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    Home » Meat Recipes » Oven-Baked Ribs

    Oven-Baked Ribs

    Last updated: Nov 2, 2021 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    Baking ribs in the oven is so easy. It takes a few hours, but apart from basting the ribs occasionally with BBQ sauce, it's pretty much hands-off.

    The ribs literally fall off the bones when done, and the BBQ sauce becomes nicely caramelized. Even the leftovers are great!

    Oven-baked ribs piled on a white plate.

    There's no need to fire up the grill! These amazing ribs are slowly baked in the oven until the meat is tender, juicy, and literally falls off the bones.

    I love ordering pork ribs at BBQ joints, but this is actually a surprisingly easy recipe to make at home. It requires some time commitment, but hardly any effort.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious ribs. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Avocado oil spray: A neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, making it perfect for cooking.

    Pork spareribs: I get a whole slab rather than individually cut ribs.

    Smoked salt and black pepper: You can get smoked salt on Amazon (I included a link in the recipe card below). It greatly enhances the flavor of this dish.

    For the homemade barbecue sauce: tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, smoked salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and maple syrup.

    Instructions

    Baking pork ribs in the oven is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    Your first step is to spray the ribs with oil and lightly season them with salt and pepper. Then bake them for one hour in a 275°F oven.

    Raw spareribs on a baking sheet.

    After one hour, brush the ribs with a third of the barbecue sauce and return them to the oven for one more hour.

    Brushing ribs with bbq sauce.

    Repeat this step two more times. The last time, for the final hour of cooking, reduce the oven temperature to 250°F.

    After 4 hours, the ribs will be extremely tender. All the tough tendons have melted, and the meat literally falls off the bones as you cut the slab into individual portions.

    Oven baked ribs are ready.

    Expert tip

    The BBQ sauce darkens and caramelizes in the oven. It should be very dark but not burned. So if you think that it's darkening too much, you can loosely cover the ribs with foil during the final hour of baking.

    Frequently asked questions

    What BBQ sauce should I use?

    The homemade barbecue sauce that I use is not very sweet. But it still has a fair amount of sugar from the tomato paste and the balsamic vinegar.

    So if you prefer a less sugary sauce, I suggest you try this tasty North Carolina BBQ sauce. It's wonderful!

    And needless to say, you can use whatever BBQ sauce you prefer, homemade or store-bought.

    How do you cut spareribs?

    It's easiest to cut them when you place them on a cutting board bone- side up and use a sharp chef's knife.

    When they're bone-side up it's easy to locate the bones and cut in between them. You can cut the slab into one or two-rib portions.

    Should I cover the ribs while baking them?

    I don't cover them, but I do baste them with BBQ sauce every hour, which keeps them from drying out.

    However, if you notice that the sauce is darkening too much, you can loosely cover them with foil during the final hour of baking.

    Variations

    I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

    • For the first stage of baking, you can add spices in additon to salt and pepper. Try garlic powder and smoked paprika.
    • Instead of oil, you can bruss the ribs with melted butter.
    • You can use any BBQ sauce that you like. I especially enjoy using this North Carolina-style BBQ sauce.
    • You can replace the maple syrup with any other liquid sweetener or with stevia. It's also fine to omit it.

    Serving suggestions

    I like to serve these ribs with one or two of the following cauliflower-based side dishes that closely mimic the traditional favorites:

    • Cauliflower mac and cheese
    • Cauliflower potato salad
    • Cauliflower tots (I make them ahead, since they require a hot oven, and reheat them before serving).

    Storing leftovers

    Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days, in an airtight container. Gently reheat them, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.

    Two photos of oven spareribs, one on a baking sheet and one on a plate.

    Related recipes

    • Country style ribs served in a baking dish.
      Country-Style Ribs
    • Sugar-free BBQ sauce served in a white bowl with a napkin.
      Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
    • Slow cooker beef ribs shown on a white background.
      Slow Cooker Beef Ribs
    • Carolina BBQ sauce in a glass jar.
      Carolina BBQ Sauce

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Oven-baked ribs stacked on a white plate.
    4.99 from 321 votes
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    Amazing Oven-Baked Ribs

    These oven-baked ribs literally fall off the bones when done, and the BBQ sauce becomes deliciously caramelized.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time4 hours hrs
    Total Time4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 568kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • Avocado oil spray
    • 3 lb. pork spareribs
    • ½ teaspoon smoked salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Barbecue sauce:

    • â…“ cup tomato paste
    • â…“ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (real or sugar-free)

    Instructions

    • Line a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick foil for easy cleanup. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
    • Place the ribs in the pan, bone side down. Spray them with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    • Bake the ribs for 1 hour, uncovered.
    • Meanwhile, mix the barbecue sauce ingredients in a medium bowl, then divide it into three small bowls.
    • After one hour, take the ribs out of the oven and carefully drain the pan juices. Brush the top of the ribs with a â…“ of the BBQ sauce and return them to the oven. Wash the basting brush with warm soapy water.
    • Repeat this after one more hour - brush the top of the ribs with another â…“ of the BBQ sauce and return them to the oven. Wash the basting brush with warm soapy water.
    • After one more hour, brush the ribs with the remainder of the sauce. Reduce the oven to 250 degrees F and return the ribs to the oven for one final hour.
    • After 4 hours, the meat will be very tender and will fall off the bones. The top will be dark and deliciously caramelized. Remove the ribs from the oven, cut them into individual ribs, and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    The BBQ sauce darkens and caramelizes in the oven. It should be very dark but not burned. So if you think that it's darkening too much, you can loosely cover the ribs with foil during the last one or two hours of baking.
    It's easiest to cut the ribs when you place them on a cutting board bone-side up and use a sharp chef's knife. When they're bone-side up it's easy to locate the bones and cut in between them. You can cut the slab into one or two-rib portions.

    Add Your Own Notes

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 568kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 723mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
    SubscribeI aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandy

      September 18, 2023 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      Honestly, I wasn't sure about this recipe because the ribs are baked uncovered. But they turned out absolutely delicious! Next time I'll make two slabs - we polished them off so fast!

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        September 19, 2023 at 5:36 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed these ribs, Sandy! Thank you for leaving a comment.

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

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