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    Home » Recipes » Popular

    Oven Baked Pork Ribs

    Published: Feb 19, 2023 by Adrianne

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    Oven baked pork ribs on white plate with small bowl of sauce
    Oven baked pork ribs on white plate with small bowl of sauce

    Oven Baked Pork Ribs are seriously sensational! Super easy to make with basic steps, the ribs are oven baked then grilled to absolute perfection. These sticky bbq pork ribs will call for you to lick the sauce off every single finger as well as the getting the drips dribbling down your chin with your tongue 😉.

    Oven baked pork ribs on white plate with sauce drizzled on top

    Recipes like my Coca Cola Ribs, Marinated Lamb Ribs and Honey Soy Pork Ribs are all oven baked.

    The Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs are cooked in the crockpot, the Air Fryer Spare Ribs are air fried!

    Jump to:
    • 🤍 Recipe Highlights
    • 🥗 Ingredients
    • 🍖 Dry Rub
    • 🍜 BBQ Sauce
    • 🍳 Instructions
    • 👩‍🍳 How to Make Oven Baked Pork Ribs
    • 🍽 Serving Suggestions
    • 👍 How to Guide
    • 😉 Substitutions and Variations
    • 💡 Tasty Tips
    • 🤓 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 😍 More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    🤍 Recipe Highlights

    I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about the recipe in the points below:

    • Family favourite: these are a great easy recipe for the whole family with little kids and big ones able to delight in the chowing down of the bbq pork ribs eating process!
    • Versatile: be it a BBQ, picnic, game day, the super bowl, party, or dinner, you can serve these ribs as an appetizer, starter or main. They will lend themselves to a variety of serving options.
    • Super easy: it takes minutes to combine the ingredients for the dry rub and coat the ribs in them. Once done simply pop them into the oven and let them cook whilst you go about other things!
    • Taste and texture: the dry rub, Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar bring the flavour and the tender juicy meat falling off the bones enable the variety of texture in the dish.
    • Alternative cut of meat: it can be nice to switch things up a little and not always opt for mince (although it is always great for recipes like the Pork Bolognese). Oven baked ribs are a great alternative to a roast dinner, steak or wings.

    🥗 Ingredients

    The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.

    Ingredients for oven baked pork ribs on marble background with text labels
    Ingredients needed for the recipe

    As you can see the recipe calls for:

    • Pork ribs: also known as baby back ribs. These are different to spare ribs which are sold as individually cut ribs. You will be able to get them from the meat section at the supermarket or your local butcher.
    • Worcestershire sauce: we combine this with apple cider vinegar and water to sit under the ribs during their cook time.
    • Apple cider vinegar: combined with the Worcestershire and water for the baking tray that the ribs will cook in.
    • Water: we use this to fill the remaining space under the ribs with liquid to create a moist cooking environment.

    🍖 Dry Rub

    • Dried Garlic powder: this can dry out if the bottle is open, sealed, but not used in a while. So keep this in mind so that you don't go to grab it out and then have to pop out again to get another bottle.
    • Dried Onion powder: same as the above, a great ingredient, but needs to be used regularly so that the powder doesn't dry into a clump in the bottle.
    • Mustard powder: soft and pale yellow in colour, this powder is an excellent choice for seasoning and making dry rubs.
    • Cayenne pepper: this adds a little spice to the recipe. You can however, omit it if you prefer a more basic flavour to the ribs. (I think this spice is more noticeable in the leftovers than it is when cooked and consumed the same day, FYI 😉).
    • Salt and pepper: we use a little of each to season the pork ribs and these get added to the dry rub ingredients.

    🍜 BBQ Sauce

    • BBQ sauce: thick and rich, is it really a ribs recipe if you are not slathering them in sauce! You can use your favourite barbeque sauce 😉.
    • Tomato sauce: (ketchup): another key ingredient in the basting sauce. This brings a well rounded flavour to balance the BBQ and Worcestershire sauce.
    • Worcestershire sauce: a condiment that gives meats and fish a lift. You will find it near the soy sauces and apple cider vinegars in the supermarket.

    🍳 Instructions

    Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by making the dry rub. You will find that a glass jug and mini whisk is a handy way to do this. But you can also use a fork or teaspoon if you don't have a mini whisk.

    Instructions for oven baked pork ribs with text labels 1 to 4
    Step by step instructions 1 to 4
    • Gather the dry rub ingredients (Photo 1)
    • Whisk them together (Photo 2)
    • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs (Photo 3)
    • Massage the dry rub into the ribs (Photo 4)

    👩‍🍳 How to Make Oven Baked Pork Ribs

    Start by gathering the ingredients for the dry rub and then add them one by one to a glass jug. So you will have the garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Use a mini whisk or fork to combine these, then set it aside.

