Secrets for How to Bake Ribs

Baking low and slow is the secret to these fall of the bone oven baked ribs.

Some might have the impression that ribs are one of those dishes that should be left to the “pit masters” — it’s just not true.

Baked ribs at home is seriously easy. All you need is time – 95% of the recipe time is sitting back and relaxing waiting while the ribs bake.

How to Bake Ribs

We learned how to bake ribs from Steamy Kitchen and have never looked back! So we suggest you prep the ribs, pick out a favorite movie, open a beer and relax until done. We shared this secret for how to bake ribs with Betty Crocker a while back and just had to share with you, too!

Warning:  This oven baked ribs recipe requires lots of napkins!

Secrets for How to Bake Ribs

These ribs are so easy — all you need is a little time.  We bake the ribs before adding any sauce, once baked you can brush on your favorite barbecue sauce  or make our sweet and spicy sauce.

For the most tender ribs, we like to remove the thin membrane covering the rack. It can be a bit tough when cooked and since we really love ribs that literally fall of the bone, the membrane has to go.

To remove it, use a butter knife to gently slide under the membrane then using your fingers pull the membrane away from the bones. If slippery or difficult to remove, use a kitchen towel to take hold of it and pull.

Then, all you need to do is season both sides with salt and pepper and cover with aluminum foil. Slide the ribs into a 275 degree F oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours and you’re done.

Simple, right?

Sweet and Spicy Barbeque Sauce

You could use any sauce you like, but for us, we like to cook up this quick sauce — it only takes a few minutes.

You’ll need a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent. Add the cumin for smokiness and stir; this just toasts the spice a bit to bring out flavor. Next, add the ketchup, sriracha, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar for a slight tang. Stir to combine, season with salt then cook for 2 minutes. Set aside in preparation for the ribs to finish baking.

You could always make a double batch of the sauce and serve with chicken, on a burger or as a dip for fries. In fact, we make a similar sauce to coat our Brown Sugar Barbeque Wings Recipe.

Now, you just have to wait for the ribs to finish, we will admit, this is the hard part, we are not the most patient individuals, but trust us, it’s worth it!

Remove the baked ribs from the oven, discard the aluminum foil and generously brush with sauce on both sides. Then, for an added touch, caramelize the sauce just slightly by sliding the oven baked ribs under the broiler for a few minutes.

What do you think? Ready to make your own oven baked ribs?

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How to Bake Ribs in the Oven

 

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Prep time

15 minutes

Cook time

4 hours

Total time

4 hours 15 minutes

 

Low and slow cooking make these oven baked ribs fall off the bone tender. Once baked, we like to add our sweet and spicy barbecue sauce to the ribs, but you could use whatever you like.

Created By: Joanne and Adam Gallagher

Yield: 2

Ingredients

Oven Baked Ribs

• 2 to 2 1/2 lb baby back pork ribs
• Salt and black pepper

Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon hot chili sauce (suggestion Sriracha)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• salt and ground pepper to season

Method

Prepare Ribs

1. Heat oven to 275° F (135° C).
2. Place the ribs meat side down on a cutting board. Locate the thin membrane covering the rack. This membrane can be tough when cooked. To remove, use a knife to gently slide under the membrane then using your fingers, pull the membrane away from the bones. If slippery or difficult to remove, use a kitchen towel to take hold of it and pull.
3. Season both sides of the ribs with salt and pepper then place into a large roasting pan. (It may be necessary to cut the ribs in half in order for them to fit into the pan). Cover with two sheets of aluminum foil.
4. Roast for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the meat falls easily from the bones.

Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce

1. To make the sweet and spicy sauce, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent. Add the cumin and stir. Next, add the ketchup, hot chili sauce, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine, season with salt then cook for 2 minutes. Set aside in preparation for the ribs to finish roasting.
2. Remove the ribs from the oven, discard the aluminum foil and generously brush both sides with barbeque sauce.
3. Move an oven rack near to the top of the oven. Turn broiler to high and broil the ribs for 3-4 minutes, just until the barbeque sauce begins to caramelize.
4. Serve and Enjoy.

Notes

Before cooking, watch our short how-to recipe video for how to make oven baked ribs.

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About the Author

Adam

I'm Adam Gallagher and alongside my wife, Joanne, I photograph and share favorite recipes from our kitchen. Sharing our recipes began as a hobby, turned into a dream and now has become our business. I just love that.