Easy Baby Back Ribs in Oven
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These tender fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs are baked in the oven in a delicious barbecue sauce. Add your favorite sides for the perfect Southern supper.
I’ve always loved ribs but growing up my dad was the one who made them. He’d spend hours outside around a hot grill or smoker, basting and fussing with them until perfection was reached. They sure were good. But I’m on my own now and daddy lives an hour away. When a rib craving hits I’m not about to stand over a hot grill for hours on end. Instead, I make them the easy way and am just as happy with the results.
Now there are countless ways to make juicy ribs and there is never a shortage of folks to tell you that their way is the only right way to do things. But the way I see it, your kitchen = your rules. So today I’m gonna show you how to cheat at ribs. No grill and no sweat needed, but you’ll still end up with fall-off-the-bone juicy results.
Intrigued? Let me tell you, tender baby back ribs in the oven are a game changer. All you need is a rack of ribs, some barbecue sauce, and a little bit of time. This is such an easy baby back ribs recipe to make and the results speak for themselves. Add your favorite Southern side dishes (I’ve included lots of options below) and you have the perfect supper, at least in my books!
Recipe Ingredients
- Ribs
- Bbq sauce (I’m using my homemade bbq sauce recipe)
How to Make Baby Back Ribs in Oven
Now the trick is to remove that white membrane on the back of the ribs because that will help them be all nice and tender when they cook and when eatin’ time comes.
The way I do this is to slice into it with a sharp knife and then grab it and pull it off as best I can.
This is me removing a good bit of it.
There is still some left but at least I got the main layer off. Sometimes I have better luck than others but as long as you get the majority of it you’ll be fine.
Just think: cavemen made ribs. They can’t be that complex to prepare.
Now you’ll notice that I have the rack of ribs laying on a baking sheet I’ve lined with aluminum foil. This is important because we are fixing to baste them and seal them up all nice and tight.
Baste both sides of them using half of your bbq sauce. We’ll use the other half after they cook for a while.
There we go, all ready for the oven!
Now seal that up really well. Don’t be skimpy on the tin foil here!
Bake in a 300-degree oven for 2 hours.
Remove from oven and open foil.
Baste generously with the rest of your sauce on just the top.
Return to oven, leaving the foil opened like this, for another hour or until that sauce is nice and thick.
Oh goodness, this smells so good. Gotta love some sticky pork ribs.
Enjoy!
My husband, who normally does not care for ribs, ate three helpings of these!
Storage
- Store leftover pork ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 300-degree oven or air fryer until heated through. You might want to add some extra sauce.
- You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating as above.
Recipe Notes
Some recipes include a before the for added flavor. If you want to add one, here’s an easy homemade dry rub recipe, but you’ll need ingredients like , smoked or regular paprika, , salt, (or cayenne pepper), , and .
Recipe FAQs
What do you serve with oven-baked baby back ribs?
Here are some great side dishes to serve with your easy oven-baked ribs:
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Oven-Baked Mac and Cheese
- Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad
- 3 Bean Salad
- Baked Beans
- Creamed Corn
- Cornbread
- Homemade Biscuits
What kind of ribs do I use?
Look for ribs that say “back” in them, either baby back or pork loin back or something of the like. This is referring to where they come from and means they will have a lot more meat on them and less bone. Spare ribs have more bone and less meat.
What’s the best temperature for baking baby back ribs in the oven?
A low temperature makes for truly tender bbq ribs, which is why we bake them in a 300-degree oven for 2 to 3 hours.
You may also like these recipes:
Slow-Roasted Beef Brisket in the Oven
Slow-Cooked Pork Roast in Crock Pot
Crock Pot Pulled Pork Recipe, Southern-Style
North Alabama Style Pulled Chicken BBQ
Crock Pot Beef Ribs (Tender and Delicious)
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork back ribs
- 1 jar BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Using a knife, slice into the membrane on the back of the ribs (the white part) and use your hand to pull it off.1 rack pork back ribs
- Place the entire rack of ribs in the center of the foil and brush it with bbq sauce on both sides. Wrap well in foil to seal and place on a baking sheet.1 jar BBQ sauce, 1 rack pork back ribs
- Bake in a 300-degree oven for two hours. Remove from oven and open foil. Baste top with remaining bbq sauce and place back in the oven, with the foil still open, for an hour, or until the sauce is nice and thick.
Nutrition
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Forget the ribs….how are you and your family. Working nights has me so behind on the news sometimes. It’s just awful and such a tragedy. Living in Florida hurricanes is a big thing, but there’s plenty of time to prepare…not like tornados. So sorry for everyone.
Oh, Christy, I have been craving ribs for about a week now. So glad you posted this! Going to pick up some ribs tomorrow and throw them in the oven!
BTW, been praying a lot for ya’ll. I knew when those storms left the Memphis area that ya’ll were going to get it bad. So glad ya’ll stayed safe. Looking into the pricing for storm shelters here. I always find it odd that with as many tornados as we seem to get, you would think a storm shelter would be common. Anyway, praying that your electricity gets restored soon.
When we were growing up, my Momma made ribs and made her own sauce with Brooks spicy catsup and a can of beer, She also put onions in it and basically baked them the way you do. They were to die for!! I am carrying on the tradition. Happy to hear you survived the bad weather!!
As soon as I heard about the storms near you,I started praying for you and your family and friends. Hope all is well. You are a sweetheart thinking of us during the storm!
I wish I could get my husband to eat bbq ribs. I love them and hardly never make them because I have to eat all of them and cook him something different. So when I go home to MS, I have to go to at least 1 bbq place and get my fill. I will try these though and definitely going to look up the bbq sauce recipe in your book and can some. Glad to hear you and your family are okay. I have family in MS and AL so I have really been watching the news.
If he doesn’t eat the ribs you make don’t cook anything else and he will come around or starve. I cook for our family and my wife says she and our kids are blessed. Don’t get me wrong though, she is honest in her opinion if it is good or not or needs more or less of some ingredient. If she truly doesn’t care for a particular dish then she will eat a little or cook something herself. Just my 2cents, Vincent in Cali
Christy,
Hi there gal. Just wanted to let you know I have made you your very own folder for all your wonderful recipes I have stored at my house!!!
That way I can find the recipe I want right away. Your recipes are awesome and so easy. Can’t thank you enough.
Dianne in Wisconsin
Gonna’ try the oven ribs this weekend. I do all the grilling and always looking for the opportunity to teach other family members. Your oven recipe looks like a great way to have ribs that are tender and juicy. Sometimes they can get too dry on the outside grill unless you baste a lot and watch them carefully. Love your site and book.