Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

Ready for fall-off-the-bone, tender baby back ribs without the hassle of a smoker? Cooked low and slow, these slabs of ribs are coated in a savory dry rub and baked in the oven for the perfect BBQ dish. It’s true, you can enjoy delicious ribs without a grill or smoker!

Ribs are a summertime favorite for parties and cookouts, but they have a reputation for being a little on the tough side. With this easy recipe, there is no “gnawing” at the bone for the meat. These are the best ribs! The tender meat falls right off the bone. 

Making baby back ribs in the oven produces a super tender result every time! This process is super easy and the leftovers are just as delicious. Plus, there’s virtually no clean-up and no hassling with a smoker. I love to serve this with pickled onions and my favorite barbecue sauce – Alabama White Sauce!

Why I love this recipe

I love that this recipe makes BBQ accessible for anyone! Using a grill or smoker is intimidating for a lot of people, and expensive! Ever since I discovered you could essentially get the same delicious BBQ from the oven, I was hooked!

Baking ribs keeps the prep work and effort down to a minimum. All you really need to do is rub down the ribs and bake them!

This recipe is ideal for those who love baby back ribs but don’t have a smoker. Also, you no longer have to factor the weather into your cooking schedule! Now, that’s a win!

Ingredient notes

• Baby back ribs: For this recipe, ribs that are labeled baby back, St. Louis, or spare ribs are your best options. Feel free to explore different types of beef and pork ribs, too!
• Mustard: I use a combination of different kinds of mustards as a binder between the dry rub and the meat. This also works to tenderize the meat further.
• Dry rub: I’m partial to a homemade dry rub, but you can use store bought if you prefer. Rubs that include garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and other spices are the best flavors for pork.

Recommended equipment

Here are a few kitchen tools I recommend to make this recipe easier:

• Internal meat thermometer – Important for reading the internal temperature of the meat during cooking.
• Rimmed sheet pan or disposable aluminum pan
• Shredding Claws or forks
• Heavy Duty Foil

How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

Baby back ribs are the best choice for slow roasting, but this recipe should work for just about any kind of bone-in pork ribs.

Preparation

Step 1: Remove the silver skin

To remove the membrane from the back of the rib slab, wedge a butter knife between the silver skin and the bone. You should be able to grab a corner of the membrane with a paper towel. Then, begin to pull up and down the length of the ribs.

The great thing about this recipe is that you do not have to boil the ribs. If you prefer to do that step, you absolutely can. But, for the best flavor and moisture, boiling is not recommended. 

Step 2: Marinate the Ribs with Dry Rub and Mustard

Place your ribs on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Slather the mustard on the front and back of the ribs, and along the sides of the ribs. Then, apply the spice rub in the same way.

Adding the mustard to the ribs will help the seasoning adhere to the meat. Additionally, the vinegar in the mustard helps to tenderize the meat.

Wrap your ribs in the aluminum foil, folding at the ends. Place on a baking sheet in the fridge until you are ready to cook.

Allowing the ribs to marinate for several hours will give you more flavor, but it’s not necessary. Because of the lengthy cooking time, marinating will occur naturally during the cooking process.

Cooking

Step 3: Bake the Ribs

When you are ready to bake, stick the meat thermometer into the center of the ribs and place the baking sheet inside of the oven with the ribs wrapped.

Bake at 225°F for about 3-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 200°F with an internal thermometer.

If desired, open the foil and add BBQ sauce to the tops of the ribs, and place under the broiler until sauce begins to caramelize. Stay close by to the oven when you broil so the sauce does not burn!

Expert Tip

I really can’t say enough about using an in-oven meat thermometer during the cooking process. Not using a meat thermometer is a lot like navigating without a GPS.

Meat thermometers guide the cook on how quickly the meat is cooking and an estimated time of completion. It shouldn’t be viewed as a crutch but a helpful tool in every cook’s kitchen.

Using a thermometer can prevent under-cooking and over-cooking the meat.

Serving Suggestions

• Dress up your BBQ plate with pickled red onions, white bbq sauce, or caramelized onions.
• Serve it as a main entree with baked beans, pasta salad, or macaroni and cheese.

Here are a few more side dishes to go with ribs:

• Baked Beans
• Deviled Eggs
• Caprese Salad

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature are ribs done?

Baking low and slow until the internal temperature reaches 200°F further tenderizes the rib meat. 

Do you cook ribs covered or uncovered in the oven?

Wrapping the ribs in foil before baking in the oven seals in moisture and flavor. It also protects them from drying out and becoming tough.

What’s the best internal temperature for ribs?

Technically, ribs are done when the internal temperature reaches 145°F. While you can eat ribs at this temperature, they will be tough, dry, and likely lacking flavor.

Continuing to cook until around 200°F, gives the collagen more time to “relax” for perfectly tender ribs.

How do you know when ribs are done?

When the ribs reach an internal temperature of around 200°F, the collagen will release and create tender, moist, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Why do you add mustard?

Adding mustard to ribs does two things: 

1. The vinegar in the mustard tenderizes the meat without adding any flavor.
2. It acts as a sealant for the rub, helping the flavors stick to the rack of ribs.

Storing and reheating

Fridge

Remove the leftover rib meat from the bone and store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Freezer

Rib meat can be frozen in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

Reheating

To reheat leftover rib meat, defrost and heat over a medium-low skillet for about 5 minutes, or microwave at 1 minute intervals, until warmed through.

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