This oven-baked baby back ribs recipe makes fall-off-the-bone, finger-licking ribs in a fraction of the time. BBQ ribs in the oven are easy and crowd-pleasing–no smoker or grill needed!
I'm a BBQ fanatic. Truly! I start grilling outside when the weather is just warm enough to tolerate being out by the grill! BUT, let's skip the grill this time. Yes, I said it, no grill required with these Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs.
You might love my 3-ingredient Ribs (they start in the oven and I finish them on the grill). Or my authentic Kansas City style ribs slow-cooked to perfection, on the grill. I have spicy chicken, and pulled pork, and brisket, all waiting to be made on the grill. BUT, we are going for the oven this time!
This oven baked ribs recipe SKIPS THE GRILL completely, and is made totally IN THE OVEN!
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The Best Oven Baked Ribs Have A Sauce
The best BBQ ribs in the oven need a sauce, and often a rub! The rub can be as simple as salt and pepper, or as delicious as my Terrific 10 Ingredient BBQ Rub.
The sauce can be your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce, or hot sauce, or a homemade sauce like my Memphis BBQ Sauce.
In the recipe below I'll give you instructions for using a rub on the baby back ribs - or just salt and pepper. You can use a purchased rub–I feel like we all have a jar or two of dry rub sitting in our spice cupboard or pantry, or a homemade rub as I suggested.
Something with a little spice, or heat is great, and maybe a touch of garlic powder, or hint of sugar is nice. But, like I said, salt and pepper is just fine as well.
The BBQ sauce goes on your oven baked ribs once they are finished cooking. It's the flavor at the end, and gives each bite the tangy zip you want.
Purchase or make a sauce. It can be sweet, spicy, thick or thin. Your choice!
I have a GREAT recipe for sprucing up store bought BBQ sauce that uses a few pantry staples. You'll love it.
How To Cook Ribs In The Oven
You will want to prepare this baby back ribs recipe for the oven like you would for the grill.
Follow the steps below for the preparation for pork ribs in the oven. Then follow the recipe at the bottom of the post.
- Pat the ribs dry.
- Cut off any excess fat on the top.
- Remove the membrane from the bottom of the ribs as shown below: use a paring knife to lift and remove the membrane, and/or a paper towel to grasp it and pull it away.
Pork Ribs In Oven
- Lay each rack of ribs on a large piece of heavy duty foil, or doubled standard foil. It should be large enough to wrap the rack completely. If it's not large enough, you may use another piece to seal the top.
- Before sealing, you will season the ribs according to the recipe.
- Oven-bake the ribs according to the recipe.
Best Oven Baked Ribs
- After the ribs have oven-baked, carefully unwrap from the foil and baste with BBQ sauce.
- Slice into ribs to serve.
- Serve with extra BBQ sauce, garnished with scallions or herbs if desired.
Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs FAQs
The most successful way to cook baby back ribs in the oven is to season, then wrap each rack in aluminum foil and cook them at a high temperature (400ºF) for 90 minutes to 2 hours. They will be tender and can be seasoned with BBQ sauce and served.
If you wrap ribs in foil to cook them in the oven, they will take 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours to get tender. Wrapped in foil they technically braise, cooking at a higher heat because of the steam that is created inside the packet of foil. This allows them to tenderize faster.
If you use gluten free seasonings, and gluten free BBQ sauce, then yes, your oven baked pork ribs will be gluten free.
What To Serve With Baby Back Ribs
You will love serving oven baked ribs with my Homemade BBQ Baked Beans–a classic barbecue side dish!
Or try one of these fantastic side dishes with these baby back ribs:
Let me know how it went!
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Best Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 racks (about 5 pounds total) baby back pork ribs
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt and pepper OR
- 5 tablespoons BBQ dry rub (use rub or salt & pepper)
- 1½ cups BBQ sauce
- Sliced scallions or herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400ºF. Place oven rack in the lower third of the oven.
- Pat ribs dry. Remove any large pieces of excess fat on the top of the ribs. Remove the membrane from the bottom of the ribs by pulling it off with a paper towel if needed.
- Place each rack of ribs on a sheet of heavy-duty (or double layer of regular) aluminum foil large enough to wrap around the ribs.
- Sprinkle each rack with salt and pepper. OR, if not using salt and pepper, sprinkle all over generously with the BBQ dry rub.
- Wrap each rack in foil making an air tight weal. Transfer racks to a rimmed baking sheet side by side (they can be overlapping if needed), and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check for tenderness by carefully opening a packet and using a fork to pull the meat on the ribs. If you'd like them a little more tender, bake them up to 30 more minutes.
- Remove from the oven and unwrap the ribs. Brush with some of the BBQ sauce. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into ribs. Garnish with sliced scallions or herbs if desired and serve with extra BBQ sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
More great grilling recipes
About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
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