Oven-Baked BBQ Beef Ribs That Fall Off the Bone

Juicy, tender oven-baked bbq beef ribs are easier to make than you think! These boneless beef ribs are seasoned with a homemade spice rub, basted with bbq sauce, and slow cooked in the oven for fall-off-the-bone results every time

As a busy mom, I love that you just prep and season the ribs then let the oven do all the work. No complicated steps or fancy techniques needed. And you get that delicious smoky bbq flavor without having to fire up the grill.

In this detailed guide I’ll walk through exactly how to bake beef ribs in the oven so they turn out incredibly tasty and tender. Let’s get saucy!

Why Make Oven-Baked Beef Ribs?

Here are a few reasons why baking ribs in the oven is my preferred cooking method:

• Convenience – No need to monitor a grill for hours. Just pop them in the oven and you’re hands-off until they’re done.

• Consistent results – The steady, even heat of the oven ensures the ribs cook through perfectly without burning or drying out.

• All weather cooking – Don’t let bad weather ruin your bbq rib plans! The oven gets the job done rain or shine.

• Adds smoky flavor – A homemade dry rub plus basting with bbq sauce gives oven-baked ribs incredible flavor.

• Juicy and tender – Low, slow cooking breaks down collagen for melt-in-your-mouth tender meat that falls right off the bone.

So skip the grill and get ready for fall-off-the-bone bbq beef ribs all year round with this easy oven method!

Ingredients Needed

Part of what makes this recipe so easy is that you don’t need a lot of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3-4 lbs boneless beef ribs
• BBQ dry rub (see recipe below)
• 1 cup bbq sauce
• 1⁄4 cup beef broth or water
• Aluminum foil

That’s it! The dry rub seasons the meat as it cooks while the bbq sauce provides sticky sweetness and charred edges.

Simple Dry Rub Recipe

Here’s the simple homemade dry rub I use (makes about 1/4 cup):

• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1⁄2 tsp pepper

Mix all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined. You can easily double or triple it to have extra on hand. This rub adds the perfect amount of sweetness and spice!

Step-by-Step Guide to Oven Baked BBQ Beef Ribs

Now let’s get into the nitty gritty of how to cook bbq beef ribs in the oven for finger-licking results:

1. Prep the Ribs

• Pat the ribs completely dry with paper towels. Any excess moisture will hinder the rub from sticking.

• Apply a light coat of olive oil or vegetable oil over the ribs. Again, this helps the rub adhere to the meat.

• Generously season the ribs on all sides with the dry rub, pressing to adhere. I use about 2-3 tablespoons per side.

2. Add Liquid to the Baking Dish

• Place the seasoned ribs in a baking dish. I like to use a large rectangular or oval one so the ribs aren’t crowded.

• Pour the 1⁄4 cup beef broth evenly over the bottom of the dish. You can also use water if you don’t have broth.

• The small amount of liquid prevents the drippings from burning and helps keep the ribs moist.

3. Cover and Bake

• Tightly cover the baking dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil. This traps in steam to keep the ribs extra juicy.

• Bake in a 300°F oven for 2-21⁄2 hours, until the ribs are very tender when pierced with a fork.

• The low temp and covered vessel allows the collagen to slowly break down into gelatin for fall-off-the-bone tender ribs.

4. Uncover and Brush with BBQ Sauce

• Remove the foil and brush the ribs generously with bbq sauce. Make sure to coat both sides.

• Bake uncovered for 30 minutes more, brushing with additional bbq sauce every 10 minutes.

• This firms up the sauce into a nice sticky glaze and caramelizes the edges.

5. Finish off Under the Broiler

• For crispy charred edges, broil the ribs on high for 2-3 minutes watch closely to avoid burning.

• The high heat caramelizes the bbq sauce into a crispy, charred crust.

And that’s it – perfectly cooked bbq beef ribs with saucy, tender meat that falls right off the bone!

Serving Suggestions

Bbq beef ribs are delicious on their own, but here are some tasty ways to serve them:

• As sliders on mini brioche buns
• Chopped on top of coleslaw
• Over baked beans
• On cheesy grits or polenta
• With classic potato salad and corn on the cob
• Alongside collard greens
• On top of oven-baked fries
• In bbq beef sandwiches

The possibilities are endless! I like to keep sides simple to let the ribs shine as the star.

Oven Baked Beef Ribs Tips

To ensure your oven ribs come out tender and saucy every time, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose 3-4 pounds of meaty ribs for 4-6 servings. Go for bone-in for more flavor.

• Remove the membrane from the bone side for tenderest results.

• Bake low and slow – ribs should not be cooked above 300°F.

• Check for doneness with a fork test rather than relying on times.

• Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before serving so juices redistribute.

• Add broth/water to the baking dish to prevent burning.

• Brush with bbq in the last 30 minutes only or it may burn.

• Finish under the broiler for crispy caramelized edges (optional).

Follow my recipe above and these handy tips for the most mouthwatering oven baked bbq beef ribs ever!

More Delicious Beef Rib Recipes to Try

If you love oven-baked ribs, give these tasty beef rib recipes a try next:

• Easy Oven Baked BBQ Ribs – Another classic oven rib recipe.

• Slow Cooker Beef Ribs – For set-it-and-forget-it crockpot ribs.

• Instant Pot Beef Ribs – For super fast tender ribs.

• Grilled Boneless Beef Short Ribs – If you want to fire up the grill.

• Braised Beef Short Ribs – For melt-in-your-mouth wine-braised ribs.

No matter which recipe you try, follow my oven method above for finger-lickin’ saucy, tender beef ribs every single time.

Enjoy Fall-Off-the-Bone Oven Baked Beef Ribs