The Best Oven Baked Ribs
The Best Oven Baked Ribs
Ingredients
For the Ribs
- 2 racks pork spare ribs
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard, as needed for binder
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite
For the BBQ Rub
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
For the Wrap (per rack of ribs)
- 4 tablespoons sliced butter
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey, for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon reserved dry rub
- 1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke, optional
Instructions
- 1
Pat the 2 racks of pork spare ribs dry with paper towels. Carefully remove the membrane from the back of each rib rack by gripping it with a paper towel and pulling it off.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Generously apply yellow mustard all over the ribs, rubbing it in thoroughly to act as a binder for the dry rub.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In a bowl, combine 2/3 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Mix all ingredients well until combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Generously apply the prepared dry rub all over the ribs, ensuring all sides are completely covered. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this dry rub mixture for later use in the wrap.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Drizzle 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke over the seasoned ribs.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Place the ribs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Bake the ribs uncovered in the preheated oven for 2 hours.
⏱️ 120 min•🌡️ 250
- 7
After 2 hours, carefully remove the ribs from the oven. Lay out two large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. For each sheet (intended for one rack of ribs), add 4 tablespoons of sliced butter, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, a drizzle of honey, 1 tablespoon of the reserved dry rub, and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid smoke (optional). Spread these ingredients to create a bed for the ribs.
⏱️ 8 min
- 8
Place one rack of ribs meat-side down onto the prepared foil with the butter/sugar mixture. Tightly wrap the ribs in the foil, ensuring no steam can escape. Repeat this process for the second rack of ribs.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Increase your oven temperature to 325°F. Return the wrapped ribs to the oven and bake at 325°F for 1 1/2 hours, or until the ribs are cooked through and tender.
⏱️ 90 min•🌡️ 325
- 10
Carefully remove the wrapped ribs from the oven. Unwrap them, discarding the foil and any accumulated liquid. Place the ribs back on the wire rack on the baking sheet. Generously brush your favorite barbecue sauce over the ribs.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Broil the ribs for a short period until the barbecue sauce caramelizes, bubbles, and becomes slightly tacky. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
⏱️ 5 min
- 12
Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
The Best Oven Baked Ribs
For the Ribs
- 2 racks pork spare ribs
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard, as needed for binder
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite
For the BBQ Rub
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
For the Wrap (per rack of ribs)
- 4 tablespoons sliced butter
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey, for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon reserved dry rub
- 1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke, optional
Instructions
- 1
Pat the 2 racks of pork spare ribs dry with paper towels. Carefully remove the membrane from the back of each rib rack by gripping it with a paper towel and pulling it off.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Generously apply yellow mustard all over the ribs, rubbing it in thoroughly to act as a binder for the dry rub.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In a bowl, combine 2/3 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Mix all ingredients well until combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Generously apply the prepared dry rub all over the ribs, ensuring all sides are completely covered. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this dry rub mixture for later use in the wrap.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Drizzle 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke over the seasoned ribs.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Place the ribs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Bake the ribs uncovered in the preheated oven for 2 hours.
⏱️ 120 min•🌡️ 250 - 7
After 2 hours, carefully remove the ribs from the oven. Lay out two large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. For each sheet (intended for one rack of ribs), add 4 tablespoons of sliced butter, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, a drizzle of honey, 1 tablespoon of the reserved dry rub, and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid smoke (optional). Spread these ingredients to create a bed for the ribs.
⏱️ 8 min - 8
Place one rack of ribs meat-side down onto the prepared foil with the butter/sugar mixture. Tightly wrap the ribs in the foil, ensuring no steam can escape. Repeat this process for the second rack of ribs.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Increase your oven temperature to 325°F. Return the wrapped ribs to the oven and bake at 325°F for 1 1/2 hours, or until the ribs are cooked through and tender.
⏱️ 90 min•🌡️ 325 - 10
Carefully remove the wrapped ribs from the oven. Unwrap them, discarding the foil and any accumulated liquid. Place the ribs back on the wire rack on the baking sheet. Generously brush your favorite barbecue sauce over the ribs.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Broil the ribs for a short period until the barbecue sauce caramelizes, bubbles, and becomes slightly tacky. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
⏱️ 5 min - 12
Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
⏱️ 5 min