Easy Oven Baked BBQ Ribs

These easy oven baked BBQ ribs are seasoned with a homemade smoky spice rub, baked low & slow until incredibly tender then brushed with your favorite BBQ sauce for the ultimate sticky caramelized finish. They’re perfect for family dinners, cookouts or anytime your craving classic barbecue at home! (Plus no grill or smoker required!)

My family’s been making these oven baked BBQ ribs for as long as I can remember. (And they’re still one of the most requested dinners whenever we all get together.) They’re easy, incredibly juicy + fall-off-the-bone tender and full of the best smoky sticky sweet flavors!

What I love most about this recipe is it’s simplicity. All that’s required is a handful of spices, your favorite BBQ sauce + a little patience while the ribs bake low and slow. (Psst my favorite part is finishing the ribs with a generous layer of BBQ sauce – it caramelizes into the most delicious glaze AND you can finish them under the broiler or on the grill.) The end result? Juicy flavorful ribs that taste like they’ve been cooking all day long.

If you’ve been searching for the best oven baked ribs recipe, this is one you’ll be coming back to again and again. It’s easy enough for beginners, packed with classic barbecue flavor and tastes just as delicious as your favorite BBQ restaurant.

The Ingredients

St. Louis-style ribs: Meaty well-marbled St. Louis-style pork ribs are ideal for this recipe because they become incredibly tender when baked low and slow. For the best texture, be sure to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs before adding the dry rub.

Brown sugar: Brown sugar is the key to a perfectly balanced BBQ rib dry rub. It adds a touch of sweetness while helping the spices caramelize into a flavorful crust as the ribs bake.

Seasonings: A flavorful blend of salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and ground cayenne creates a smoky savory dry rub that’s packed with flavor. The paprika adds a touch of color while the cayenne provides the right amount of heat without making the ribs too spicy.

BBQ sauce: You’ll being finishing the ribs with your favorite barbecue sauce during the last stages of cooking. As it caramelizes in the oven, it creates a sticky finger-licking-good glaze that makes these ribs irresistible. (We love using Stubbs Smokey Mesquite BBQ sauce for ours.)

How To Make Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs

1. Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and get out a large rimmed baking sheet.

2. Make the spice mix. In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne.

3. Prepare the ribs. If your ribs have a thin membrane on the back, remove it. Generously rub the spice mix over both sides of each rack. Tightly wrap each rack in aluminum foil and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet.

4. Bake. Bake the ribs for 2-2½ hours or until the meat easily falls off the bone.

5. Finish. Remove the ribs from the oven and discard the top piece of foil. Brush a generous amount of bbq sauce over the top of the ribs. Move an oven rack near the top of the oven and turn your broiler on to high. Broil for 5-10 minutes or until the tops are slightly charred. (Alternatively, you can finish the ribs on the grill – grilling at high heat for 5-10 minutes.)

6. Serve. Slice the ribs and serve immediately with extra bbq sauce on the side.

How To Remove The Membrane

Why remove the membrane? Removing the membrane from the back of ribs is crucial for acheiving the perfect texture and flavor. It acts as an barrier that keeps the spices from penetrating the meat and, unlike fat, the membrane doesn’t melt or render down during the cooking process. Instead it remains tough and chewy making the ribs much harder to slice.

To Remove the Membrane: Place the ribs meat-side-down on a cutting board. Locate the thin membrane covering the rack, then use a knife to gently slide underneath it. Pull the membrane away from the bones using your fingers. If it’s slippery or difficult to remove, use a paper towel to hold and pull it off.

Serving Suggestions

These oven baked BBQ ribs pair perfectly with all of your favorite barbecue side dishes. no matter what you serve with them, they’re guaranteed to be the star of the table!

• Creamy coleslaw: Cool crunchy slaw adds a fresh contrast and balances the rich smoky BBQ ribs.
• Corn on the cob: Sweet buttery corn is a must-have!
• Potato salad: A creamy potato salad is always a backyard BBQ favorite + it complements the ribs’ smoky flavor perfectly.
• Corn salad: Sweet corn + a zesty dressing would be the perfect fresh side dish! (We love my Peach Avocado Corn Salad.)
• Grilled veggies: Zucchini, asparagus, bell peppers or green beans add a lighter colorful side to balance this hearty meal.
• Crispy potato wedges: Crispy potatoes + BBQ ribs are always a winning combination.
• Watermelon salad: A refreshing watermelon salad adds a bright summery contrast. (Try my Summer Berry Watermlon Salad or Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries!)
• Corn bread: Soft buttery cornbread is perfect for soaking up every bit of the stickung BBQ sauce.
• Pasta salad: Always a crowd pleaser + perfect for serving at potlucks, picnics and cookouts.
• Kale salad: A crisp kale salad would make a refreshing and nutritious addition. (Highly recommend my Peach Blueberrry Kale Salad!)

Storing & Reheating

To Store: Place your leftover ribs in an air tight container in fridge. They should stay fresh for up to 4 days.

To Freeze: Place the ribs in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. (Make sure to thaw them completely before reheating.

To Reheat: I highly recommend reheating them in the oven for the juiciest ribs! Place the ribs in a baking dish and add a splash of water to help keep them moist. Cover them tightly with foil and bake at 275°F for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Brush an extra layer of BBQ sauce over the top during the last few minutes, if desired.

Why you’ll love this oven baked BBQ ribs recipe!

• Fall-off-the-bone tender! Baking the ribs low & slow in the oven creates incredibly tender juicy meat that literally melts in your mouth – no smoker or grill required.
• Easy to make! A handful of spices, your favorite bbq sauce + a few simple steps – this recipe is easy enough for anyone to follow.
• Perfect for family dinners! Oven baked pork ribs are always a crowd favorite + there’s plenty to go around, making them the perfect main dish for weekend gatherings, BBQs & summer cookouts.
• Great for make-ahead meals! Bake the ribs ahead of time then brush on the BBQ sauce, reheat & broil! They’re perfect for entertaining because most of the work is done in advance.

More bbq recipes you might like:

• Grilled Chimichurri Steak Kabobs
• Smoky Chipotle Beef Burgers with Chipotle Aioli
• Honey Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs
• Grilled Flank Steak with Jalapeño-Feta Corn Salad

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