Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs

I have cooked ribs many ways over the years, including on the grill, in the oven and in the slow cooker. This recipe combines braising and slow roasting in a way that creates nice, tender ribs. Because they are oven roasted, it does not take a lot of time or create a lot of mess. Serve with your favorite Barbecue sides! For my recipe for Tangy BBQ Sauce, go to the “Sauces” section of the recipes.

TIPS: If you like char on your ribs, you could throw them on the grill after they finished cooking, or put under the broiler to brown them a bit, but I like them just the way they are. If you adjust the recipe to cook less or more racks of ribs, just be sure the amount of braising liquid in your pan in the first step comes up to just under halfway up the meaty sides of the ribs. For the braising liquid, you do not need to coffee or liquid smoke if you don’t have it, plain water would do just fine. Other options would be to add some BBQ seasoning to the water or even use a bit of beef or chicken broth.

Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Rest Time 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 5 – 6 lb pork rib racks (membrane on the back removed)
  • 2 Tbsp liquid smoke
  • 3 C water
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp cold coffee
  • salt and pepper
  • dry BBQ rub (optional)
  • 2 C your favorite BBQ sauce ( or search "Tangy BBQ Sauce" on this website to make your own)

Instructions
 

  • Adjust over rack to middle position and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  • Bring water, liquid smoke, coffee and salt to boil in a small saucepan. Pour mixture into a large roasting pan, large enough to lay ribs flat in a single layer. Place ribs, meat side down, in the liquid and cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake untouched for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Remove ribs from oven. Place a wire rack in a foil lined baking sheet (you may need two). Place the ribs meat side up on the baking sheet. Discard braising liquid. Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper, or with dry BBQ rub if using. Brush ribs on both sides with BBQ sauce. Return ribs to oven.
  • Bake for another 1 1/2 hours, basting the meat side with BBQ sauce every 30 minutes. Remove from oven when ribs are fork tender and meat shows no resistance when pierced with a fork. Tent loosely with foil and let rest 20-30 minutes.
  • Enjoy!