Description
Savory oven-baked ribs deliver mouthwatering comfort right from your kitchen. Grab your favorite barbecue sauce and prepare for a seriously delicious meal that will make your dinner guests ask for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 lbs pork baby back ribs
Dry Rub Spices:
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Peel the protective membrane off the back of 4 lbs pork baby back ribs by sliding a knife underneath and pulling it away with a paper towel.
- Combine 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and ½ tsp cayenne pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Massage the spice blend thoroughly across both surfaces of the ribs, pressing the seasoning deep into the meat.
- Create a tight aluminum foil packet around the ribs, ensuring complete moisture seal.
- Chill the seasoned ribs in the refrigerator for 2 hours to allow spices to deeply penetrate the meat.
- Set your oven rack in the middle position and preheat to 275°F.
- Remove ribs from refrigerator and allow them to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Place the foil-wrapped ribs on a baking sheet and roast for exactly 2.5 hours.
- Gently unfold the foil packet and sprinkle ¼ cup apple cider vinegar across the ribs.
- Increase oven temperature to 350°F and completely open the foil packet.
- Generously coat ribs with ½ cup barbecue sauce and return to oven for 20-30 minutes.
- Extract ribs from oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before carving into serving portions.
Notes
- Always remove the tough membrane from ribs before seasoning to ensure tender, easy-to-eat meat that falls right off the bone.
- Letting the seasoned ribs rest in the refrigerator for a couple hours allows the spices to deeply penetrate and tenderize the meat for maximum flavor.
- When opening the foil packet, brush with apple cider vinegar to add moisture and brightness that cuts through the richness of the ribs.
- For a low-carb version, swap out the brown sugar in the spice rub with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener and use a keto-friendly barbecue sauce.
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg