Oven-Baked Dry Rub Ribs – Most Tender!

These oven-baked ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender every single time. Slathered with a mustard binder and coated in a savory dry rub, these oven-baked ribs are slowly roasted at a low temperature, then broiled for that perfect BBQ crust. You can make delicious ribs without a grill or smoker for the best hands-off and hassle-free pork ribs!

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. 

I love to serve this with pickled onions and my favorite barbecue sauce – Alabama White Sauce!

Types of Pork Ribs

There are all different types and styles of ribs out there and can be overwhelming when you start reading the labels. 

For this recipe, ribs that are labeled baby back, St. Louis, or spare ribs are your best options. 

• Baby back pork ribs come from the top section of the pig where the backbone meets the ribcage. 
• Spareribs are a little fattier than baby backs because they come from around the stomach and the lower section of the rib cage.
• St. Louis ribs are essentially spareribs that have been trimmed to a rectangular shape.

That’s only 3 of the many types of pork ribs. You really can’t go wrong with any kind for roasting. If you want to explore more options, learn about the different types of beef and pork ribs.

Easy Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs

Most folks think that ribs should be left to the professional pit-masters. But anyone can make this recipe! This is one of my favorite rib recipes because of the amazing flavors, tender texture, and convenience of baking. 

Instead of manning the grill or smoker, these go right in the oven to slow roast for a few hours. Plus, t’s the best way to do multiple racks of ribs at once. 

You definitely want to plan ahead. It takes several hours to cook the ribs to that perfect temperature in the oven.

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

The real bonus here is that this recipe is mostly – almost completely – hands-off! Which leaves you plenty of time to whip up a few sides for the perfect BBQ menu!

How to Cook Pork Ribs in the Oven

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

Step 1: Prep the Ribs

The great thing about this recipe is that you do not have to remove the membrane (silver skin) or boil the ribs. If you prefer to do those steps, you absolutely can. But, for the best flavor and moisture, boiling is not recommended. 

The slow cooking and low heat accomplish the same goal of boiling and removing the membrane. 

All you need to do to prep the ribs is remove them from the packaging and trim away any scraggly pieces.

Step 2: Marinate the Ribs with Dry Rub and Mustard

This recipe uses my homemade dry rub, but you can use your own dry rub or spice mix. Rubs that include garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and other spices are the best flavors for pork

There is a wide variety of store-bought seasonings with plenty of flavors to choose from. I prefer a smoky, Texas-style flavor. 

First, 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 more evenly and not fall off. The vinegar in the mustard helps with tenderizing the meat without adding any strong flavor.

Wrap your ribs in the aluminum foil, creasing down the length of the rib rack and 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, marination will occur naturally during the cooking process.

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. At this point, the meat will completely shred from the bone during serving.

After the ribs are done, serve these with your favorite bbq sauce. I recommend letting guests add their own sauce to their plates. Sweet Baby Ray’s is an excellent store bought option!

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!

What temperature are ribs done?

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

Tips for Making Tender Dry Rub Ribs

Do you cook ribs covered or uncovered in the oven?

Wrapping the ribs in foil before baking in the oven helps seal in moisture and provides added 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.

Sides to go with ribs

Here are a few side dishes to go with ribs:

• Baked Beans
• Deviled Eggs
• Pasta Salad
• Caprese Salad
• Mac and Cheese