Classic BBQ Ribs (Print Version)

Tender pork ribs dry-rubbed, slow-baked, and finished with a sticky, smoky-sweet barbecue glaze — a backyard favorite.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Ribs and Dry Rub

01 - 2 racks baby back ribs (about 4–5 lbs total)
02 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 tbsp paprika
04 - 1 tbsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tbsp onion powder
06 - 2 tsp salt
07 - 1 tsp black pepper
08 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

→ BBQ Sauce

09 - 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Remove the silver membrane from the back of each rack of ribs. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Rub the spice mixture generously over both sides of the ribs.
02 - Wrap each rack tightly in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 1/2 hours, until tender but still holding together.
03 - Preheat a grill to medium-high or set oven broiler to high. Unwrap the ribs and brush generously with BBQ sauce. Grill or broil for 5–7 minutes per side, basting with additional sauce, until caramelized and slightly charred.
04 - Let rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing between the bones. Serve hot with extra sauce on the side.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in under 3 hours with mostly hands-off cooking time
  • Uses simple pantry spices for an incredible dry rub
  • Foolproof method guarantees tender ribs every time
  • Perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors
02 -
  • The ribs are done when meat begins pulling back from the bone ends
  • The "bend test" confirms doneness. When picked up with tongs in the middle, properly cooked ribs will bend easily and slightly crack in the surface
  • Resting for 10 minutes after cooking allows juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness
03 -
  • Allow ribs to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking for more even results
  • For extra smoky flavor without a smoker add a few drops of liquid smoke to your BBQ sauce
  • Test doneness by twisting a bone slightly. It should move easily but not fall apart completely

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