BBQ Ribs (Oven Baked, Extra Tender)

A platter of tender oven-baked BBQ ribs garnished with herbs on a rustic surface.

These BBQ Ribs are saucy, boldly flavorful, fall-of-the-bone tender, and are easily prepared ahead of time. They are oven-baked, achieving a perfect tenderness that’s impossible to get from grilling alone.

Video: watch us make this Recipe

Why This Recipe Stands Out

We love a good rack of ribs, and our recipe for BBQ Ribs is no exception. Here’s why you’ll love it:

Extra Tender: These baby back ribs are literally fall-off-the-bone and extra tender, like our Mouthwatering Smoked Ribs.
Spice-Rubbed and Saucy: They’re both spice-rubbed and saucy at the same time. They’re one of our favorite easy family meals.
Make-Ahead: You can prepare these BBQ Ribs in advance, making them perfect for all gatherings, big or small, all year round.
No Grill Required: You don’t need a grill for these ribs if you don’t want to – they’re made in the oven for easy, fuss-free cooking.
Easy BBQ Sauce: We’re making it easy: Grab a bottle of your favorite brand of BBQ sauce and whisk in Sriracha and honey for the easiest zesty-sweet BBQ sauce ever.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Pork Ribs – Either full racks of baby back ribs or St. Louis ribs will work well.
Brown Sugar – This adds a lovely sweetness and helps to caramelize the ribs. Either light or dark brown sugar will work.
Smoked Paprika – This is the secret ingredient of our dry rub. It has a much more pronounced, smoky flavor profile than regular paprika.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder – The powder form of garlic and onion blend seamlessly into the dry rub.
BBQ Sauce – We use our favorite store-bought BBQ sauce as the base. We recommend a good quality, thick honey BBQ sauce.

Substitutions And Variations

Here are a few of our favorite variations and substitutions to make this recipe your own:

The Meat: We prefer either pork baby back ribs or St. Louis style ribs, but you can also use beef ribs.
Dry Rub: Consider trying different types of paprika, adding a pinch of cumin, or even some dried herbs like thyme or oregano. Take a peek at our Smoked Pork Butt recipe; the possibilities are endless.
BBQ Sauce: Use any style of your favorite store-bought sauce. If you like a sweeter sauce, try using a honey BBQ sauce or even our Blueberry BBQ Sauce.
Smokier: For a smokier flavor, use 1-2 tablespoons of liquid smoke in place of honey.
Spice Level: If you like things extra spicy, feel free to add more. If you’re not a fan of heat, simply leave it out.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Baby back ribs being patted dry with a paper towel.

Dry rub for tender bbq ribs being pressed on both sides.

Pat the ribs dry on both sides using a paper towel.
Combine all dry rub ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. Press the rub onto both sides of the racks.

Rack of ribs being tightly wrapped in foil.

Foil-wrapped ribs ready to be baked in the oven.

Wrap each rack of ribs tightly in foil and let them sit in the fridge overnight.
In a preheated oven, bake the foil-wrapped ribs for 2 1/2 hours at 325F. Let them cool, then remove and discard the juices and foil.

BBQ sauce being brushed generously on tender oven-baked ribs.

Sauced ribs being grilled on both sides to make tender BBQ ribs.

For the sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Brush the ribs generously with the BBQ sauce.
Place the sauced ribs on a heated grill and cook for 5-10 minutes per side until charred in spots. Slice and serve.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:

Dry Rub: You can mix all the dry rub ingredients together and keep it stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This can be done weeks in advance. I often have this dry rub in a container in my spice cabinet, ready to use.
Marinate: You can also wrap the dry rub-coated ribs in foil and let them marinate in the fridge for up to 2 days. This will give the flavors enough time to seep into the meat and make it extra tasty.

Overhead shot of a tray of cooked, glazed BBQ ribs garnished with herbs. — Once you try these finger-licking-good ribs, you’ll never go back.

What To Serve With BBQ Ribs

Potatoes

These BBQ ribs go great with our Potato Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette. It’s sweet, savory, and tangy all at the same time.
Some Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes will also be great alongside these tender baby back ribs.
Smashed Potatoes with their crispy edges and tender center work great with the flavors of this dish.

Salads

We love serving these tender, oven-baked ribs with some Italian Pasta Salad or our Hawaiian Macaroni Salad if you’re in the mood for a tasty summer side.
You’ll also enjoy this Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad or this Fresh Corn Avocado Salsa.

Side Dishes

These Honey Cornbread Muffins are perfect for sopping up every last bit of the barbecue sauce.
You can’t go wrong with a side of our Homemade Mac and Cheese. It’s comforting, creamy, and packed with flavor.
For the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and smoky, try our family-favorite Brown Sugar Baked Beans.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long do you bake baby back ribs for?

Ribs are best done low and slow in the oven. Bake at 325F for 2.5 hours for juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

How do you get baked ribs to look browned and a bit charred on top?

After baking the ribs to a tender finish, place on a heated grill for 5-10 minutes; just long enough for the ribs to gain a nice light char on top.

What if I can’t access a grill?

You can still achieve a nice charring on top by broiling finished ribs on high in the oven for a few minutes. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn.

How long do the oven-baked ribs keep?

The oven-baked ribs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store them in an airtight container. If you want to freeze them, they can last for up to 3 months.