Smoking meat is one of the ways my husband shows love, and I agree that a rack of ribs smoked low and slow over hickory wood chips is a real treat.
Since most people don’t have a smoker, I’m going to share my easy and unbelievably tasty oven-baked ribs recipe. Yes, you can get lip-smackin’, finger-lickin’-good ribs that fall off the bone from your oven.
Every time I make these I’m stunned over how delicious they are. They come out perfect every single time!.
Juicy, tender pork spare ribs may seem intimidating to make, but they’re actually quite easy to cook at home. With just a few basic ingredients and techniques, you can have finger-licking ribs coming off the bone in no time.
Follow this simple guide for expertly preparing meaty pork spare ribs guaranteed to satisfy any barbecue craving without the fuss.
What Are Pork Spare Ribs?
Pork spare ribs come from the belly section of the pig near the side/bottom of the rib cage. They contain more fat and connective tissue compared to loin or baby back ribs, giving them a richer flavor when cooked low and slow.
The term “spare ribs” refers to them being less desirable than higher priced rib cuts, so butchers would set them aside for personal use or sell them cheaply But they make an incredible meal when prepared properly.
Full slabs weigh around 2,5-3,5 pounds and contain 10-13 bones Lower cost and longer cook time are balanced out by ultimate flavor and tenderness
Benefits of Oven Roasting
While you can grill or smoke spare ribs, using the oven offers advantages for easy weeknight meals:
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Convenient and simple cooking method
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More control over temperature and timing
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Ability to walk away while ribs cook unattended
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Minimal preparation and cleanup
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Availability of indoor cooking during any weather
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Gentle heat tenderizes while sealing in juices
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Allows use of flavorful marinades and braising liquids
Oven roasting brings out the best in inexpensive pork spare ribs. Follow these effortless steps for finger-licking results.
How to Cook Tender Spare Ribs in 3 Simple Steps
Cooking pork spare ribs in the oven produces tender, fall-off-the-bone meat in just a few hassle-free steps:
Step 1) Preheat oven to ~350°F. While heating, prepare a flavorful marinade or braising liquid.
Suggestions:
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Chicken/beef broth + soy/teriyaki + spices
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Beer, broth, vinegar
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Fruit juices like pineapple, apple, orange
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Tomato sauce or paste
Step 2) Place rib slab meat-side down in a roasting pan. Pour marinade over top to coat ribs fully.
Step 3) Cover pan tightly with foil and roast for ~2 hours until meat is very tender.
Check for doneness after 2 hours. The ribs are ready when the meat easily separates from the bones. If needed, roast for 10-20 minutes more until supremely tender.
That’s it – letting the low oven heat gently melt away connective tissue is the key. The natural collagen converts to gelatin and bastes the meat in its own juices for finger-licking results.
Expert Tips for Utterly Foolproof Pork Spare Ribs
Follow these pro tips for guaranteed success:
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Choose ribs with good marbling/fatty streaks for flavor and moisture
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Remove thin membrane from bone-side for better absorption
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Pat ribs dry before seasoning to help form a crusty bark
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Apply rub generously on all sides before braising
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Use a rimmed sheet pan and tightly seal with foil to contain juices
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Roast low and slow – do not exceed 350°F oven temperature
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Check tenderness after 2 hours, continue roasting if needed
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Finish under broiler 2-3 minutes to caramelize and crisp (optional)
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Let rest 5 minutes before cutting for juicy meat
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Slice between bones and serve with classic BBQ sides
With this easy oven roasting method, you can now skip the grill or smoker and make insanely delicious spare ribs any night of the week.
Flavorful Marinade and Rub Ideas
One of the best parts of oven-baked ribs is soaking up flavor from marinades. Consider these options:
Marinades:
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Beer, broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire
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Fruit juice blends with ginger and garlic
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Cola, Dr. Pepper, root beer
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Sweet and spicy Asian flavors
Rubs:
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Brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, onion, pepper
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Coffee rub with brown sugar and spices
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Memphis rib rub with paprika, garlic, onion, oregano
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Kansas City rib rub with brown sugar, cayenne, mustard
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Cajun seasoning blends like Tony Chachere’s
Let the meat soak up these flavors during the long, slow oven roasting time. Just pour or brush marinade over ribs before cooking, and apply dry rub on all sides.
Finger-Licking Oven-Roasted Pork Spare Ribs
Pork spare ribs are an affordable treat perfect for feeding a crowd. By using a few simple preparation steps and letting the oven do most of the work, you can easily achieve amazing fall-off-the-bone tender results.
Give these boneless ribs a try soon and you may never go back to spending hours tending a grill or smoker again. Oven roasting lets you become a rib master with hardly any effort.
How to Choose Good Baby Back Ribs
Here are two main things to think about when picking out a rack of back ribs at the store, whether you’re going to bake, grill, or smoke them:
- The baby back ribs you buy should have a lot of meat on top of them. This is because back ribs don’t have a lot of meat between each rib bone.
- Fat: Look for ribs that have a lot of fat on them. Pork fat = FLAVOR! You can cut off any bigger pieces, but the fat is what gives ribs their delicious taste and texture.
About two to three people can eat a 2-1/2 to 3-pound rack of baby back ribs, so I bake two racks to feed my family of five.
Making ribs at home is something that a lot of people are afraid to do, but I’ll show you how easy it is!
Step 3: Season the ribs.
Next, in a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and (if you want) a little cayenne pepper to make your own seasoning mix.
Sprinkle the mixture on both sides of the ribs then rub to coat with your fingers. Wrap the ribs in plastic wrap then refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 24 hours. It doesn’t matter where you put the ribs; they can be on the baking sheet we’ll use or on a tray.
EASY Oven Baked Spareribs Recipe
FAQ
What is the fastest way to cook spare ribs?
How long does it take to cook pork spare ribs in the oven?
How to cook spare ribs in the oven?
They are also the most pleasing to eat, in terms of not having noticeably gristly bits or connective tissue. As an overview, the process for how to cook spare ribs in the oven is incredibly simple: Season the meat with salt. Cut racks into individual ribs. Baste ribs with sauce, and bake while covered.
How do you cook pork ribs in the oven?
Here’s how to roast pork ribs (specifically pork loin back ribs) expertly: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place rib portions or rack of ribs, bone sides down, in a shallow roasting pan. Roast, covered with foil, for 2 to 2½ hours. Drain fat. If desired, brush ribs with sauce.
Are oven baked ribs easy?
Easy Oven Baked Ribs are cooked low and slow for fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy ribs, that are packed with a ton of flavor. It doesn’t matter which type of ribs you enjoy, because this recipe will work with baby back, spare, and St. Louis style ribs! Oven baked ribs are almost too easy to make.
What is a pork spare rib?
Pork spare ribs are typically removed before the bacon located underneath them is accessed. They have flat bones with meat concentrated in between them as opposed to on top of them.