Ribs are a traditional American dish that are ideal for cookouts in the summer and backyard barbecues. To make ribs, though, not everyone has access to a grill or desires to brave the outdoors. The good news is that you only need a few ingredients and a few basic cooking methods to make mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone tender ribs in your oven. We’ll demonstrate how to prepare the ideal oven-baked ribs in this article, along with hints and techniques to make them appealing.
What are ribs baked in an oven?
To acquire the same tender, smoky flavor that you would get from a grill or smoker, you can bake ribs in the oven for a long period of time. The ribs are given a dry rub or marinade coating and roasted for many hours at a low temperature until they are thoroughly cooked and tender. For added taste and sweetness, a barbecue sauce glaze is frequently applied over the dish’s finish.
Ingredients
To make oven-baked ribs, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 racks of baby back ribs
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F.
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. This can be done by inserting a butter knife under the membrane, then grabbing it with a paper towel and pulling it off.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub.
- Rub the dry rub all over the ribs, making sure to coat both sides evenly.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet or in a baking dish, bone side down.
- Cover the ribs with aluminum foil, sealing the edges tightly.
- Bake the ribs in the oven for 2-3 hours, or until they are tender and the meat has pulled away from the bones.
- Remove the foil from the ribs and brush them with barbecue sauce.
- Increase the oven temperature to 350°F and bake the ribs, uncovered, for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the barbecue sauce is caramelized and sticky.
- Let the ribs rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Tips for Making Oven-Baked Ribs
Use a marinate or dry rub. The ribs will gain flavor from this and become more soft as they cook.
Take the membrane off. The dry rub or marinade will enter the meat better if the membrane on the back of the ribs is removed.
Ribs should be slowly cooked. The tough connective tissue will be broken down and the ribs will become supple by baking them for many hours at a low temperature.
Add barbeque sauce to complete. In the final few minutes of cooking, brush the ribs with barbecue sauce to give them a caramelized, gooey glaze.
Why You Should Make Oven-Baked Ribs
- They’re easy to make. Oven-baked ribs are a simple, foolproof way to make delicious, tender ribs without a grill or smoker.
- They’re customizable. You can use any dry rub or marinade you like to customize the flavor of the ribs.
- They’re perfect for any occasion. Oven-baked ribs are great for backyard barbecues, summer cookouts, or even a week