BBQ pork ribs that are to die for, with meat that falls apart and a sticky homemade barbecue sauce! These pork ribs are rubbed with a spice mix, slow-cooked until fall-apart tender, and then bailed with lots of the tangy, sweet sauce. Can’t-stop-eating it, finger-licking’ good!.
If you carefully nibble on a rib while holding it between two fingers and wiping your fingers clean with a linen napkin, I doubt we will ever be friends.
By holding them in your hands and eating them with gusto, you can get barbecue sauce all over your mouth and up to your cheekbones. Then you can drop the bones on your plate, squeezing them dry of all the meat and sauce, and then clean your fingers of all that sticky sauce.
These Oven Pork Ribs are fall apart tender and slathered with an incredible homemade barbecue sauce!
Pork spare ribs are a flavorful and delicious cut of meat that just need a little time and care in the oven to become fall-off-the-bone tender Learning how to properly prep and slow cook pork spare ribs in the oven results in ribs with moist, tender meat and incredible flavor.
Follow this guide to cooking spare ribs in the oven and you’ll turn out amazing ribs every time without needing a grill or smoker.
Benefits of Cooking Spare Ribs in the Oven
There are a few advantages to using the oven vs. other methods:
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Convenient and simple – No specialized equipment needed
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Even, consistent heat – Oven distributes heat evenly around ribs
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Temperature control – Easier to maintain exact temp compared to grill
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All weather cooking – Don’t have to wait for perfect grilling weather
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Lower temp roasting tenderizes – Longer cook time at ~300°F allows meat to become super tender
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Ability to braise – Adding liquid to the pan steams ribs as they cook, keeping them extra moist
How to Choose Good Spare Ribs for Oven Cooking
Look for racks of spare ribs that:
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Are meaty and well-marbled – More fat means more flavor and tenderness
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Have a nice layer of meat between bones – At least 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
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Have flexibility – Slightly bend without cracking or snapping
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Have a reddish-pink color without graying
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Don’t have a strong odor – Should have little smell when raw
Allow ribs to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking for more even roasting.
Seasoning and Flavoring Pork Spare Ribs
To add great flavor to your oven-baked ribs, consider:
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Dry rubs – Generously coat ribs with spice mixes before cooking
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Barbecue sauce – Brush with BBQ sauce during last 10-30 minutes
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Braising liquids – Add flavor using beer, wine, broth, juice
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Marinades – Let ribs soak in a wet marinade before cooking
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Wood chips – Add soaked chips to the roasting pan for subtle smoke flavor
How to Cook Pork Spare Ribs Step-By-Step
Follow these simple steps for incredible oven-baked spare ribs every time.
Ingredients
- 1-2 racks pork spare ribs (2-4 lbs)
- Dry rub, enough to coat ribs
- 1 cup beer, wine, broth or juice
- Barbecue sauce (optional)
Instructions
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Prep ribs: Remove membrane from back of ribs. Trim off excess fat and silverskin. Pat completely dry.
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Season ribs: Generously apply dry spice rub all over ribs on both sides, pressing into meat.
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Pour braising liquid in pan: Place ribs meaty-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Pour broth, beer, wine or juice in bottom of pan.
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Cover and bake at 300°F: Seal pan tightly with foil. Bake 2-3 hours until tender and meat pulls back from bones.
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Uncover and bake longer: Remove foil. Brush ribs with barbecue sauce if desired. Bake 30-60 mins more until browned and crispy.
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Rest, slice, and serve: Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before slicing into individual ribs.
Oven Pork Spare Ribs Tips
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For extra smoky flavor, add soaked wood chips to the braising liquid.
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Flip ribs halfway during uncovered baking time for even browning.
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To check doneness, meat should be very tender when poked with a fork.
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Let ribs rest before slicing or the meat can dry out.
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Slice ribs between each bone before serving.
How to Tell When Ribs Are Done
It can be tricky to tell when ribs are fully cooked without overcooking them. Watch for these signs:
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Internal temp of 195°-205°F – Use a meat thermometer to check doneness in thickest part.
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Bone exposure – Meat has contracted and pulled back from tips of bones.
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Tender but not falling off – Meat starts easily pulling away but is not completely falling off bones.
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Toothpick test – A toothpick or skewer slides easily through meat.
The ribs are done when they reach the sweet spot of being tender enough to bite through easily but still holding onto the bone.
##Delicious Sparerib Recipes to Try
Here are two excellent oven-baked spare rib recipes:
Fall Off the Bone Oven Spareribs
This simple method results in incredibly tender, juicy ribs.
