Great oven baked baby back ribs are yours with this KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) recipe. Just follow the easy step by step photo instructions.
Introduction
Welcome to the less-fussy path to rib heaven. Just clean, rub, wrap in foil and bake. Oh, so easy.
Ribs are a religion to some, requiring hours of fussing to create the perfect ribs. They must be boiled (please don't), or smoked or whatever. I'm not saying great smoked ribs aren't worth the work, but sometimes you need easy.
Many years ago, I decided ribs should be cooked somewhat like I cook brisket. It's tough but responds to long cooking at a lower temp, sealed in foil. It works great. I have been doing this for 30 plus years with no changes in technique.
The idea is very simple. Prep the ribs by removing the membrane, applying a nice rub. Seal in foil. Then it is low and slow time in the oven. Open and drain then brown under a broiler or on the grill for a few minutes with some sauce.
My Rating
It is a low 5. Lower just to leave room for the smoker or grilled ribs.
🐖What are Baby Back Ribs?
Back ribs are cut from the upper part of the rib from where the rib meets the spine and next to and inside the loin. They are shorter than the bigger spareribs so are called baby back ribs.
The inside of the ribs does contain a membrane that lines the chest cavity and needs to be removed before cooking.
Cooking Options for Baby Back Ribs
I have three ways to cook baby back ribs. I have my gas grill. How to Grill Baby Back Ribs on a Gas Grill. I can add smoke and get all that great grilling taste.
I have my low and slow crockpot method Crock Pot Baby Back Ribs which does an excellent job (surprisingly so).
And I have this old reliable recipe that I use more than both the others combined since I'm lazy.
👨🍳When are the Ribs Done?
This is more of an issue if you are cooking frozen. But the internal temperature should be 185° plus. And the ends of the ribs should be showing.
🥣The Rub
I tend to use a premade rub with this recipe since it is all about lazy.
But here is a great homemade rub that I keep around during grilling season. This makes enough for 2 slabs or a bit more. Cut in half to have less leftover if you want, but I save it for next time.
8 tablespoons (½ cup) brown sugar
3 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon table salt = 1 ¼ teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
The Sauce
Again, I tend to use premade out of laziness. I love my Gate's BBQ Sauce from Kansas City which I buy by the case.
But if you want the best sauce ever, try My Memphis BBQ Sauce
📖Classic BBQ Recipes
How to Grill Baby Back Ribs on a Gas Grill
Kansas City Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket
How to Cook a Brisket on a Gas Grill
Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill - Not That Hard
Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
All you need are the ribs, a rub, and sauce of your choice.
Clean the ribs by stripping the pleura off the inside of the ribs (the tough membrane for you non-medical people). Trim any fatty areas as much as possible and look for bone chips from the processing.
Sprinkle heavily with the rub and rub in on all sides. If you are using my suggested rub, you only need half the recipe per slab of ribs.
Seal tight in aluminum foil (heavy duty is better). If you have time, refrigerate at this point for 2 hours or even overnight. Even 30 minutes will get some extra flavor. Also, you can freeze at this point if you want. If you freeze, add 30 minutes to cooking time and you can go to the oven from the freezer.
Cook at 300° for approximately 2 hours. Place the ½ sheet pan the next level down to catch any dripping if the foil leaks. These are very moist and falling off the bone. If you want your ribs "dryer," open the foil for the last 20-30 minutes.
Remove, open one end of foil and drain the fluid and fat. If you are precooking for later, re-wrap and refrigerate or freeze. To eat now, place on the sheet pan and open.
Lightly brush a sauce of your choice on top (bottom is optional).
Finish off under a broiler or on a grill for about 4-5 minutes (per side if you did both sides) until crusted.
📖Full Recipe
Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 slab baby back ribs - pork spare ribs also are fine here
- Rub - you choice
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Clean the ribs by stripping the pleura off the inside of the ribs (the tough membrane for you non-medical people). Trim any fatty areas as much as possible and look for bone chips from the processing.
- Sprinkle heavily with the rub and rub in on all sides. If you are using my rub, you will need about ½ cup pre slab of rubs. Not the whole amount.
- Seal tight in aluminum foil (heavy duty is better). If you have time, refrigerate at this point for 2 hours or even overnight. Even 30 minutes will get some extra flavor. Also, you can freeze at this point if you want. If you freeze, add 30 minutes to cooking time and you can go to the oven from the freezer.
- Cook at 300° for approximately 2 hours. Place the ½ sheet pan the next level down to catch any dripping if the foil leaks. These are very moist and falling off the bone. If you want your ribs "dryer," open the foil for the last 20-30 minutes.
