Take one taste of these sensational oven-baked barbecue ribs and you'll be cooking them all year long...even in the middle of a snowstorm.
Let me show you the secret to making fall-off-the-bone ribs that are cooked low and slow in the oven...and not on a grill!
Check out all the other Easy Summer Grill Recipes for even more delicious ideas!
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Up until recently I've always cooked my barbecue ribs on the grill. I usually start them in a slow cooker like my Smithfield BBQ Ribs recipe. Then my son suggested...begged me to make ribs one night for dinner.
Only it was the middle of winter and our grill was buried under a few feet of snow. I remember my sister always bakes her ribs, so that's how this recipe for oven-baked barbecue ribs came together.
Looking for more Family Dinner Ideas? Try my recipe for Barbecue Chicken in the Crock Pot, Grilled Barbecue Chicken Legs and Thighs or my Chicken Kabobs with Pineapple Recipe.
Table of Contents
Recipe Notes
The secret to make tender oven-baked ribs is to wrap them tightly in aluminum foil and then bake them slow in a low temperature oven.
Don't rush the process.
After the ribs are cooked, remove them from the oven.
Take them out of the aluminum foil and place on top of a baking/cooling rack that's on top of a baking tray.
Brush your favorite barbecue sauce on them and put them under the broiler for a few minutes to get that grill flavor.
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📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- 1 Rack of Baby Back Ribs
- Brown Sugar
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- ¼ cup BBQ Sauce - bottled or my 3 Ingredient Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe.
- You could also use your favorite spice rub mix.
Step-by-Step Directions
How to Remove the Membrane
Step 1: Before you season and bake the ribs, you should remove the shiny, white piece of membrane from the back of the ribs. This is also called the "silverskin" an d it sits on top of the rib bones.
Step 2: It's very easy to remove using a small paring knife as you can see from the photos below. Pierce the membrane and then slowly run the knife under until you can gently start lifting and pulling the membrane off.
Recipe FAQ
What happens if you don't take the membrane off ribs?
If you don't take the membrane off the ribs, you most likely will have tough ribs after they've cooked. The membrane does not soften when the ribs cook.
Baking Instructions
Step 3: Combine the salt, pepper and sugar in a bowl and whisk well. Rub the mixture evenly over the front of the ribs, then sprinkle some of the seasoning mixture (about a third) over the back of the ribs and rub in. Make sure you cover it completely.
Step 4: Place ribs in the foil and wrap tightly. Place on a baking sheet, and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 3 hours. Remove from the oven, open the foil, and spread the BBQ sauce evenly over the ribs.
How to Broil Ribs
Step 5: After the barbecue sauce is brushed on, place the baking tray under the broiler of your oven for 2-3 minutes. This is how they get that caramelized look and taste.
How to Slice Pork Ribs
Step 6: Place the oven-baked barbecue ribs on a cutting board and gently slice through the ribs into sections.
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Make it a Meal
Now that you have the main course figured out for dinner tonight, why not add my Panera Mac and Cheese recipe as a side dish? Jalapeno Bacon Garlic Bread would be great as well.
Storage, Freezing and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Wrap each individual rib or portion tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again in aluminum foil or place in a freezer-safe bag. This double layer of protection helps prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped ribs in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating Tips: When you're ready to reheat the ribs, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Then, you can reheat them in the oven, on the grill, or in a slow cooker.
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📖 Recipe Card
Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 rack Baby Back Ribs
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Salt
- ¼ cup Black Pepper
- ¼ cup Cola
- ¼ cup BBQ Sauce
Method
- Preheat the oven to 275°F.
- Peel the membrane off the back of the ribs.
- Combine salt, pepper, and sugar in a bowl and whisk well.
- Rub evenly then sprinkle some of the seasoning mixture (about a third) over the back of the ribs and rub in.
- Flip the ribs, and repeat.
- Place ribs in the foil and create lips so liquid can’t escape.
- Pour cola around the sides and do not pour over it because you don’t want to wash off the rub.
- Wrap tightly, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 3 hours.
- Remove from the oven, open the foil, and spread the BBQ sauce evenly over the ribs.
- Place in the broiler of your oven for 2-3 minutes.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
I had to pin this because my family loves ribs and they take work to make so any recipe to make it easier is much appreciated. Your recipes are always delicious! #HomeMattersParty