    Lay the ribs meat side down on a chopping board and starting at one corner, pull the membrane back and discard. If there are any tricky bits you can use a knife and gently place it under the membrane to lift a corner.

    Once that is done sprinkle the dry rub all over the ribs and massage it in, flip the ribs and do the other side.

    Method steps for oven baked pork ribs with text labels 5 to 8
    Step by step instructions 5 to 8
    • Flip and massage dry rub into the other side (Photo 5)
    • Gather Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar (Photo 6)
    • Combine these 2 liquids (Photo 7)
    • Place ribs onto oiled foil lined tray (Photo 8)

    Next combine the Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar. This can be done by simply whisking them together.

    Oven baked pork ribs steps 9 to 12 with text labels
    Step by step instructions 9 to 12
    • Pour combined liquids into baking tray (Photo 9)
    • Cover with foil (Photo 10)
    • Gather BBQ sauce ingredients (Photo 11)
    • Stir to combine (Photo 12)

    Pour the liquids into the base of the baking tray, pour in water to create a liquid layer and then cover the ribs with a layer of aluminium foil.

    When that is done, place the ribs into the oven to cook for 2 hours. During this time you can gather the BBQ sauce, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce, whisk them together then set aside.

    Basting pork ribs in bbq sauce with a pastry brush
    Step 13
    • Place the cooked ribs onto a baking mat and baste (Photo 13)

    When the 2 hours are up, you can use oven mits to remove the ribs from the oven and place them on a heatproof surface. Change the oven to grill and turn it up to 200 degrees (200°C 392°F6).

    Gently pull the alfoil off and discard. Use kitchen tongs to then pick up the cooked ribs and place them onto a silicon mat on a baking tray.

    Use a pastry brush to generously coat the ribs in the BBQ sauce. Then place them into the oven again, this time on the top shelf.

    Pastry brush coating bbq sauce onto ribs on baking tray
    Step 14
    • Grill then baste and repeat 2 to 3 times (Photo 14)

    You can repeat the baste, grill process 2 to 3 times and then remove from the oven and place on a heatproof surface.

    Let the grilled ribs rest for a couple of mins and then use a knife and chopping board to slice them into individual portions or pairs and plate with remaining sauce. It won't take long for the eaters to dive on in 😉.

    🍽 Serving Suggestions

    These ribs will go down a treat with the Turkish Garlic Bread, Ciabatta Garlic Bread or Garlic Pizza Bread.

    For a light and bright salad the Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad and Healthy Panzanella Salad both make good options.

    The Air Fryer Chips or Gravy Fries give you some carby options as do the Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Creamy Garlic Potatoes or Garlic Butter Potatoes.

    Sticky bbq pork ribs on white plate with small bowl of sauce

    There will be plenty of sauce left for drizzling, dunking or dolloping and my homemade sauce recipes offer some sugar free options for you to try also.

    👍 How to Guide

    How to Store

    Store leftovers ribs in a sealed, air tight container or plate with cling wrap. They can be refrigerated for 2 days.

    How to Freeze

    I don't recommend freezing leftover cooked ribs as they will never taste as good as when freshly cooked then grilled if they have been frozen. You can however, purchase your ribs then freeze them (ahead of time) and thaw prior to using when you are ready to make the recipe.

    How to Reheat

    Place the ribs onto a silicon baking mat and reheat in the oven (moderate temperature) for 5 to 10 mins to reheat. If you are in a hurry, you can microwave them on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

    😉 Substitutions and Variations

    Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:

    • The cayenne pepper is hot! If you are not a fan of any heat in recipes you can omit this. I don't think you can really taste it as a hot spice as it blends well with the other spices, however, I get you and want you to enjoy the recipe even is spice is not your thing 😉👍.
    • Yes, you can use sugar free sauces if you want to. There are plenty of keto options available these days which are either sugar free or reduced sugar versions.
    • You can use this dry rub seasoning for other meats like beef, chicken and fish.

    💡 Tasty Tips

    Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:

    • Preheat the oven to start with so it will have reached the right temperature when you are wanting to place the ribs in.
    • Try and keep the dry rub away from any moisture or liquids so that it doesn't get clumped together.
    • With the garlic powder and onion powder these ingredients are notorious for drying out if not used regularly. This is something to keep in mind if you haven't checked your bottle in the pantry for a while 😁.

    🤓 Frequently Asked Questions

    How long do pork ribs cook in the oven?

    Pork ribs are best cooked for 2 hours in the oven. They can then be basted in sauce and grilled for crispy saucy edges.

    Do you bake pork ribs covered or uncovered?

    Covering the ribs with foil is a great way to ensure that they will not dry out during the 2 hours that they are cooking. You can do this by layering the foil over the top of the ribs or wrapping the foil around the rack of ribs.

