If you want to learn how to make BBQ ribs in the oven, you will love my simple two-step process: First bake the ribs in the oven till tender, then broil the sauce till it caramelizes. These are the best oven baked ribs you will ever have.
Tis the season. Grilling tools are being replaced with snow shovels and the hammock is being traded in for the overstuffed chair in front of the fireplace. However, that does not mean you still can’t enjoy the spoils of the grilling season, indoors. During the cold winter months you can still savor finger-licking BBQ ribs without dashing through the snow to your favorite smoker. You can make great BBQ ribs in the oven.
How to Make Ribs Tender
Making ribs in your oven can quickly lead to disaster for many home cooks. Ribs by nature are tough pieces of meat. It is only through a long, slow, cooking process that they begin to melt into that tender summer treat we crave to slather with succulent sauces. Inexperienced home cooks will find that the ribs have come up to a safe serving temperature and take them out of the oven well before they are actually done.
Unlike many pieces of meat, just because the ribs have come to the proper temperature does not actually mean they are done cooking. Instead, they need to continue to cook so the collagen (connective tissue) breaks down, rendering a much more tender piece of meat.
There is a household phrase that continues to be a misnomer of ideal BBQ ribs: “Fall of the bone.” You do not want “Fall off the bone” ribs. These have been overcooked and feature a mushy texture – more reminiscent of a lazy crock-pot cook than a seasoned pit-master.
When Are Ribs Done
Properly cooked rib meat should threaten to crack when held up with tongs, and the bones should be able to be pulled away fairly cleanly with a firm twist. However, the meat should not come separated from the bone without assistance and should not lend itself to be described as “falling off the bone.” A properly cooked rib should be soft and tender but yet still have a slight chew to the meat, much like a very tender steak.
How to Remove the Membrane
To begin making the best BBQ ribs in your oven start by removing the membrane from under the ribs. This can be tricky for some, but it is pretty easy with this trick. Simply slide a spoon between the membrane and a bone to loosen it up, then I use a napkin for grip and pull it off the slab in one strip. The napkin prevents your fingers from slipping off.
Once this is done the meat can be seasoned with your favorite dry rub or simply some salt, then they are ready to cook in the oven.
How to Make Ribs in the Oven
When cooking ribs outdoors I adhere to strict traditionalism. I use a smoker (affiliate link) and I do not take shortcuts in their preparation. I use a very common slow and slow ‘3-2-1 rib method‘, figuring if it is good enough for competition pit-masters, it is the method I should get acquainted with. However, when I make BBQ ribs the oven I don’t prefer utilizing the 3-2-1 method.
My favorite oven rib recipe is a simple two-step process: First bake the ribs at 350 degrees for two hours until tender, then broil the sauce till it caramelizes. The ribs are wrapped while baking in the oven.
Why Wrap Ribs?
Wrapping the ribs in foil helps speed the cooking process while ensuring they are melt-in-your-mouth tender. This is also referred to as the Texas Crutch. However, after two hours of cooking, we will unwrap the ribs to apply the sauce.
How to Make Sticky Ribs
When the ribs are finished cooking we are going to caramelize the BBQ sauce under the broiler until they are delectably sticky. You will place the ribs under the broiler lacquer with additional sauce every few minutes until a hot sticky bark is formed. This will take 30-60 minutes total, depending on how thick you want the sauce.
Broiling the ribs coated in sauce is the secret to this recipe. Broiling BBQ sauce will quickly cause it to boil, releasing moisture and causing it to thicken into a finger-lickingly delicious sticky jam. Not only will this thicker sauce adhere to the meat better, the flavor becomes more concentrated as well. Try this recipe with my homemade BBQ sauce!
BBQ sauce is high in sugar so carefully watch the ribs under the broiler as they can burn easily. They should never be left under the broiler for more than a few minutes at a time without being moved around or adding additional sauce or you will be awoken to your mistake by smoke alarms.
What to Serve with BBQ
- Homemade Baked Beans – a BBQ classic staple!
- Macaroni Salad – Creamy and delicious!
- Classic Coleslaw – Tangy and crunchy!
- Hand-cut French fries – Great to pair with this recipe because you won’t need the oven for the French fries, just the stovetop.
How to Make BBQ Ribs in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 salb Baby Back Ribs
- 1 bottle BBQ Sauce
- BBQ Dry Rub
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the membrane from under the ribs using a spoon to slide between the membrane and a bone to loosen it up and then pull off the membrane with a napkin in your hand for grip.
- Once this is done the meat can be seasoned with your favorite dry rub or simply some salt.
- Wrap the ribs in foil, place on a baking sheet and set in the oven for two hours.
