When it comes to oven baked baby back ribs, the secret is baking low and slow, This will make the best fall-off-the-bone oven-baked ribs you’ve ever had!
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If you thought that the only people that can make delicious, tender, mouth-watering ribs were serious barbecue aficionados, you’re wrong. And it’s time to check out my easy baby back ribs recipe to see that cooking ribs in your oven is easier than you think.
Baking ribs in the oven couldn’t be easier and all you need is the time to let them slow roast in your oven and you’ll have amazing barbecued baby backs for your friends and family to enjoy!
For the best bbq ribs, give them a few minutes under the broiler to caramelize the sugars in the bbq sauce. It adds some char to the exterior of the ribs enhancing the flavor.
If you’re old school you’ll love my easy Grilled BBQ Ribs Recipe and for the slow cooker fans, my Ginger Beer Barbecue Baby Back Rib Recipe is sure to please!
Ingredients
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
*You can use this recipe to make your favorite type of spare ribs, not just baby backs. If you’d like to use a spice rub to make ribs, click on this link to find my favorite dry rub recipe made with brown sugar, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, dry mustard and oregano.
How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven
Follow along with my easy instructions below to see how to cook baby back ribs in the oven yourself at home.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
- Rinse and pat the dry the ribs with a paper towel. Remove any silver skin on the top side of the ribs and the thin membrane from the underside of the ribs.
- Split the racks in half and place them on a baking sheet (this makes them easier to handle and gives you four good portions).
- Rub the mustard onto the tops and sides of the ribs
- Season the ribs with sea salt and cracked black pepper (to taste).
My oven-roasted pulled pork is another easy-to-make recipe!
- Wrap the half rack of ribs in foil. Seal the edges of the foil, making sealed packets.
- Place the ribs in the 275-degree preheated oven on a rack in the center of the oven. Cook the ribs for 2½ hours.
*You can also cook these ribs over indirect heat on your gas grill. The time and the rest of the directions should remain the same.
Can I use a slow cooker?
Yes, you can. For a slow cooker method, add one cup of bbq sauce and one cup of apple juice to the slow cooker with the prepped ribs and use the high setting for 4 hours. If you want to have the charred look, baste with bbq sauce and place under the broiler until the desired appearance is achieved.
Cut the aluminum foil packets open using kitchen shears and fold back the foil to expose the ribs.
- Liberally coat the ribs with your favorite bbq sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays).
- Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. (you don’t have to wait for it to preheat). Place the ribs back in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes or until the internal temperature is between 190 -205 degrees.
*If you’re not a fan of sweet barbecue sauces, try adding a little apple cider vinegar to the sauce. And if you like a spicier version you can always add a little of your favorite hot sauce.
If you want to get a little char on the ribs and have them look more like barbecued baby back ribs, set the oven to broil. Allow the ribs to cook under the broiler for 3-5 minutes (or until you have the desired char). Repeat with an additional layer of bbq sauce, if desired and serve up the best baby back ribs that will ever come out of your oven.
Recipe FAQs
At 275 degrees F., the ribs should cook for 2.5 – 3.5 hours or until they are fall off the bone tender. For fall of the bone ribs, the internal temperature needs to be 190 -205 degrees.
Yes, you can. But I would not go above 300 degrees F. The higher the heat and the quicker the ribs cook, the greater the chance they will be tough and chewy. Slow and low is the rule for ribs.
Technically they do not. But covering with foil helps keep the natural juices in the meat. The longer the ribs are exposed to direct heat, the more they will dry out.
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Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
RIBS
- 2 racks baby back pork ribs (or your favorite ribs) 2-2½ pounds per rack
- ¼ cup spicy brown mustard you can substitute yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sea salt more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper more or less to taste (if you use regular black pepper reduce the amount by half)
- 1½ cups barbecue sauce your favorite brand. I used Sweet Baby Rays
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 275 degrees F.
- Rinse and pat the dry the ribs with a paper towel. Remove any silver skin or membrane from the ribs.
- Split the racks in half. This makes them easier to handle and gives you four good portions.
- Rub mustard into the top of the ribs
- Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Wrap the ribs in foil, sealing the edges of the foil, making sealed packets.Place the ribs on a baking sheet bone side down.
- Place the ribs in the 275 degree preheated oven on a rack in the center of the oven. Cook the ribs for 2½ hours.
