• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Now Cook This!
  • Home
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
    • TERMS OF USE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Oven-Baked BBQ Pork Ribs

July 3, 2020 by Michelle | 3 Comments

Pin Recipe Jump to Recipe
barbecue pork ribs on a plate with a side of barbecue sauce with a text overlay that says now cook this oven-baked bbq pork ribs

These Oven-Baked BBQ Pork Ribs make it super easy to get tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that are full of flavor every single time!

bbq pork ribs on a serving tray with a serving fork and a small bowl of barbecue sauce this recipe

Cooking pork ribs to perfection doesn’t have to be a complicated process! Just sprinkle them with a delicious rub, cook them low and slow in the oven, and then finish them off with your favorite barbecue sauce either on the grill or under the broiler. So simple!

For a long time, I never bothered to cook ribs because it seemed a bit intimidating. I mean you see all these competition shows where people prep for days and then babysit the ribs on a grill or in a smoker for hours and hours on end…

Sorry, but no thanks. That level of commitment is just not for me. I’ve got other stuff to do all day, don’t you? I love cooking, but I also like to keep things simple.

Enter these ribs. They are a total game-changer!

Sure, you still have to cook the ribs low and slow for a few hours in order to get the meat super tender. BUT with this recipe, all those hours are hands-off time! Go do other things while the oven and the spice rub work their magic on those ribs!

bbq pork ribs on a serving tray with a serving fork and a small bowl of barbecue sauce

A big thank you my sister-in-law, Terry, for sharing this amazing recipe with me years ago (which originally came from Bon Appetit). I use my own rub recipe (and so can you if you have one that you really love), but it’s the cooking method that is spot-on and works every time!

Ingredients you need:

  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Dry ground mustard
  • Smoked paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Brown sugar
  • Pork spare ribs or baby back ribs
  • Barbecue sauce

Different types of pork ribs:

When buying pork ribs, you will generally see three kinds: whole spare ribs, St. Louis-style spare ribs, and baby back ribs. Any of them will work with this recipe!

Whole spare ribs are the largest cut, and St. Louis-style spare ribs are just whole spare ribs that have been trimmed a little more (the brisket bone and some of its meat is removed, resulting in a more rectangular, even shape).

Spare ribs have more meat than baby back ribs, and the meat has more fat (which, to me, always means more flavor – and less chance that the meat will dry out). They are my go-to for this recipe.

Baby back ribs are smaller than spare ribs and tend to have less meat, but the meat is usually more tender. The cooking time will be a little shorter (and the price tag will likely be a bit higher).

How to make oven-baked BBQ pork ribs:

three images showing the steps to make oven baked bbq pork spare ribs
three images showing the steps to make oven baked bbq spare ribs
two images showing the steps to make oven baked bbq pork ribs

Tips & Tidbits:

  • I use kosher salt in my rub, which is less salty than table salt. If you use table salt, you may want to reduce the amount of salt. Also, feel free to adjust the amount of salt to suit your own personal tastes.
  • The step of cooling the ribs helps the ribs stay together so you can move them around more easily when finishing on the grill or under the broiler. If you try to move them around right after baking while still hot, they may fall apart.
  • After they have cooled, I usually cut the rack of ribs in half before grilling or broiling. This makes them much easier to handle.
  • If you want to make the ribs a day or two ahead of time, once the ribs have cooled, remove them from the cooking liquid, cover, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to serve, finish them on the grill or under the broiler, basting with barbecue sauce until heated through.
  • If you use baby back ribs, the cooking time will be shorter – about 2 hours.
pork ribs on a plate with a fork and a small bowl of barbecue sauce

I actually love serving these ribs when I’m having a cook-out. I can make them the day before or in the morning and then finish them on the grill when we’re ready to eat. They’re always a hit!

I hope you enjoy this recipe for Oven-Baked BBQ Pork Ribs and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!

michelle signature

  • Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
  • Antipasto Pasta Salad
  • Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad
  • Sweet and Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw
  • Oven Roasted Potato Wedges
image that states follow now cook this on pinterest for more simple and delicious recipes, click here
image that states if you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment below, thanks

Oven-Baked BBQ Pork Ribs

These Oven-Baked BBQ Pork Ribs make it super easy to get tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that are full of flavor every single time!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Rate/Comment Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 680
Author: Michelle / Now Cook This!

Ingredients

Rub:

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dry ground mustard
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)

Ribs:

  • 1 rack pork spare ribs, whole or St. Louis-style, about 3½ to 4 pounds
  • 1½ cups barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the rub ingredients until well-combined.
  • Place the ribs on a double layer of aluminum foil large enough to wrap the ribs. Note: I always fold together two pieces of foil to make one big piece for each layer
  • Sprinkle the ribs with the rub on both sides, evenly covering the ribs.
  • Wrap the ribs with the foil (fold the foil over long-ways down the middle and then fold the sides up from the bottom so the juice doesn't leak out). Place the foil packet on a large baking sheet.
  • Bake for 3 hours or until the meat is tender.
  • Remove the ribs from the oven, open the foil, and let the ribs cool completely, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cooling the ribs will allow you to move them around more easily in the next steps without them falling apart. Note: If you want to make the ribs a day or two ahead of time, remove the ribs from the cooking liquid and store them covered in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve them, proceed with the recipe.
  • While the ribs are cooling, preheat the grill to high.
  • Once the ribs are cooled, remove them from the foil and cooking liquid and grill, basting with the barbecue sauce and turning frequently, until they are heated through and the sauce begins to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Note: I usually cut the rack of ribs in half before grilling to make them easier to handle.
  • Cut the ribs into pieces. Serve with extra barbecue sauce, if desired.

Notes

  • Kosher salt is less salty than table salt. If you use table salt, you may want to reduce the amount. Also, feel free to adjust the amount of salt in the recipe to suit your own personal tastes. 
  • Alternately, you can finish the ribs under the broiler instead of on the grill. Remove the cooled ribs from the foil and cooking liquid and place on a baking sheet or broiler pan. Broil, basting with the barbecue sauce and turning frequently, until heated through and the sauce is beginning to caramelize. 
  • You can also use baby back pork ribs, which are smaller (a rack usually weighs about 1 1/2 to 3 pounds). Reduce the oven cooking time to 2 hours or until the meat is tender.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it!Mention @nowcookthis or tag #nowcookthisrecipes!
Previous Post: « Vanilla and Chocolate Homemade Ice Cream Bars
Next Post: Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Merle Jean Anderson

    August 11, 2021 at 11:07 am

    Just what I was looking for, I love your simple recipe for simple oven-baked ribs and they were delicious. Good work, keep the recipes coming the simple way.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      August 11, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      Hi there, Merle Jean! Thank you for the 5-star rating on the ribs…I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Lots more simple recipes are on the way!

      Reply
      • Merle Jean Anderson

        August 18, 2021 at 2:37 pm

        Thank you, and I’m so glad that there will be more recipes coming. Thanks again!

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

photo of website owner with text that says hello, i'm michelle, it's nice to meet you

Welcome to my kitchen where something good is always cooking! I want us all to cook and eat at home more, so I’m here to share my favorite simple and delicious recipes that are perfect for the everyday home cook. I hope you will be inspired to get in the kitchen and try these recipes, and I hope they become some of your favorites too! Read more…

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 Now Cook This!