Here’s a foolproof oven-baked BBQ ribs recipe — tender, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone without a grill.
🍖 Ingredients
For the ribs:
- 2 racks pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)
- Salt & black pepper
Dry rub (optional but recommended):
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp paprika (smoked if possible)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cayenne (optional for heat)
BBQ sauce:
- 1–1½ cups of your favorite BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
🔥 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the ribs
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs (this makes them more tender).
- Pat dry.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Rub generously with the dry rub on both sides.
2️⃣ Wrap & bake (low and slow)
- Place ribs meat-side up on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Cover tightly with foil (seal well to trap steam).
- Bake:
- Baby back ribs: 2½–3 hours
- Spare ribs: 3–3½ hours
Ribs are ready when the meat is tender and pulling back from the bones.
3️⃣ Sauce & caramelize
- Remove foil.
- Brush generously with BBQ sauce.
- Increase oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes until the sauce thickens and caramelizes.
- Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes for extra sticky edges (watch closely!).
🔑 Pro Tips
- For extra tenderness: Add 2–3 tbsp apple juice or apple cider vinegar inside the foil before sealing.
- Let ribs rest 10 minutes before slicing.
- Cut between bones for clean portions.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- A homemade BBQ sauce recipe
- A spicy version
- Or a honey garlic variation 🍯