- After two hours, unwrap ribs, discard the juice and foil.
- Flip ribs upside down and slather the bottom generously with BBQ sauce. Turn on the broiler and set BBQ ribs underneath until the sauce has thickened.
- Flip ribs back upright and add a generous amount of sauce to the top of the ribs and place back under broiler. Continuing to lacquer with additional sauce every few minutes until a hot sticky bark is formed to your liking. Approximately 30 minutes (but feel free to do it longer)
- Once lacquered, let the ribs rest for 15 minutes prior to slicing and serving.
Notes
This recipe was originally published on FoxValleyFoodie.com December 9, 2012.
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CB says
Thanks so much for a sensible recipe that yields great results. I’ve been burned by the “low and slow” methods that turn out mushy, almost inedible ribs. Great job!
Fox Valley Foodie says
Yeah, I’ve been burned by those too, so I get it.
Laela says
I used 2 racks of pork back ribs didn’t change time or temp and when it was time to flip to sauce them they kinda fell apart. So next time i cooked them upside down for 2 hours, opened foil, removed juices, sauced bottom, broiled 5 minutes, flipped ribs with foil right side up, removed foil, slathered the bbq sauce 3x’s 5 min. each time. They were easier to handle and still turned out as delicious as b4! Thank you Fox Valley Foodie!!
Luke says
Brilliant idea! I had the same issue last time I made these so I’m going to do this today, thank you!
sovana says
I love the process! I used the good ol’ classic Sweet Baby Rays on my ribs and it was a hit with the fam bam. Thanks for sharing your method.
Carol says
I have always just gotten by with baby back ribs. I found your recipe a few weeks ago and figured I would give it a go. I have never gotten the compliments from my husband as I did with this recipe. I made them again this past weekend for a small gathering and wow, the compliments were plenty. Thank you, thank you for a wonderful recipe that will be used over and over in my kitchen.
Luke says
About to make these a second time. Used this recipe a couple of weeks ago and it was simply heavenly! Such a fast, effective method for making fall off the bones ribs!
Carl Selander says
I want to try your recipe and have two racks of St. Louis style pork spare ribs. Would like to cook these tomorrow, but figured I would verify this cut should be fine, although they may be a challenge getting into the broiler….?
Fox Valley Foodie says
Spare ribs would also work OK, though they take a little longer to get tender. I have not tested this recipe with spare ribs, but would expect to cook them in foil for an extra 15-30 minutes to compensate. There is no reason why they should be any harder to broil though.
Carl Selander says
Actually, I thought about doing just that, but then the instructions on the package thwy came in said 335-340 for 2-2.5 hrs. So I just left them at 350 for 2 hrs and after app. 35 mins of broiling sauce on the ribs, they were cooked plenty well. Not falling off but pretty tender and loose.
Thanks again.
Carl Selander says
Did the ribs in oven recipe, came out nicely, except I should have watched a bit more closely towards the end as the sauce one of my two racks, got a little burnt.
Thanks.
Linda says
If you don’t want to stand over the broiler I put my oven at 250 and 2 hrs for 6 lbs of baby back with rub wrapped in foil and also after that open foil put on sauce and broil but only for a few minutes. Same recipe I just think the two hrs makes the difference. 3 hrs if not baby back
Ann Fults says
Can 2 racks of baby back ribs be cooked in the oven side by side in the same pan?
Fox Valley Foodie says
Sure can! Just leave a bit of space between them for even cooking.
Sean says
absolutely loved this recipe! I’d never made ribs before, but these turned out incredible. I’m usually not a fan of “sticky” ribs (beard.) but these were so worth it.
I do, however, have a really, really stupid question; what’s the top and what’s the bottom of the ribs? the convex or concave position? i.e. tent or bowl?
Fox Valley Foodie says
The top is when it is sitting like a tent. The bottom (upsidedown) is when it looks like a bowl.
Linds says
I need to cook 5 slabs of baby back ribs for a dinner party, can I cook them all at the same time? Would I need add extra time? I have a regular size oven.
Fox Valley Foodie says
As long as you don’t crowd them in the oven and leave plenty of room for air to circulate around them they should cook just fine. I have found sometimes things take longer to cook when you fill the oven, so I recommend just taking one out at the end of baking and testing it for tenderness before unwrapping the remaining ribs. If it isn’t tender enough for your liking, rewrap it and bake longer.
Bkad says
Made these during “shelter at home status”. Craving my favorite rib joint that was closed , so had to make my own. Excellent, easy to follow instructions. Turned out so delicious. Thank you for sharing. Loved the flavor of the broiled bbq sauce. One of the few highlights of this strange time is discovering great sites like this one to learn new recipes and techniques.