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Fall-Off-the-Bone Oven-Baked Spare Ribs

Discover the ultimate comfort dish with these tender, juicy oven-baked spare ribs that fall off the bone—perfect for family gatherings or a cozy night in.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 490
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs
  • 2 racks 2 pork spare rib racks (about 6-7 lbs total) Look for ribs that have a good amount of meat and are well-trimmed.
  • 4.5 tsp 4½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1.5 tsp 1½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 tbsp 4 tbsp brown sugar Use light or dark depending on your preference.
  • 2 tbsp 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp dry mustard
  • 0.5 tsp ½ tsp cayenne pepper Adjust based on your spice tolerance.
For the BBQ Sauce
  • 1 cup 1 cup ketchup Preferably Heinz or organic options.
  • 0.25 cup ¼ cup apple cider vinegar Adds tang to balance sweetness.
  • 3 tbsp 3 tbsp brown sugar Can replace with honey or maple syrup.
  • 2 tbsp 2 tbsp molasses (or maple syrup)
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp smoked paprika For extra smoky flavor.
  • 0.5 tsp ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp ½ tsp kosher salt

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C).
  2. Flip the ribs bone-side up and loosen the membrane covering the ribs with a butter knife. Grip it with a paper towel and pull it off.
  3. In a small bowl, mix kosher salt, black pepper, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper to make the rub.
  4. Pat the ribs dry and coat them generously with the dry rub.
  5. Place the ribs meat-side up on a large, foil-lined baking sheet.
  6. Cover the baking sheet tightly with another sheet of foil.
Cooking
  1. Bake the ribs for 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours and 15 minutes until a knife slides easily between the bones.
  2. While the ribs are baking, combine all BBQ sauce ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes until glossy.
  3. Remove the foil and switch your oven to broil on high. Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and broil for 2-4 minutes until bubbly.
  4. Let the ribs rest uncovered for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Use high-quality meat for better flavor. Leftover ribs can be stored for up to 3 days. Pre-season and wrap in plastic for overnight flavor development.