It’s hard to believe how juicy and tender these oven-baked baby back ribs are—cooked till they fall off the bone after being rubbed with a delicious dry rub. Then perfectly cooked while covered in a delicious barbecue sauce.
Cook Advice: Cooking baby back ribs in the oven slowly and steadily in a “foil pack” that traps the steam is the secret to ensuring they fall apart. I always get absolutely beautiful ribs when I bake the ribs at 275° F for a couple of hours covered in foil.
Ingredients
For the Ribs
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3 lbs baby back ribs
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1 onion, thinly sliced
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1 cup BBQ sauce (or more as needed)
For the BBQ Rub
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2 Tbsp brown sugar
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1 Tbsp paprika
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1 tsp black pepper
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1 tsp salt
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1 ½ tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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1 tsp ground mustard
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½ tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
1. Prep the ribs
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Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C).
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Rinse the ribs under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
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Remove the thin silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs for the best texture.
2. Season
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In a small bowl, mix all the rub ingredients.
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Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs.
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(Optional: Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for deeper flavor.)
3. Bake covered
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Place the ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet. Spread sliced onions over the top.
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Cover tightly with foil, sealing the edges to form a packet.
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Bake for 2–2 ½ hours, until the ribs are tender and pull away easily from the bone.
4. Finish with BBQ sauce
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Remove the foil and discard any excess liquid.
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Brush ribs generously with BBQ sauce.
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For extra caramelization, return to the oven uncovered for 10–15 minutes, or broil for 3–4 minutes until the sauce bubbles and slightly chars.
5. Serve
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Slice between the bones, serve hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side, and enjoy!
Tips for Success
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Removing the silver skin ensures tender ribs and better seasoning absorption.
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Use sweet, smoky, or spicy BBQ sauce depending on your taste.
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If you like a smoky flavor, add a touch of liquid smoke to the rub.
Serving Ideas
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Pair with coleslaw, baked beans, or cornbread.
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Serve with potato wedges or mac & cheese for a hearty BBQ-style meal.
Storage & Reheating
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Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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Freezer: Wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
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Reheat: Warm in a 300°F oven, covered with foil, until heated through.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: About 3 hours
Servings: 4–6
Share the image below to your Pinterest board if you like these pork baby back ribs in the oven!
For how long should the ribs in the oven be cooked?
The best generalization for the softest and juicy baby back ribs is to cook them low and slowly. I like to roast ribs in the oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Then set the oven to broil and let it run for 5 to 10 minutes to caramelize the barbecue sauce.
If you’re in a hurry but still want to make these fantastic ribs, check out my Air-Fryer ribs recipe.
Important Notes
- A small rack with ribs will take around 2 1/2 hours to cook.
- For a medium rack, plan on spending about three hours. Four hours is a possible time frame for a large rack.
- Give it at least 2 hours in the oven before you check it for the first time. After then, have a look at it.
- The meat should have come off from the bone edges. Insert a fork into the flesh and give it a little pull if you’re unsure if it’s cooked. It should break easily.
- If not, return it to the oven for an additional 30 minutes. Remember that, depending on the size of the ribs, roasting them to perfection might take up to four hours.
- When the bones are excessively tender, it is more difficult to pick them up. The meat should begin to peel away from the bones but not totally released.
Grill the ribs for extra char
You may grill or broil the ribs as an additional step to gently char the top. Prepare the grill for cooking. Put the ribs over the flames when the grill is heated and cook for 3–4 minutes or until the marinade is boiling.
The meat is very sensitive and can easily come apart while moving to and from the grill, so take care.
Turn the oven on to broil. Bake the baking sheet for three to five minutes under the broiler once it is hot. If desired, repeat the process and add another coating of barbecue sauce.
If you like this recipe you will also love these Dr.Pepper Short Ribs.
FAQs
What’s the best temperature for baking the ribs?
In this dish, baby back ribs are baked for 2 to 3 hours at 275 degrees F. The rack size of ribs is the main factor in determining how long they must cook at this temperature. A smaller rack will probably take about two hours, while a bigger rack might take up to three hours.
When baking ribs, should I cover them?
Yes, to prevent the ribs from drying out while baking, it is better to cover them. Every time, excellent ribs will be produced by wrapping the ribs in tin foil and grilling them there.
How do you tell whether the ribs in the oven are done?
When the bone easily separates from the meat when pulled, your ribs are cooked.
Do ribs get more tender as they cook longer?
Yes, as they simmer longer, ribs get more tender, but there comes the point where they stop being soft and start to dry up. Toward the end of cooking, check the flesh every 10 minutes to see if it hasn’t dried out, and tug on the bone to see how readily it separates from the meat.
It will eventually just slip off the bone. The flesh will start drying out after that.
Is it better to cook ribs with the bone up or down?
The meaty side of the ribs should always be facing up while the bony side is cooking.
