Oven Baked Tender and Juicy BBQ Pork Ribs

Too cold to break out the grill? Don’t worry, these oven baked ribs will make it feel like the height of summer. While this multi-step recipe takes a little time to get fall-off-the-bone tender ribs, it’s more than worth it. The oven does all the work!

 

Juicy BBQ Ribs Perfect For Any Time Of Year

Looking for a fool-proof way to make succulent ribs without breaking out the grill? Look no further than this recipe. I know it may seem like a lot of work, but sometimes the end product is worth the whole process—and this is definitely one of those cases. The first step of the cooking process is an overnight marinade, then a cook at a low temperature, followed by high heat, and finally a quick broil to get the best ribs possible. 

For those times when you don’t want to make slow cooker ribs, you can still get super tender and juicy ribs in the oven.

This recipe is enough for large racks of ribs—just about three pounds—but it can easily be doubled or tripled depending on your need. And who doesn’t need some spare ribs? For ease, I modify my favorite BBQ sauce, but feel free to make your own homemade BBQ sauce if you’re feeling like it! And don’t forget to use a mixture of dry spices beforehand to really amplify the flavor. 

If you want an even easier version, skip the dry rub and try Coca-Cola ribs that are marinated in Coke.

These Southern ribs are perfect for a game day spread, on Father’s Day, or any day that ends with Y, if you really want my opinion. The tender meat goes beautifully with all your favorite side dishes like ranch potato salad, cornbread, and a macaroni salad. And since this recipe is already gonna take a little bit, go ahead and break out your slow cooker for this creamy mac and cheese to go along with it. 

Ribs are one of those recipes that’s fool proof as long as you let them cook slowly, so it’s always a great choice when you’re having folks for dinner. You can also make them ahead and when you’re friends arrive, place them under the broiler with the sauce so you aren’t stuck in the kitchen.

Why These Are The Best Oven BBQ Baked Ribs

• Great Recipe – We all should have a go-to recipe for good ribs in our back pocket and now you can! 
• First Time Ease – While the cooking time itself is long, the prep time is super easy, which means you can sit back and relax while you cook. 
• Super Tender – ​Thanks to the slow cooking time and marinade, all you need to cut these ribs is a butter knife. 

Ingredients For Baby Back Pork Ribs

• Ribs — You’ll need a 2-3 lbs slab of baby back ribs for this recipe. You can go to the grocery store or visit your local butcher to find what you need!
  
• Produce —  One onion and at least three cloves of garlic are needed. 
  
• Citrus — Citrus helps break down the meat and add flavor to the marinade. Grab one orange and one lime! 
  
  For Your Own BBQ Sauce
  
• BBQ Sauce — I used a bottle of Rufus Teague Honey BBQ sauce, but feel free to sub in your favorite homemade barbecue sauce instead! 
  
• Liquids — Apple cider vinegar and extra honey are a must. 
  
• Spices — I add dry mustard and red pepper flakes for a little kick. 

Are These St. Louis Ribs? 

St. Louis style ribs is the name for a specific cut of pork ribs! This cut tends to be flatter and has more bone, but also more fat than baby back ribs. You can absolutely go for that cut if you prefer!

How To Slow Cook Pork Ribs

Step One: Prep Ribs

Pull off the thin membrane from the underside of the ribs using a dry paper towel. This will make them more tender. Apply a liberal amount of salt and black pepper on both sides of the ribs and rub in thoroughly. (Feel free to add a homemade dry rub or any other spices at this step if you like!) 

Step Two: Marinate 

Cut into two to three sections depending on the size so that they’ll easily fit in a Ziplock bag. Add them to a bag with the onions, garlic, and the juice from the orange and lime. Refrigerate overnight.

Step Three: Make Sauce

First, preheat the oven to 275º so it’ll be ready when you are!

Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a minute. 

Step Four: First Bake

Place the marinated ribs in a roasting pan or a rimmed baking sheet and coat with ½ cup of BBQ sauce. Cover with tinfoil and bake for 2 ½ hours. 

Step Five: Second Bake

Remove the foil and turn up the oven to 400º. Don’t worry about waiting for it to preheat, you can throw them right back into the oven and cook uncovered for an additional 10-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads between 190º to 200º, or the meat is separating from the bone. 

Step Six: Broil

Remove from the oven and cut the ribs apart for easy serving. Cover with BBQ sauce. Turn on the broiler and place 6-8 inches under the broiler for about 2-3 minutes until the BBQ sauce is bubbly.

Tips and Tricks For Baked Ribs

• Add a dash of liquid smoke if you like that right-off-the-grill touch!
• Add chili powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper to your dry rub for more flavor. 
• Have extra BBQ sauce on the table so that you can slather on even more sauce.

Do I Need To Flip The Ribs?

You don’t need to, but I’m not gonna stop you! You can absolutely add more BBQ sauce to the underside of the ribs and flip them over to broil on both sides. 

What to Serve with Ribs

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.