Description
Tender and flavorful baby back ribs cooked low and slow in the oven, coated with a smoky, sweet spice rub and finished with a sticky caramelized barbecue sauce. This recipe delivers fall-off-the-bone ribs perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 racks pork baby back ribs (about 4 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Spice Rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to prepare for baking the ribs.
- Prepare Ribs: Remove the thin membrane from the back of each rack of ribs for better texture and flavor absorption, then pat the ribs dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Make and Apply Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly over both sides of the ribs to coat them well.
- Oil and Bake Ribs Covered: Place the ribs on the prepared baking sheet, brush both sides with olive oil to help keep them moist, then cover with foil. Bake low and slow for 2 hours, allowing the ribs to tenderize.
- Apply Barbecue Sauce: Remove the ribs from the oven and discard the top layer of foil. Brush both sides generously with barbecue sauce to add rich flavor and moisture.
- Caramelize Sauce: Return ribs to the oven uncovered and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the barbecue sauce becomes sticky and caramelized, perfect for serving.
- Serve: Slice the ribs between the bones and serve warm for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Removing the membrane from ribs ensures tenderness and better flavor penetration.
- Cooking at a low temperature for a long time helps break down connective tissue for juicy ribs.
- If you prefer spicier ribs, add cayenne pepper to the spice rub.
- Use foil to keep ribs moist during baking, then uncover to caramelize sauce at the end.
- Leftover ribs reheat well wrapped in foil at a low temperature to retain moisture.
