Fall off the Bone: Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

Fall off the Bone: Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

Tender, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs baked at 325°F. Learn the easy foil method, cooking times, and how to get a sticky barbecue finish.

Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American Classic

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Broil 10

Total Time 2 25

Servings People

Calories 191kcal

Author Diana Reis

Equipment

Heavy Duty Foil
Sheet Pan

Ingredients

Baby Back Ribs

1 rack baby back pork ribs
½ cup barbecue sauce use your favorite

Dry Rub

1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
Combine the granulated garlic, granulated onion, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. Remove the membrane from the bone side if necessary.
Season both sides of the ribs with the dry rub, working the seasoning evenly into the meat.
Place the ribs, meat side up, on a large sheet of foil. Fold the foil around the rack, sealing the edges to create a tightly wrapped packet.
Place the packet on the prepared sheet pan and bake at 325°F for approximately 2 hours. Check for tenderness. If necessary, reseal and bake for an additional 15–30 minutes.
Remove the ribs from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Carefully open the foil packet and reserve the cooking juices.
Brush the ribs generously with barbecue sauce. Place under the low broiler for approximately 5 minutes.
Remove the ribs, apply a second layer of barbecue sauce, and broil for approximately 5 more minutes, until the sauce is caramelized and sticky. Keep the ribs at least 6 inches from the heating element and watch carefully to prevent burning.
Cut between the bones to separate the ribs. Drizzle with reserved cooking juices and serve.

Notes

Diana's Tips for Success

Larger racks may need an additional 15–30 minutes of baking.
For fall-off-the-bone texture, the meat should be very tender and beginning to pull away from the bones.
When baking multiple racks, wrap each separately and rotate the sheet pans as needed for even cooking.
Broiling times vary by oven. Watch closely once the barbecue sauce begins bubbling.

How Long to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven at 325°F

Baby back ribs take approximately 2 hours to cook at 325°F when wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. This method allows the meat to cook in its natural juices while the connective tissue softens, producing tender, juicy ribs.

Larger or thicker racks may need an additional 15–30 minutes. Rather than relying on cooking time alone, check the meat for tenderness before adding the barbecue sauce.

The meat should begin pulling away from the ends of the bones, and a toothpick or thermometer probe should slide into the meat between the bones with very little resistance.

For fall-off-the-bone ribs, the internal temperature is often around 190–203°F. While whole cuts of pork are considered safe at 145°F with a three-minute rest, ribs need additional cooking to break down the connective tissue and achieve that tender barbecue texture.

Once the ribs are tender, finish them under the broiler with two coats of barbecue sauce. This adds approximately 10 minutes to the cooking process.

Nutrition