Here’s a foolproof, oven-baked recipe that delivers juicy ribs with caramelized BBQ sauce perfection.
🍖 Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Servings: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2½–3 hours
Total time: ~3 hours
🧂 Ingredients
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2 racks baby back ribs (about 4–5 lb / 1.8–2.2 kg total)
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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1 tablespoon paprika (smoked if you have it)
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1 tablespoon chili powder
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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1 teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
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1–1½ cups BBQ sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
🔥 Instructions
1. Prep the ribs
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Remove the thin silver skin from the back of each rack (use a knife to loosen one edge, then pull with a paper towel for grip).
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Pat ribs dry with paper towels.
2. Make the dry rub
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Mix brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl.
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Rub generously all over the ribs — both sides.
3. Wrap & bake low and slow
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Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C).
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Place ribs on large sheets of foil (one per rack), meat side up. Wrap tightly in foil to seal.
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Put wrapped ribs on a baking sheet and bake for 2½ hours (for tender ribs) or up to 3 hours (for fall-off-the-bone).
4. Add BBQ sauce & caramelize
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Carefully unwrap ribs (watch for steam).
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Drain excess liquid, then brush both sides generously with BBQ sauce.
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Increase oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).
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Bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and sticky.
(You can also broil for 2–3 minutes for extra char.)
5. Rest & serve
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Let ribs rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into portions.
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Serve with extra BBQ sauce, coleslaw, cornbread, or baked beans.
🔥 Tips for Perfect Ribs
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Don’t skip the silver skin removal — it makes a huge difference in tenderness.
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Want smoky flavor? Add 1 tsp liquid smoke to your BBQ sauce.
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For a sweet & tangy twist, mix 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar into your sauce before glazing.
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Ribs reheat beautifully in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10–15 minutes wrapped in foil.
Would you like me to include a homemade BBQ sauce recipe to go with these ribs? It’s easy and tastes incredible with the dry rub above.