Fall Off the Bone Oven Spareribs
Barbecue Pork Ribs with Homemade Sauce
Baked in a sweet and tangy homemade barbecue sauce until sticky and falling off the bone.
Oven Pork Ribs with Barbecue Sauce
Serving Suggestions for Baked Spare Ribs
Oven-cooked spare ribs pair well with these sides:
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Corn on the cob
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Coleslaw or potato salad
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Baked beans
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Mac and cheese
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Cornbread
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Collard greens
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Mashed potatoes
For something fresh, serve ribs with a crisp green salad or cut fruit like watermelon.
Oven Sparerib Leftovers
Leftover baked spare ribs keep well refrigerated for 4-5 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave to prevent drying out. Ways to repurpose extras:
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Chop into cubes for fried rice or pasta dishes
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Toss with barbecue sauce, pile on buns for pulled pork sandwiches
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Make nachos, tacos, enchiladas or burritos
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Stir into soups, beans, chili or pasta sauce
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Top pizza, flatbreads or nachos
With the right prep and cooking technique, oven-baked spare ribs turn out incredibly moist, tender and full of flavor. Follow these tips for success every time. Ditch the grill and enjoy finger-licking good spare ribs conveniently cooked right in your oven.
How to make Oven Pork Ribs
Here’s how I make pork ribs in the oven. There’s a few key things here:
- Rub for the pork ribs – to add flavour;
- Adding liquid for cooking is an important part of this pork ribs recipe. It makes the oven steamy while the ribs cook slowly, which keeps them nice and juicy. My favorite drink is alcoholic apple cider, which is also called “hard apple cider.” Like many other things, alcohol makes it taste better. Of course, you can also drink beer, apple juice, broth, or even water.
- I make my own barbecue sauce because ribs are a big deal around here, so I never think to use store-bought barbecue sauce. Also, it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. This sauce is even better than store-bought because it tastes real and doesn’t have that slightly fake taste that store-bought sauces do. Try it once and you’ll be converted for life!.
- Baste, bake, bake, bake! The more you baste and bake, the better the bacon will stick to the ribs.
What you need for Oven Pork Ribs with Barbecue Sauce
And here’s what you need. Nothing unique here, except perhaps the molasses in the barbecue sauce.
Where did I see it for the first time? I added it to my barbecue sauce once and never looked back. It gives food color and flavor that can’t be copied. If you can get your hands on it, you should use it. Do not worry if you do not have it. You can use golden syrup or dark brown sugar instead of regular brown sugar. Similar result!.
EASY Oven Baked Spareribs Recipe
FAQ
How long does it take to cook ribs in the oven?
Do you cook pork spare ribs covered or uncovered?
How long to cook pork spare ribs in the oven at 350?
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Type
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Uncovered Temp
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Covered Time
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Small pork ribs, such baby back ribs
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300-325°F
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11/2 hours
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Larger pork ribs, such as spare ribs
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350°F
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3 hours / 11/2-2 hours
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Beef “dino” ribs
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—
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4 hours
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Beef flanken ribs
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broiler
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—
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How do you cook pork ribs without drying them out?
How do you cook pork spare ribs?
Place the pork spare ribs on a rimmed half sheet pan and drizzle with about 1 cup of your favorite bbq sauce: If you’ve got 20 minutes to spare, my homemade bbq sauce recipe is incredibly flavorful with smoky, sweet, and spicy notes. But sometimes I use store-bought to make prep easier.
How long do you cook spare ribs in the oven?
Bake the spare ribs for 1 hour and 45 minutes in an oven set to 300 degrees F, then remove the aluminum foil. The oven-baked ribs will look like this: It is normal for them to look fairly unglazed at this point. Take half the remaining barbecue sauce and baste the ribs:
How do you cook pork ribs in the oven?
Country-style Pork Ribs ribs are a great rich and fall-apart tender alternative to traditional ribs. Cheap, easy to make, and SO good, this might just be your new favorite way to eat pork. Preheat your oven to 300°F. Salt and pepper both sides of your ribs and place in a single layer in your pan, fattier side up.
How do you cook ribs in a broiler?
Broil the ribs. Arrange an oven rack a few inches below the heating element and heat the broiler. Make sure the meaty side of the ribs is facing up. Broil until the sugar in the dry rub is bubbling and the ribs are evenly browned, about 5 minutes. Bake the ribs. Set the oven to 300°F. Move the ribs to an oven rack in the middle of the oven.