- Cut the foil packets open using kitchen shears and fold back the foil to expose the ribs. Liberally coat the ribs with barbecue sauce.Do Not Rewrap the Ribs with Foil.
- Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F, you don't have to wait for it to preheat. Place the ribs back in the oven for 25 minutes.For fall of the bone ribs, the internal temperature needs to be 190 -205 degrees.
- Set the oven to broil. When hot, place the baking tray under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Repeat with an additional layer of bbq sauce, if desired. Serve the ribs.
Marylee says
I am going to use this recipe, but I have a question. I have seen suggestion to cook in oven with bone side up. It appears you cooked these bone side down. What is your recommendation?
Chef Dennis Littley says
The purpose of cooking bone side or fat side up is for the fat to drip through the meat to keep it moist and help tenderize. With ribs, since they are so thin, the fat will just go into the pan instead of dripping through the meat if you cook them bone up.
Cindy says
Thank you Chef Dennis! We finished them on the gas grill with the sauce until they were carmelize. Delicious! Easy prep and cleanup! Love your recipes!
Deb says
We have never had much luck with ribs. Yesterday, we tried these ribs and they were wonderful! This will be our go to recipe from now on!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my ribs recipe, its a family favorite!
Rainey Turpin says
Used this recipe and the dry rub recipe for a family Memorial Day event (raining) – VERY fussy eaters, all were more than impressed! Exact timing in the guide, not overly spicy, fall off the bone with perfect tenderness.
Thank you
Chef Dennis Littley says
I love hearing success stories and I’m glad your fussy eaters enjoyed the ribs! I made them last night for our memorial day dinner, its one of my wifes favorite meals.
Marianne says
Delicious and oh so easy to make! I made this for a cookout yesterday and got rave reviews. This is my new go to rib recipe. Thank you Chef Dennis!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my rib recipe. They are my wifes favorite!
Cindy says
I love how easy this recipe is, and how wonderful the ribs. Came out. Sweet BABY rmRays was my favorite BBQ sauce until I read the back of the bottle. First ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. I now use Kinders
Debbie says
I’ve made baby back ribs in the crockpot many times. Sometimes they were good and sometimes not so much. Wanted to try a new way to make them for my husband and I before we cook for company on Memorial Day. They were definitely the best I’ve ever made and my husband said they were the best he ever had! Will definitely be looking up more of your recipes! Thank you!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my rib recipe! If you like bbq I’ve got delicious short rib and pulled pork recipes for you.
Diane Martin says
I never usually leave comments but I was really pleased with how these ribs turned out. I haven’t cooked a lot of ribs in my lifetime because they never turned out well. I will actually cook them a lot more now and use this recipe!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my baby back ribs recipe! If you love barbecue, I have an easy pulled pork recipe and short ribs recipe, both for the oven.
Deborah Schroer says
I thought I had a great recipe for ribs but decided to try this one. Was better than the one I had. Going to make them again today. I’m wondering if I can cook ahead of time, refrigerate and bring them out at dinner time to finish off the last half hour.
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my rib recipe, but you would need to fully cook them so they are tender. You’ll basically be reheating the ribs later which wouldn’t affect the tenderness.
You can precook them and reheat them with extra BBQ sauce, and although they won’t be quite as good, they should be fine.
Christine says
Making these for the second time today! Isn’t that the sign of a keeper?😉 Great recipe.
Chef Dennis Littley says
It certainly does sound like a keeper! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the ribs. I’ve got two racks in the freezer for Memorial Day weekend.
Mireya says
Best ribs ever… Amazing taste and just delicious.. Will definitely make them again… just finger licking good..
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you! We love ribs in our house and this is my wifes favorite recipe.
Bridget says
These ribs are so easy to make and turned out just perfect. Followed the recipe as directed. Will definitely make again!
Chef Dennis Littley says
We love ribs in our house and can’t grill where we are, so this is my go-to recipe for ribs. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed them.
John Mazerall says
Good simple recipe
Jennifer says
These were so good my whole family devoured them😊 thanks so much.
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my rib recipe!
Akaya says
Extraordinary! I made these with a rub and served them to guests yesterday. I thought I’d bought more than enough, and there was not a single rib left. People raved about them!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my rib recipe. I’ve got a great oven baked pulled pork recipe if you love good bbq.