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Here’s a foolproof recipe for Tender Oven-Baked Ribs — juicy, fall-off-the-bone, sticky, and smoky with zero grill required! These ribs are dry-rubbed, slow-roasted, and glazed with your favorite BBQ sauce until perfectly caramelized.
🍖 Tender Oven-Baked Ribs
Low & slow = melt-in-your-mouth magic.
✅ Ingredients (Serves 4)
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2–3 lbs pork ribs (baby back or St. Louis-style)
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2–3 tbsp yellow mustard (helps the rub stick, but you won’t taste it)
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½ to 1 cup BBQ sauce, for basting
🧂 Dry Rub:
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2 tbsp brown sugar
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1 tbsp paprika
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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½ tsp chili powder or cayenne (optional, for heat)
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½ tsp ground cumin (optional, smoky depth)
🔥 Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
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Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Prep the Ribs
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Remove the silver skin (membrane) from the back of the ribs for tenderness.
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Use a knife to lift a corner, then grip it with a paper towel and peel it off.
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3. Apply Mustard & Dry Rub
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Rub ribs all over with yellow mustard.
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Mix dry rub ingredients and coat ribs generously on both sides.
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Let sit for 15–30 minutes at room temp (or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor).
4. Wrap & Bake
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Place ribs meat-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet.
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Cover tightly with foil.
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Bake at 300°F for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until ribs are tender when pierced with a fork.
5. Add BBQ Sauce & Broil (or Bake)
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Remove foil.
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Brush ribs generously with BBQ sauce.
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Broil on HIGH for 2–4 minutes to caramelize, or return to oven at 400°F for 10–15 mins.
6. Rest & Serve
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Let rest for 5–10 minutes, then slice between bones and serve with extra sauce.
🧊 Storage
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Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days
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Freezer: Freeze cooked ribs tightly wrapped for up to 3 months
🔄 Variations
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Use honey BBQ, bourbon, or chipotle sauces for flavor twists
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Try apple juice or beer in the pan under the ribs (add moisture + flavor)
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Make a spicy rub by increasing cayenne and adding smoked paprika
Would you like a slow cooker version, a dry-rub only version, or a boneless oven-baked ribs recipe next?