EASY FALL OFF THE BONE OVEN-BAKED RIBS
on Aug 07, 2024
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Moist, messy, and flavorful, these oven-baked ribs require no grill but are all things ribs should be!
I love ribs. What I don’t love is how difficult they can be to make. That’s why I needed to create these Easy, Fall Off The Bone Oven-Baked Ribs. Whether you’re not super confident on the grill like me or you don’t have access to one, you can still enjoy juicy, tender ribs any time of the year.
The secret to the most incredibly tender ribs is to cook them low and slow. The prep work is minimal, so I love to pop them in the oven during the afternoon so they’re ready once all my guests arrive in the evening for dinnertime. Showing up to a house smelling like barbecue ribs really is what dreams are made of!
Full credit goes to my mother-in-law for this BBQ spice rub. I guarantee you have all, if not most, of these spices already in your cupboard. Go ahead and make a double or triple batch. It’s great to have on hand for all your summertime barbecue needs. But, hey, if you already have a barbecue spice rub sitting in your cabinet, feel free to use that one for an even easier meal.
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The same goes for the barbecue sauce. While I love my Homemade Paleo BBQ Sauce, I won’t judge you if you want to use your favorite store-bought sauce!
So, for your next BBQ bash, I hope you turn on the oven instead of the grill and give these oven-baked baby back ribs a try. I have a feeling you won’t regret it! Enjoy!
Ingredients for Oven-Baked Pork Ribs
They may take a while to cook, but the ingredients are minimal. Here’s everything you’ll need!
- Baby Back Pork Ribs: One of the most tender types of ribs, baby back pork ribs are my go-to here. They should be fairly easy to find at your local grocery store, Whole Foods, or even Costco. If you buy them from a butcher, ask them to remove the thin membrane. That’s one less step for you to do once you’re home! Beef ribs will also work well for this recipe.
- Yellow Mustard: To help the spice rub coat the ribs, you’ll first apply a thin layer of yellow mustard to the ribs. I promise it doesn’t give an overly mustard taste. Think of it as the mere glue in this recipe. If you are really opposed to mustard, you can skip it and just meticulously apply the rub directly to the ribs. I use @primalkitchenfoods condiments because they are gluten-free and contain little, if any, unnecessary ingredients.
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Pin It- Barbecue Sauce: I live in Texas, so I know that people have lots of opinions about their favorite barbecue sauce! My favorite is my Homemade Paleo BBQ Sauce but feel free to use your favorite brand and variety.
- Spices: This spice rub was passed down from my mother-in-law, who is also a recipe tester for me! Her not-so-secret BBQ spice rub is a combination of smoked paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin. It’s so flavorful and delicious on these ribs, although I’m keen on making extra so I can have barbecue chicken thighs later in the week too!
How to Make Fall Off the Bone Ribs
Start by preheating your oven to 300°F.
Take the ribs out of the refrigerator and remove the membrane if it isn’t already removed. This is the tough layer on the backside of the ribs. You can usually remove it by pulling it with your hands.
Next, make the spice rub. In a small bowl or jar, combine the paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin. Stir until well incorporated.
Place the ribs on a wire rack and a sheet pan. Slather the ribs with a thin layer of mustard using the back of a spoon or a basting brush.
Then, take the spice rub mixture and press it into the ribs ensuring it’s fully coated. I typically use up all of the spice rub mixture for this recipe. However, you may have extra depending on how many ribs you’re cooking. I like to use kitchen gloves when doing this, but if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then that’s fine too!
Cover the ribs with parchment paper and seal the entire baking sheet with aluminum foil. Bake for 3 ½ hours.
Remove from the oven and baste the ribs with the BBQ sauce. Return the ribs back to the oven and broil for 5 minutes, uncovered.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool before digging in. Enjoy!
Serve These Ribs With:
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Crispy Baked Salt and Vinegar Potatoes
- Broccoli Crunch Salad with Creamy Almond Butter Dressing
EASY, FALL OFF THE BONE OVEN-BAKED RIBS
Ingredients
Ribs:
- 2 racks baby back pork ribs
- ¼ cup yellow mustard, to thinly coat the ribs
- 1 cup Homemade BBQ Sauce (or barbecue sauce of your choice)
BBQ Spice Rub:
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F.
- Make the spice rub by combining the paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin in a bowl.
- If the membrane is still on the ribs, remove it. You can also ask your butcher to remove this before you buy them.
- Slather the ribs with a thin layer of mustard and then coat generously with the spice rub mixture, pressing in with your hands. I use all of the spice rub mixture, however, you may have some left over.
- Place the ribs on a wire rack on a sheet pan and cover with parchment paper, then seal with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 3 ½ hours.
- Remove from the oven and baste the ribs with the BBQ sauce.
- Return to the oven and broil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Serve and ENJOY!
