January 11, 2026
Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs with a flavorful dry rub, baked low and slow then finished with caramelized BBQ sauce.
dinner

Word Count: 285

Original recipe

Total time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 4 hours

Equipment

Equipment
Rimmed Baking Sheet
Aluminum Foil
Small Bowl
Pastry Brush
Paper Towel
Butter Knife (optional)

Ingredients

Ingredient Quantity
Baby Back Pork Ribs 2 racks (~4 lbs)
Paprika (sweet) 4 tsp
Garlic Powder 2 tsp
Onion Powder 1½ tsp
Chili Powder 1 tsp
Salt 1½ tsp
Black Pepper 1 tsp
BBQ Sauce ½ cup

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 275°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  2. Remove the thin white membrane from the back of the ribs. Run a butter knife under the membrane to loosen, then use a paper towel to grip and pull it off.
  3. Place ribs on the foil-lined baking sheet, meaty side up.
  4. Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub mixture all over the meaty side of the ribs.
  5. Cover ribs tightly by wrapping a few sheets of foil around the baking sheet. Alternatively, wrap each rack individually.
  6. Bake for 3 to 3½ hours, until ribs are very tender. Unwrap and pull off a small piece of meat to check doneness.
  7. Remove from oven. Preheat broiler to low setting. Remove and discard the foil covering. Brush ribs generously with BBQ sauce.
  8. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, until BBQ sauce just starts to caramelize. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
  9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Alternative cuts: Spare ribs, St. Louis-style ribs, or country-style ribs also work with similar cook times.
  • Reheating: Place ribs in a baking dish, brush with BBQ sauce, cover with foil, and reheat at 250°F for 15 to 30 minutes until internal temp reaches 145°F.