-duty (or double layer) foil large enough to wrap around ribs. Sprinkle with salt and wrap in foil, making an air tight seal. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and roast 1 hr 30 min.
    • Heat grill to medium high. Lightly brush ribs with some barbecue sauce, remove foil and grill, turning once, until grill-marked and golden brown, 8 to 10 min. Generously brush with remaining sauce, slice and serve.

    Notes

    You can bake several racks at a time and be prepared for a crowd. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 870kcalFat: 66.5g
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    Tara in kitchen making salad

    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Recipe and food styling by Tara Teaspoon. Photograph by Iain Bagwell. LHJJuly 2008

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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    1. Mary says

      July 19, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      This is our go-to rib recipe! So easy! Tenderize those ribs in the oven and then put on the grill!

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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