These Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs require minimal effort but deliver maximum taste and tenderness. These fall-off-the-bone ribs are a crowd pleaser for any occasion.

Oven baked baby back ribs being brushed with barbecue sauce, on a wooden cutting board and butcher paper.

This Baby Back Ribs in Oven recipe couldn’t be easier!

When it comes to the most amount of deliciousness for the least amount of effort, oven baked baby back ribs take the grand prize, in my opinion.

You only need three ingredients – the ribs, seasoning rub (either homemade or store bought) and some barbecue sauce (I always use store bought).

After a quick five minutes of prep work, your oven will literally do all of the work for you.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout or just craving some succulent ribs, this recipe will become a go-to for you!

Why you will love these Oven Baby Back Ribs

  • You only need one pan. No transferring to the grill, and we’re not making homemade sauce. One rimmed sheet pan is the only dish you’ll have to do.
  • No flipping. Put the ribs in the oven and forget about them for 2 hours!
  • Recipe can easily be scaled up or down to make more or less servings.
Ingredients laid out on a wooden surface, including bone-in pork, a red spice rub and barbecue sauce.

What are Baby Back Ribs?

Baby back ribs are small, succulent ribs that come from the upper part of a pig’s ribcage.

They’re known for their rich flavor and tender meat, making them a popular choice for barbecue lovers.

Baby back ribs rubbed with red spices on a textured baking pan.

Baked Baby Back Ribs ingredients

  • baby back ribs – the star of the show, and once they’re cooked, the meat will be fall-off-the-bone tender.
  • dry rub for ribs – use my homemade dry rub for ribs recipe or a comparable store-bought barbecue seasoning rub. This gives the meat big flavor and helps create a nice crust.
  • barbecue sauce – prepared, store-bought barbecue sauce is easiest, and there are some great varieties available these days. The sauce will finish the baby back ribs in oven with a tangy and sweet glaze.
Bone in pork meat on a textured baking pan being brushed with barbecue sauce.

Baby Back Ribs Oven Recipe substitutions and additions

  • rub – switch up the dry rub by experimenting with different spice blends for baby back ribs in the oven. Add more cayenne to make it spicy, or add Chinese five spice powder for an Asian-inspired rub.
  • sauce – you can experiment with all kinds of homemade or store bought barbecue sauces with this recipe. Try the root beer barbecue sauce from my root beer ribs, or even something like a Korean bbq sauce.
Baked baby back ribs, cut up, on gray oval platter garnished with parsley.

How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

  1. If it’s present (some stores will have already removed it for you), remove the silver skin membrane from the bone side of the rib racks. You should be able to accomplish this with a sharp paring knife and your fingers.
  2. Place the ribs in a single layer on a a rimmed baking pan. You can cut the racks into two or three pieces each if that makes it easier for them to fit!
  3. Rub the ribs all over with the dry rub, and then let them stand at room temperature while your oven preheats.
  4. Add a bit of water to the bottom of the pan, and then cover the pan tightly with foil.
  5. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook 2 hours or until the meat is nearly falling off the bone.
  6. Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce, and then if you want to, lightly char them under the broiler so they get some crusty bits.
  7. Cut and eat!

How long to cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

I’ve found that 2 hours at 350 degrees F is the perfect cooking time and temperature for baby back ribs. Some cooks will go lower and slower, but this works for me every time.

Baby Back Ribs Internal Temp when done

About 190 to 200 degrees F is what you’re looking for fall-off-the-bone tender rib meat.

Oven baked baby back ribs in the process of being cut into individual ribs on a cutting board with butcher paper and barbecue sauce.

Home Chef Tips for Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

  • If you’ve never removed silver skin from a rack of ribs before, watch this video first. Despite the guy in the video trying to scare you, I promise you that it’s super easy.
  • While the recipe below uses the oven start to finish, you can char the ribs on a grill in Step 5 instead of under the broiler, if you want! I do this for my crock pot ribs recipe.

How to serve Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs

Serve the ribs hot with the sides for ribs that you like best. Some of my very favorites are:

A rack of baked baby back ribs being brushed with barbecue sauce.

How to store Baked Baby Back Ribs

If you have any leftover oven baby back ribs, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or on a grill until warmed through.

Cooked pork meat on the bone, covered with barbecue sauce.

Baby Back Ribs in Oven FAQs

Do you bake baby back ribs covered or uncovered?

It’s essential to bake the ribs covered with foil to keep them moist and tender!

Do you bake ribs on top or bottom rack?

If you can get a rack right into the middle of your oven, that’d be perfect for this baby back ribs oven recipe. It will allow even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly cooked ribs.

Do you flip ribs when baking?

No, that’s not necessary at all when making oven baked baby back ribs.

Oven baby back ribs on a blue plate with a small ramekin of barbecue sauce.
Oven baked baby back ribs being brushed with barbecue sauce, on a wooden cutting board and butcher paper.

Oven Baby Back Ribs

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

These Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs require minimal effort but deliver maximum taste and tenderness. These fall-off-the-bone ribs are a crowd pleaser for any occasion.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Remove silver skin membrane from bone side of rib racks. Place ribs in single layer on rimmed baking pan. If necessary, cut rib racks into halves or thirds to fit onto pan easier.
  2. Rub ribs all over with dry rub. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  4. Add 1/2 cup water to bottom of pan with ribs; cover tightly with foil. Transfer to middle rack of oven and cook 2 hours or until meat is nearly falling off the bone.
  5. Brush ribs with barbecue sauce. If desired, char ribs a little bit under the broiler: preheat broiler to HIGH. Place ribs under broiler and broil 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly charred, watching carefully. Cut ribs and serve immediately. 

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 674Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 1331mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 41g

This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. Nutrition information does not include any optional ingredients or toppings. You should calculate the nutrition information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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