It is chilly outside and not yet the perfect time to fire up the grill. Or say it has been a long day that calls for a warm, savory dinner that hits just the spot. How about oven-baked BBQ ribs charred to perfection and glazed with a sweet, spicy, and umami sauce? Serve with a side of oven-roasted veggies or chilled coleslaw for added satiety, and voila, dinner is served!
Key ingredients
A few key ingredients go into making oven-baked ribs; however, the idea is to have fun and play around with the ingredients, so feel free to swap the ingredients.
Pork ribs
Baby back ribs are a go-to choice for most. That said, one can also go for country-style spare ribs. They might have slightly different cooking times, so it is best to monitor them closely and flip them every once in a while to ensure they are cooked to perfection.
Seasoning
Seasoning pork BBQ ribs before cooking them in the oven is all about achieving the right balance of flavors. For instance, one can use a premade BBQ spice mix to coat the ribs, or they can make one from scratch, depending on the flavors they want most to come through. The spice mix is easy to make and comes together with everyday spices that one probably has lying around in their pantry. Plus, these can be used to flavor a variety of preparations. To make this, all one needs is some brown sugar—depending on how sweet one wants their mix to be—half a cup of paprika, some chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Don’t forget to add a pinch of cayenne pepper for some added heat.
BBQ sauce
BBQ sauce is the most important ingredient in this recipe. Many options are available, including extra spicy, sweet, or tangy BBQ sauces. While homemade BBQ sauces are often the best, one can also use convenient store-bought options.
Veggies
Aromatics such as onions and garlic can enhance the flavor of BBQ ribs when added during the roasting process. One will also need olive oil, ground cumin, ketchup, sriracha, or another suitable chili sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar to make the BBQ rub.
Cooking BBQ ribs in an oven
There are a few tips one needs to follow to achieve the perfect fall-off-the-bone ribs in the oven.
Remove the rib membrane
Removing the rib membranes is optional, as they can impart a smoky flavor to the ribs. That said, it is recommended, especially if one wants to make fall-of-the-bone tender ribs. Removing them improves the texture, as membranes are typically quite tough and chewy. Plus, removing the membrane ensures that seasonings, marinades, and rubs penetrate the meat and allow for flavors to develop. Not only that, but membranes can shrink during the cooking process, leaving one with awkward-shaped ribs.
So, to get rid of the membrane, start by sliding a knife under the edge of the thin skin on one end of the ribs. Then, grip the edge of the membrane and gently pull it away from the meat. It is that simple! If the membrane is slippery, use a paper towel to get a better grip. One can discard the removed membrane.
Bake the ribs
After removing the membrane, prep the BBQ ribs before popping them in the oven.
- Preheat the oven to about 275°F, and set aside a large roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet and foil.
- Season both sides of the ribs with salt and pepper. Don’t forget to slather on a generous amount of spice rub.
- Place the meatiest side of the ribs facing up in a large roasting pan. Then, cover the pan or baking sheet tightly with aluminum foil.
- The ribs must be sealed well. If the foil does not wrap around the baking sheet, wrap the rack in tight foil packets and place them on the sheet.
- Baked till the meat is tender and easily falls off the bones, which should take about two to three hours. Still, it is good practice to check the ribs occasionally to see how they are.
- To check if the ribs are ready, use a knife to pierce them. Little to no resistance indicates that they are ready to eat.
Make BBQ Sauce
If store-bought BBQ sauce is purchased then this part can be skipped. If not, then, follow a few steps to whip up a delicious, moreish BBQ sauce.
- Heat some olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook them until they turn soft and translucent.
- Next, stir the cumin and cook for about half a minute more.
- Add brown sugar, ketchup, hot chili sauce, and apple cider vinegar to the saucepan.
- Stir them together before seasoning them with salt, and cook for about two minutes.
- Set aside for it to cool.
Sauce it up and serve
Once the ribs and the sauce are ready, remove the rack from the oven, and discard the aluminum foil. Then, brush both sides of the ribs with a generous amount of barbecue sauce. Place the over rack higher. Follow this by turning the broiler high and broiling the ribs. This must be done until the barbecue sauce begins to caramelize. Remember to keep an eye on the ribs while they broil so the sauce does not burn.
Ribs are delicious, but pairing them with additional sides can enhance the meal and make it more versatile. Great options include simple sides like potato salad, coleslaw, and cornbread. One can also consider a veggie-packed pasta salad or a classic macaroni salad to go with the ribs.
