BBQ Baby Back Ribs
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BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Oven-baked baby back ribs come out fall-off-the-bone tender with no smoker required. A dry rub seasons the meat, a low oven and a foil wrap steam them tender over a couple of hours, then a quick broil sets a sticky barbecue glaze. Plan for about 2 hours 45 minutes start to finish. The result is two racks that pull apart at the bone.
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs (about 4 pounds total)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 300F. Pat the ribs dry and remove the thin membrane from the back of each rack.
- Stir together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Rub it all over the ribs.
- Wrap each rack tightly in foil and set them on a baking sheet. Bake 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the meat is tender and pulls back from the bones.
- Carefully open the foil and brush the ribs generously with barbecue sauce.
- Switch the oven to broil. Broil the ribs 4 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until the sauce is bubbling and caramelized.
- Rest 10 minutes, then cut between the bones and serve with extra sauce.
Tips and variations
- Pull off the membrane on the back of the ribs. It stays tough and blocks the rub from getting in.
- Keep the oven low at 300F. Slow heat is what turns the connective tissue tender.
- Wrap the ribs tightly in foil so they steam in their own juices.
- Watch the broiler closely. The sugary sauce can go from caramelized to burnt in under a minute.
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Common questions
- How do I know when ribs are done
- The meat pulls back from the bone ends and a toothpick slides into the meat with little resistance. Tender ribs bend and start to crack when lifted.
- Should I remove the membrane from ribs
- Yes. The thin membrane on the bone side stays chewy and keeps the rub and smoke from reaching the meat. Peel it off before seasoning.
- Can I make these ribs without a grill
- Yes. They bake fully in the oven, and a quick broil sets the glaze the same way a grill would.
- When do I add barbecue sauce to ribs
- Add the sauce near the end, after the ribs are tender, then broil briefly. Saucing too early burns the sugar.
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