Whether it’s for game day, tailgate, or dinner at home, you’re going to love these fall-off-the-bone baby back . They are finger-licking good and practically make themselves!

The beauty of making this rib recipe in the oven is that you can make them all year round. No grill or smoker needed.

These  came out so tender, I was impressed! Not to mention, the smoky-sweet dry rub mixed with the caramelized barbecue sauce was close to perfection in my book.

dry rub for oven baked bbq baby back ribs

Dry & Wet Rub for Baby Back Ribs?

Yes, you heard correctly! I like using a mix of dry rub with a splash of wet.

Dry rubs are best for fatty cuts as they create a crust enhancing flavor without increasing moisture. I like my dry rub made up of smoky and sweet spices.

I do however like to add a splash of apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke to remove that gamey taste.

baby back ribs with dry rub and wrapped in aluminum foil before baking in the oven

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Brown sugar
  • Smoked paprika
  • Brown sugar
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Cumin
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne powder 
  • Baby back ribs thawed
  • Liquid smoke
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Your favorite barbecue sauce
baby back ribs with barbecue sauce brushed on top

Half Sheet with Wire Rack

Whether I’m making crispy bacon or crispy chicken wings, this half sheet with the wire rack is seriously my secret weapon. Line with parchment paper and clean-up will be a breeze!

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How To Make Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

  • Make the dry rub mixture. In a small bowl, stir together the following – brown sugar, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper and cayenne powder.
  • Remove the membrane. Some, not all, racks of  have this thin, white, dense silverskin on the back of the ribs (on the bone side of ). If you don’t remove it, you may run the risk of having tough, rubbery, chewy meat. We want fall off the bone ribs! So, using a small knife, you gently slip in until the thin membrane from the back of the rack of  and pull it off with your hands. It should pull right off. This video may help you visualize the process. You can also ask a butcher to do this for you.
  • Season your . Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel then generously season your  with the dry rub on both sides making sure to coat every inch of the rack.
  • Prep your ribs. Place the  (ribs meat side down) on a large piece of aluminum foil then splash them with the apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke. Fold the aluminum foil all around the , sealing it entirely and securely, so no liquid leaks out. This also helps seal in all the steam for the most tender rack of  ever.
  • Time to cook! Place the wire rack inside a large sheet pan. Place the sealed  on the baking sheet and place them in the oven. Bake for 3 hours at 300ºF until very tender. Remove them from the oven.
  • Glaze with your favorite BBQ sauce. Remove the aluminum foil from the  and generously brush them with bbq sauce. May I recommend guava bbq sauce? Once you do that, place the  back in the oven and broil them for 5 minutes until caramelized.

What side dishes can you serve with baby back ribs?

You can serve these baby back ribs with crispy sliced roasted potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes. My fave!

baby back ribs on a plate with bbq sauce and beer

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5 from 8 reviews

Oven Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs Recipe

Jamie Silva
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Fall-off-the-bone, tender bbq baby back ribs made with a flavorful homemade dry rub and baked in the oven to juicy perfection.
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Ingredients
 

Dry Rub

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder

Baby Back Ribs

  • 2 1/2 lbs baby back ribs, thawed
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Your favorite bbq sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place a wire rack inside a large baking sheet. Set aside.
  • Gently remove the thin membrane from the back of the rack of ribs with a knife or your hands. It should pull right off.
  • In a bowl, mix together all your dry rub ingredients. Generously season your ribs with the dry rub on both sides making sure to coat every inch of the rack.
  • Place the ribs on a large piece of aluminum foil, top side down, then splash them with the apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke. Fold the aluminum foil all around the ribs, sealing it entirely and securely, so no liquid leaks out.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 3 hours or until very tender. Remove them from the oven. Remove the aluminum foil from the ribs and generously brush them with bbq sauce. Place the ribs back in the oven and broil them for 5 minutes until caramelized. Serve and enjoy!
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 462kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 123mg, Sodium: 1919mg, Potassium: 623mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1990IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 92mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baby back ribs, baby back ribs recipe, baked baby back ribs, bbq baby back ribs, oven baked baby back ribs
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