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!
Juicy, tender pork ribs with deep flavor are a backyard barbecue favorite. But you don’t need a grill or smoker to make ribs at home – your oven can turn out amazing ribs too! Slow cooking ribs low and slow in the oven gives you all the flavor and tenderness you crave in a fuss-free method But exactly how long should you bake pork ribs to achieve that ideal texture? Let’s break it down step-by-step
Choosing The Right Rib Cut
There are a few different cuts of pork ribs to choose from:
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Baby back ribs – From the top of the rib near the spine. Shorter and meatier with less fat.
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St. Louis style ribs – Rectangular cut from the belly/side portion. More bone and cartilage.
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Spareribs – Often sold as slabs with rib tips attached. More fat than other cuts.
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Country-style ribs – Meaty, bone-in chops from the rib end
Baby back and St. Louis ribs are most commonly used for baking. Spareribs and country-style ribs do well too. Avoid pre-cut riblets which dry out more easily.
Calculating Cook Times
Here are general time guidelines based on rib type:
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Baby back ribs – 1.5 – 2 hours
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St. Louis ribs – 2 – 3 hours
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Spareribs – 2.5 – 3.5 hours
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Country-style ribs – 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Thinner back ribs cook faster while meatier St. Louis and spareribs need more time. Boneless country-style ribs cook quickest.
For fall-off-the-bone ribs, it’s best to bake low and slow at 225-250°F. Higher temps speed cooking but can toughen meat.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for oven-baked ribs:
1. Prep The Ribs
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Remove membrane for tender meat.
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Season ribs all over with a dry rub or just salt and pepper.
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For extra flavor, marinate overnight or inject/spritz with apple juice.
2. Arrange In Oven
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Place ribs bone-side down in a baking dish just large enough to hold them.
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Adding a little water or broth prevents sticking.
3. Cover And Bake Low
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Cover pan tightly with foil to seal in steam.
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Bake at 225-250°F for suggested time based on cut.
4. Uncover And Finish
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Carefully drain juices from pan (reserve for serving if desired).
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Flip ribs meat-side up, add sauce, and bake uncovered 15-30 minutes more.
5. Rest And Serve
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Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before cutting or serving.
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Slice between bones or serve whole bones. Enjoy!
Oven Rib Cooking Tips
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Check doneness by looking for exposed meat shrinking back from bones.
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Use tongs and spatula to carefully flip ribs halfway through. They’ll be tender!
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Add barbecue sauce, honey, or other glazes in the last 15-30 minutes only.
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If time is short, increase temp to 300°F. But tenderness may be reduced.
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For char or crispiness, broil ribs briefly at very end watching closely to avoid burning.
Know When They’re Done
Judge doneness of oven-baked ribs by:
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Meat shrinking back from ends of bones by at least 1⁄4 inch
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Bones loosening and starting to jiggle a bit
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Meat tears easily when poked with a fork
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Internal temperature of 195-205°F if using a meat thermometer
The bones and meat will let you know when they’re ready! The time ranges above are just estimates.
Serving Suggestions
Ribs pair deliciously with:
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Cornbread, biscuits, or rolls
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Coleslaw, potato salad, or baked beans
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Mac and cheese or cheese grits
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Fresh fruit like watermelon
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Iced tea, lemonade, or beer
Serve sauce on the side for dipping or toss ribs in sauce right before eating. Provide plenty of napkins!
Storing Leftover Ribs
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Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
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Reheat in the oven or microwave with a splash of water to restore moisture.
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Freeze ribs in portion sizes up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge before using.
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Slice or chop ribs before freezing for easier individual reheating.
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Use leftover meat shredded in bbq sandwiches, tacos, nachos, omelets, etc.
Cooking Different Cuts of Ribs
Baby Back Ribs
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More tender and faster cooking than other cuts
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Bake 1.5-2 hours at 250°F
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Watch closely last 15 minutes not to overcook
St. Louis Style Ribs
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Rectangular racks with more bone
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Need low and slow 2-3 hour baking
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Flip carefully when tender
Spareribs
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Irregular shape with rib tips
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Bake 2.5-3.5 hours covered at 225°F
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May take longer due to more bone/cartilage
Country-Style Ribs
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Individual bone-in pork chops
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Bake 1.5-2.5 hours based on thickness
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Cook faster than full rib racks
Now that you know approximate oven bake times for different cuts of ribs, you can enjoy juicy, savory ribs anytime without firing up the grill. Low and slow oven baking brings out the best in pork ribs. Just be flexible on cook times and rely on visual signs of doneness. In no time, you’ll be an expert on oven-baked fall-off-the-bone ribs!
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 to serve with Pork Ribs
Serve your sticky oven pork ribs with macaroni salad and corn on the cob (try the best GRILLED Buttered Corn!) to make it feel like a Southern barbecue.
Other favourites include:
And for something fresh, try this Tomato, Corn and Avocado Salad or a cooling German Cucumber Salad.
This is a forgiving pork ribs recipe – and it’s loaded with plenty of flavour!
This recipe is pretty easy to mess up as long as you get ribs that are juicy and fatty, which they usually are. Ribs are a tough cut of meat, so they need to be cooked slowly until they’re nice and tender.
It’s quite forgiving with the cook time, unlike some other types of proteins like poultry. So even if you cook it 30 minutes too long, it will still be juicy and delicious.
There is simply no way to look elegant eating pork ribs. Don’t worry about the fact that your fingers will be very sticky, sauce will be on your face, and you’ll have a big silly grin!
EASY Baby Back Ribs In The Oven | The Perfect Oven Ribs
FAQ
What is the best temperature to slow cook ribs in the oven?
How long do you cook ribs at 250 degrees?
Should ribs be 225 or 250 in the oven?
How to slow cook pork ribs in the oven?
We will now tell you how to slow cook pork ribs in the oven. Ingredients Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl for the dry rub. Place the ribs on a piece of aluminum foil. Sprinkle each side generously with the dry rub and pat it down. Refrigerate the ribs for one hour.
How do you cook ribs in a slow cooker?
After removing the membrane and coating with your dry rub, place your ribs into the bottom of a slow cooker and lather your ribs with barbecue sauce. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, then remove your ribs and place onto an aluminum foil lined baking sheet.
How do you cook ribs in the oven?
Set aside to marinate for 20 minutes (or overnight). Preheat oven to 160°C/320°F (all oven types). Place ribs on a tray in a single layer. Pour apple cider underneath the ribs, cover with foil then bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the meat is pretty tender (Note 5). Remove from oven, turn up to 180°C/350°F.
How to cook ribs low & slow?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to cooking ribs low and slow: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C). This low temperature will ensure the meat cooks slowly and becomes incredibly tender. Place the seasoned ribs on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan. For added flavor, you can place a wire rack underneath them to allow the heat to circulate evenly.