Barbecue Ribs in the Oven

My smoky-spicy-sweet, fall-off-the-bone tender Oven Baked BBQ Ribs are everything you could want from a rack. Best of all, this recipe for dry rubbed and deliciously sticky barbecued pork ribs is as simple as it gets—all you need are 5 basic ingredients and 5 minutes of prep to slow bake them in the oven.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 whole Racks Baby Back Pork Ribs (– about 2 1/2 pounds each; membrane removed (SEE NOTES))
• 2 tsp Liquid Hickory Smoke (– or more to taste)
• 1 Cup + 2 TBS BBQ Spice Dry Rub (– DIVIDED (SEE NOTES))
• 3/4 Cup Beer OR Apple Juice
• 2-3 Cups BBQ Sauce (– store-bought or homemade)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Season and Rub Ribs: Place the racks of ribs on a clean work surface. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of liquid smoke all over each side of the ribs and then use your hands to rub the liquid into the meat. Next, use your fingertips to sprinkle a little filtered water over the ribs - this will help the dry rub stick to the meat. Then, sprinkle ¼ cup (1 cup total) of the barbecue spice rub all over each side of the rack of ribs. Finally, use your fingertips to massage the spices into the pork for even coverage.
2. 2Refrigerate Ribs: Wrap each rib rack tightly in plastic wrap and then place the ribs onto a large baking sheet. Transfer to the refrigerator and let the ribs marinate in the spice rub for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
3. 3Let Ribs Come to Room Temperature: When Ready to Cook, Let Ribs Come to Room Temperature: Remove the sheet pan of ribs from the refrigerator and place on the kitchen counter. Let them sit for at least 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours to come to room temperature.
4. 4Preheat Oven, Prep Ribs for Baking: Preheat Oven and Prep Ribs for Baking: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and then preheat the oven to 250-degrees Fahrenheit. Set a wire rack inside a roasting pan or a large, rimmed baking sheet. Next, unwrap the ribs, discard the plastic wrap, and place the rack of ribs onto the wire rack, arranging them so they are meat-side-up. Pour the beer or apple juice around the ribs and into the pan. Then, cover the pan tightly with two layers of aluminum foil.
5. 5Bake Pork Ribs in Oven: Bake Pork Ribs: Transfer the wrapped pork ribs to the preheated oven and bake for 2 to 3 hours, or until you can push a toothpick into the meat with little resistance. (Note: Check on the ribs at the 2-hour mark. If they’re not tender, return them to the oven for 20 to 30 minutes and check again.) Remove the ribs from the oven. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick grease to prevent sticking. Then, transfer the ribs to the foil, laying the rack down so the meaty side is facing down (bone side facing you).
6. 6Brush with BBQ Sauce and Bake Again: Increase the oven temperature to 375-degrees Fahrenheit. Slather the boney side of each rib rack liberally with barbecue sauce. Then sprinkle half of the remaining rub evenly over each rack (1 ½ teaspoons per rack). Return the ribs to the oven (bone side still facing up) and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the ribs from the oven and carefully flip the rack over so the meaty side is now facing up. Slather the racks liberally with barbecue sauce again and sprinkle the remaining rub evenly over the racks. Then return to the oven and back for 5 minutes. Remove the baby back ribs from the oven and brush the meaty side with BBQ sauce again. EITHER: Return to the oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until ribs are very tender and coated with a thick BBQ glaze. OR: Switch oven to broil and broil the ribs for 2-3 minutes, or until the glaze is caramelized and ribs are very tender. (Note 1: You can repeat brushing the ribs with BBQ sauce and baking if you prefer a super thick barbecue sauce glaze.) (Note 2: When broiling, keep a careful eye on the ribs and don’t walk away from the oven.)
7. 7Tent and Rest Ribs: Rest Ribs: Transfer the ribs to a clean work surface and tent them lightly with aluminum foil. Let the baked pork ribs rest for at least 15 minutes.
8. 8Slice Ribs Between Bones: Slice Ribs: Use a sharp knife and slice between the ribs to cut into individual or multiple rib portions.
9. 9Serve Oven Barbecued Pork Ribs: Serve and Enjoy! Serve oven baked pork ribs with extra barbecue sauce and plenty of napkins on the side. Enjoy!