    What liquid do you use for ribs??

    Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, beer and BBQ sauce are common liquids to use when cooking ribs. Each of these can be used in combination with a store bought or homemade dry rub.

    😍 More Easy Dinner Recipes

    Dinner can be more than Winner Winner Chicken Dinner with some recipes using different proteins that you can enjoy. Here are some more recipes I know you will love:

    • BBQ Lamb Ribs
    • Honey Glazed Pork Chops
    • Sweet and Sour Ribs
    • Pork Bolognese
    • Chicken Spaghetti Bolognese
    • Pork Chops in Mushroom Soup
    • Lamb Bolognese
    • Bolognese Pizza
    • Linguine Bolognese
    • Macaroni Bolognese

    Its time to let your face being smothered in sauce and your fingers do the talking my friend!

    Adrianne

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    📖 Recipe

    Oven baked pork ribs on white plate with small bowl of sauce

    Oven Baked Pork Ribs

    Oven Baked Pork Ribs are finger licking good! Combining sweet and savory flavours they are baked, smothered in sauce then grilled.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 862kcal
    Author: Adrianne
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Glass jug
    • 1 Mini whisk to combined the dry rub ingredients
    • 2 Baking Trays
    • 1 Aluminium foil
    • 1 Spray oil
    • 2 Oven Mits
    • 1 Oven rack
    • 1 Oven tray
    • 1 Silicon Baking Mat
    • 1 Pastry Brush
    Metric - US Customary

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon mustard powder
    • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper Note 1
    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
    • 1.5kg/3 pounds pork ribs
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to pour into the rimmed baking tray when cooking the ribs
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar same as the above
    • water to pour into the base of the baking tray so the foil doesn't burn, combined with the above

    BBQ sauce

    • ½ cup BBQ sauce
    • ½ cup tomato sauce (ketchup)
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven: preheat the oven to 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5.
    • Baking trays: cover 2 x long rectangular baking trays with aluminium foil. Spray with olive oil. Then set aside.
    • Dry rub: add the garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to a glass jug and use a mini whisk to consistently combine.
    • Ribs: place the ribs onto a chopping board with the underside facing up. Starting at one corner locate the membrane and gently pull this off. Use a knife for any tricky bits, cut and discard.
    • Seasoning: working one rack at a time, place the ribs onto a chopping board (meat side up). Sprinkle the dry rub all over the meat to cover and massage into the ribs. Flip to the underside and repeat covering with rub. Then transfer seasoned ribs to oiled baking tray, pour in combined Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and water cover with foil and then repeat process for the 2nd rack.
    • Oven bake: place the covered ribs into the oven and bake for 2 hours.
    • BBQ sauce: add the BBQ sauce, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce to a medium sized jug, stir to combine.
    • Remove: use oven mits to remove each tray from the oven and rest on a heat proof surface. Gently unfold and discard the alfoil. (It will have black bits all over it but the ribs will easily lift off due to the olive oil spray).
    • Baste: transfer the cooked ribs to a silicon lined baking rack with tray underneath. Use a pastry brush to liberally coat the ribs with the BBQ sauce. Repeat for other set of ribs.
    • Grill/broil: change the oven setting to grill at 200°C 392°F6. Place the baking rack into the oven on the top shelf. Grill the ribs for 5 mins (no need to flip). Repeat basting process followed by 5 mins grill time 2-3 times.
    • Serve and enjoy: use oven mits to remove the baking rack from the oven and rest on heat proof surface. Allow the ribs to sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Then use kitchen tongs to transfer to a chopping board. Use a knife and cut the ribs into individual or pairs. Place bowl of leftover bbq sauce on plate with the ribs for serving.

    Notes

    • Note 1 - Cayenne Pepper: omit this from the rub if you don't enjoy any heat in your recipes. The spice is hot and you will notice the flavour more in the leftovers (next day) than straight from the oven. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 862kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 63g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 210mg | Sodium: 952mg | Potassium: 993mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1477IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 5mg
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Western
    Keyword oven baked pork ribs, sticky bbq pork ribs
    Did you make this recipe? Share on Instagram!It makes my day when you make my recipes! Tag @sweetcaramelsunday

    Try these next...

    • Spaghetti Gorgonzola
    • Sweet and Sour Ribs
    • Coca Cola Ribs
    • BBQ Lamb Ribs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julia Keats says

      March 16, 2023 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      These are in the oven now and we have already set the table with plates. They smell so good looking forward to trying.

      Reply
      • Adrianne says

        March 16, 2023 at 8:33 pm

        Great to hear, thanks Julia, I hope you all enjoy them!!

    2. Toni Gardner says

      March 20, 2023 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      We made these for dinner on the weekend they were absolutely yummo.

      Reply
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