- Remove, open one end of foil and drain the fluid and fat. If you are precooking for later, re-wrap and refrigerate or freeze. To eat now, place on the sheet pan and open. Lightly brush a sauce of your choice on top (bottom is optional).
- Finish off under a broiler or on a grill for about 4-5 minutes (per side if you did both sides) until crusted.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- Cook as many at a time as will fit your oven.
- Use the sauce and rub of your choice.
- You can freeze at two points. First, after the rub when wrapped tightly with foil. Secon is after cook and draining fluid. I prefer the first.
- To strip the membrane, it is easiest to start at the thin end and loose with a butter knife then pull with a steady pull at about a 45-degree angle to the ribs.
- Done is in about 2 hours, add 30 minutes if cooking frozen ribs. You want 185+ degrees, and rib ends showing.
- Brown up with a little sauce on a grill or under a broiler.
- 8 tablespoons (½ cup) brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published January 10, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Editor's Note: This recipe was originally published January 10, 2010, which was the second week of the blog. The photos have been totally reshot, but mainly the text has been completely rewritten, but the recipe is the same.
Gerry S
Thank you for posting the recipe and steps for smoking the ribs. Worked out for the most part, had to cut it half and do both parts oven and grill.. The winner was the grill. Thanks again.
Deborah L
5 stars for flavor and tenderness! A lower 5 for 'easy'. Even using the paper towels to hold on, My arthritic fingers don't have the grip strength they used to. Next time I'll ask the butcher to remove the membrane before I leave the counter. Half the rub recipe was perfect for one slab and I let it sit one hour. Baked 4 pounds for about 3 hours. Perfect. Also, I would not drain the juices into the sink drain like your picture. Use a glass measuring cup; something like that. You'll be happy to not need to call the plumber to clear a fat clog out of your plumbing. Definitely will try again.
Brad
Dan, if cooking spare ribs, does the cooking time or oven temperature change?
Thanks
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Brad,
Baby back, St. Louis, and spare ribs all cook about the same. Spare ribs do tend to be thicker with more bone and those can down slow cooking some, so potentially it could take a bit longer. But I doubt it will be an issue with this recipe. Be sure to check for the end points discussed in the post when you open the foil.
Dan
Emma @ Savor the Flavour
These ribs look amazing, Dr. Dan! I wish I could reach in for a taste. 😋
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Thanks Emma. I love a good rib but I'm lazy.
Note to readers: Emma blogs with her mother at https://savortheflavour.com/ They put a lot of hard work in their site. Check it out. Highly recommended.
jenny melindy
I had no idea ribs could be this good! I used a packaged non sugar rub, wrapped in double foil and fridged for 4 hours. Cooked on 300 for 2 1/2h, then followed your directions for "dryer" ribs. The resulting crackling like texture was amazing! Can't wait to make again, thanks.My new rib recipe :)
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Jenny,
Welcome to the blog and sorry for the delayed reply.
This is a very old recipe to me the I have used for many years. Usually use it when I have ribs and I just don't want to work. The crock pot recipe works well also but this seems to be my "indoor" default recipe.
Thanks for the note and rating. And again, sorry for the delayed response.
Dan
Jaime
The rub was great and they cooked perfectly. Best ribs I’ve ever cooked myself. Thank you!
Julie
I followed your recipe completely. Our ribs turned out so very salty from your rub we weren't able to eat them. I'm wondering was I to remove the rub before eating them? If so, how? Also, I left the ribs with the rub in the refrigerator for 2 hours, then cooked them for 2 hours as told. Our ribs were still chewy not, "fall off the bone". What could I do to fix it? Thank you for your help.
DrDan
Hi Julie,
Welcome to the blog.
Sorry, you had a problem. A couple of comments and options.
-The amount in my suggested rub is for two slabs not one.
-The salt is kosher salt. Generally, Morton which is half the amount of salt per volume as table salt. Diamond Crystal is halfway between the two. Other salts could be almost anything. So that could be a contributing factor.
-I use the same rub on many cuts of meat with good results although as I get older and now have BP issues, I cut down the salt sometimes.
Suggestions
-no, don’t rinse off the rub
-use a different rub but most will have about the same amount of salt. This is a very standard ratio.
-use less rub
-make up the rub with less salt.
Not "fall off the bone." Mine are good at 2 hours but there can be some variability of ovens. So at the end of cooking, when you open them up, check to make sure they are what you want. If not, reseal and cook another 20-30 minutes.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Tara
I used this technique for a rainy 4th of July and it was wonderful. I have to say the rub included with this recipe is fantastic. We used it on ribs and chicken leg quarters and the results were fantastic. Our family loves your recipes.
Pattie Williams
All looks so good. Yummy