As you know, one of Ben’s love languages is smoking meat and I can’t deny that ribs that have been smoked low and slow over hickory wood chips are a total treat. Since most people don’t own a smoker though, I’m sharing an oven-based recipe for ribs that is BEYOND delicious and easy. Yep, you can get lip-smackin’, finger-lickin’ good ribs that fall off the bone from your oven. Don’t believe me? Just you wait!
Baby back ribs are rubbed with everyday spices then marinated in the fridge for a few hours or up to overnight. After a few hours of baking in the oven at a low temperature (not heating up the kitchen, for the win!) they’re rendered succulent and fall apart-tender. Honestly, I cannot stress to you how tender the rib meat gets. Pull on the bone and it slides out completely clean.
I think making ribs at home is something a lot of people find intimidating but honestly it couldn’t be simpler. Don’t forget the homemade cornbread! I’ll show you how.
How to Make This Recipe
Start with a 2-1/2lb slab of ribs. Look for ribs that have some fat on top as it will add flavor and juiciness to the meat. Peel off/remove silver skin from the ribs if present then trim any large pieces of fat off if desired.
Next, get your homemade rub together. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon each onion powder, cumin, and smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to a small bowl then mix to combine.
Sprinkle both sides of the ribs with the mixture then rub it in and wrap the rack in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or up to overnight.
When it’s time to bake, place the ribs on a foil-lined, nonstick-sprayed baking sheet then cover completely with more foil and bake for 3-1/2 hours. If you’re using a larger rack of baby-back ribs, tack on an extra 1/2 hour per pound over 2-1/2lbs.
When time is up, unwrap the ribs then slather the top with your favorite BBQ sauce. Oh, they smell so good!
Pop the rack back in the oven for 30 minutes or until the top has caramelized.
Sweet, sweet OVEN BAKED baby back ribs!
Slice ’em up, and serve ’em hot!
Serve these recipes with your ribs!
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
- Gluten Free Cornbread
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Mojito Fruit Salad
- The Best Baked Beans EVER
- Cucumber-Tomato Salad
- Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas
- Classic Potato Salad
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Easy Baked Ribs
Description
Easy Baked Ribs are, you guessed it…easy! Succulent, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone-tender, too. Cook ribs in the oven if you don’t own a smoker or grill!
Ingredients
- slab of baby back ribs (could use spare ribs), 2-2-1/2lbs total
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- For the spice rub:
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
- Trim/peel off silver skin from ribs if present. Mix spices together in a small bowl then rub into both sides of the ribs, wrap in saran wrap, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees then line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Place ribs on top then cover tightly with more foil and bake for 3-1/2 hours (add more time if your ribs are larger then 2-1/2lbs.) Remove foil, drain any excess liquid from the pan, then brush BBQ sauce on top and bake for 30 more minutes, or until top is slightly caramelized. Slice then serve.
Notes
- If using a larger rack of ribs, add 30 minutes baking time per pound past 2-1/2lbs.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
This recipe is perfect , from the dry rub to the cook . I usually don’t leave reviews , but I felt I had to for the following reason . My wife is NOT a rib fan , she may pick a couple bites and that’s it . I made some baby backs for dinner and all I heard was how amazing these ribs are ! She ate a half a rack, and that never happens ! They were fall off the bone tender and amazing . I recommend using one of the Dukes southern sauces (BBQ sauce ) as we used the Hickory Moonshine BBQ and it complemented the ribs so well. Thank you for showing my wife that ribs are truly amazing if done right ! This recipe will now be a staple for our ribs .
That is amazing, Todd! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback and experience – I’m so glad this is a recipe you BOTH loved!!
I had started these ribs without a recipe and thought let me go find one, I do not like tough ribs. I had just put them in the oven when I found your recipe, I put the rub together pulled the ribs out of the oven to sprinkle rub on, and put them back in the oven and to reset time and temp, but some how it did not set, so I believe they were in 300 degree oven (2.94 lbs) approx 2 1/2 – 3 hrs, covered with about 1/3 c water. Took them out of oven and let sit out till dinner next day Poured my BBQ sauce on the ribs and the rest in a ramekin covered and baked at 250 for 1/2 hr., then uncovered for 1/2 hr, Then I raised the temp to 350 for approx. 15 min. Now I know that my husband likes my cooking by the way he eats it, but never says anything about how it is. But he commented on these ribs a few times through dinner. YEAH! So you can say this to be a no fail recipe, because there were several things that I did not do in how the recipe calls for because I had already started them, but . So You accomplished your goal in your recipe. So your lead in was accomplished. YUM. they were terrific
Ahh, love that this was a hit with you and your husband, Chris!! I totally agree – this recipe really is pretty fool proof. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
killer Ribs
Thanks Dennis – so glad you enjoyed!!
Simple recipe but a great impact on taste. Highly recommend this fall off the bone ribs. Going back for more.
This turn out every single time. They’re absolutely delicious!! We use Trader Joe’s KC BBQ and it’s perfection. Super Bowl win tonight for dinner.
Ahh, thank you so much for the awesome feedback, Kelli – I really appreciate it!!
Hey, my instacart shopper accidentally bought me an 11 lb rack of ribs instead of the 4 lbs I’d requested. How long would I need to cook that size rib rack?
You might want to check with Fred Flintstone
😂😂