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The best baby back ribs recipe (grilled pork back ribs) is a foolproof and simple recipe resulting in the tastiest, tender, and fall-off-the-bone ribs you've ever eaten! Keeping it simple, use our rub or a store-bought rub.
With only 3 ingredients and minimal work, you can easily make these tasty ribs - even if you're a grilling novice. There are two methods to cooking these baby back ribs - oven to grill, and instant pot to grill.
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- WATCH: Making Baby Back Ribs
- Foolproof Guide to Cooking Baby Back Ribs
- Baby Back Ribs Ingredients
- How To Make Baby Back Ribs on Grill (Oven to Grill Method)
- Baby Back Ribs in Oven
- Cooking Baby Back Ribs (Pressure Cooker to Grill Method)
- Tips when making this Baby Back Ribs Recipe
- Sides to Serve with the Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
- Storing and Reheating Leftover Baby Back Ribs
- Baby Back Ribs Recipe FAQs
- The Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
- Related Recipes
- Comments
WATCH: Making Baby Back Ribs
Foolproof Guide to Cooking Baby Back Ribs
We don't have a family member or friend who hasn't had these ribs! This is a simple 3 ingredient recipe for grilled baby back ribs with two methods of cooking - baby back ribs in oven and baby back ribs in instant pot.
Both methods are followed up on the grill for just a few minutes - resulting in super tasty, chargrilled, fall-off-the-bone ribs! A low carb, paleo, and keto-friendly recipe that everyone will love!
The Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
This is literally the best baby back ribs recipe and they are so easy to make even a novice will look like a grilling master! We have made these easy grilled ribs for years, and it is one of our family's most requested recipes.
Easy BBQ Pork Ribs Recipe
This is an EASY recipe. Simply sprinkle ribs with seasoning, wrap in foil, bake in the oven until tender, brush with BBQ sauce, and finish off on the grill for a few minutes (only long enough to get the chargrilled taste and pretty browning).
Family Friendly Recipe
This is definitely a family-friendly recipe that everyone loves! There are 5 of us in our house, and my boys and husband will gobble this up quicker than you can imagine!
Use Your Favorite BBQ Pork Dry Rub
You can use any BBQ pork dry rub that you want. It doesn't matter; just pick your favorite. Honestly, you can even use salt and pepper or garlic salt and pepper.
Make-Ahead Ribs for A Crowd
You can easily pre-cook these ribs in the oven well ahead of time. Cover tightly and remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before grilling.
Low Carb, Paleo, Keto Ribs
Of course, ribs on their own are low carb, keto, and paleo. The trick is to make sure the seasoning and sauce are appropriate to the diet you are following. Be sure to use a sugar free BBQ sauce if following keto.
Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest for later! 😉
Baby Back Ribs Ingredients
Here are the ingredients that you will need to make grilled pork back ribs:
- Baby Back Ribs: you'll want to use 2 racks (approximately 2 to 3 lbs each)
- Dry Rub for Pork: use our quick and simple rub - or use a favorite brand.
- Barbecue Sauce: Be sure to use your favorite - with only three ingredients, each one is important to the final taste. If you are following a sugar free or keto diet be sure to use a sugar free BBQ sauce.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
How To Make Baby Back Ribs on Grill (Oven to Grill Method)
Here's how to make baby back ribs from oven to grill:
1. Rinse and dry pork ribs.
2. Liberally sprinkle both sides of pork with seasoning.
3. Cover ribs in foil and wrap tightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake until very tender about 2½ to 3 hours.
4. Remove ribs from the oven (and foil) and slather with BBQ sauce. Place on a preheated grill and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Tip: The ribs must be very tender before removing from the oven.
Baby Back Ribs in Oven
If you don't have a grill - no problem! Just finish them off under the broiler. Or even an air fryer. Remember, these are already cooked you are only looking for color and caramelization.
- Liberally sprinkle both sides of pork with seasoning. Cover ribs in foil and wrap tightly. Lay ribs on baking sheet and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
- Heat oven to 300 degrees. Remove pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Place rib racks (leave on the cookie sheet) in the oven and bake for 2½ hours or until ribs are knife tender.(Adjust time according to your rack size. Smaller racks will take less time (maybe 2 hours), bigger more time (possibly 3 hours). The key is that the ribs must be very tender. Wrapping them tightly in foil is keeping the moisture in.)
- Remove ribs from foil and brush on BBQ Sauce. Turn oven to Broil.
- Place ribs on a clean baking sheet or broiling pan (coat with nonstick spray). Broil ribs on each side until the sauce is bubbly and the ribs achieve some browning caramelization.
Cooking Baby Back Ribs (Pressure Cooker to Grill Method)
Pressure cooking is a quick method that makes it easy to make these any weeknight. Keep in mind that you can only cook one rack of ribs in the pressure cooker, so it's perfect for 4 people.
- Rinse and dry pork ribs. Cut pork ribs apart into sections of approximately 2 - 3 ribs each.
- Place a rack into the bottom of your pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water to the bottom. Stand rib sections on the rack. Secure lid. Pressure cook on High setting, for 25 minutes. When complete, allow steam to release naturally for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove ribs from the pressure cooker. Sprinkle the seasoning lightly over ribs, then brush one side with BBQ sauce.
- Heat grill to medium-high. Place sauce side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Brush second side with barbecue sauce then flip, cooking another 3 to 4 minutes.
Tip: Experiment with other liquids (always using 1 cup). Beer is a great choice for example! What you add to the pot infuses itself into the ribs. A few cloves of garlic or herbs is nice. I have even put a few drops of liquid smoke into the water before. Lots of ways to experiment!
For full detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below!
Tips when making this Baby Back Ribs Recipe
- Wrap the ribs tightly in aluminum foil to avoid moisture loss.
- Remember the ribs are already cooked, so only grill long enough to caramelize the BBQ sauce, achieve nice browning and grill marks - and infuse them with smoky flavor.
Sides to Serve with the Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
- Baked Beans
- Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon or Cauliflower Broccoli Salad
- Dill Pickle Slaw or Creamy Mexican Slaw
- Pasta Salad
- Easy Recipe for Grilled Romaine Lettuce
- Macaroni and Cheese or Cauliflower and Cheese
- Fruit Salad
Storing and Reheating Leftover Baby Back Ribs
Once cooled, store any leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They can also be frozen for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge.
The Best Way to Reheat Pork Baby Back Ribs
Oven or grill: Reheat wrapped in foil in an oven or on a grill on a medium-low heat.
Microwave: Place ribs in a microwave-safe dish and loosely cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on low for 30 seconds at a time, turning over after 30 seconds.
Baby Back Ribs Recipe FAQs
What is the difference between baby back ribs and regular ribs?
There are several differences. Each is cut from a different location on the rib cage. Baby back ribs are shorter in length (6 to 8”), whereas regular ribs (spare ribs) are about 10 to 12”. Baby back ribs have a tender leaner meat and a higher amount of meat-to-bone ratio than spare ribs. Spare ribs have more marbling and connective tissue. From a flavor perspective, baby back ribs are more tender and milder in flavor. Spareribs are juicier and have a more savory taste (due to their fat content). Baby back ribs require less cooking time than spareribs.
How do you prepare baby back ribs?
The best way to prepare baby back ribs is with a dry rub seasoning. Rub it on, wrap up the ribs, and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. The easiest way to get tender ribs is to bake in foil in the oven until they are tender, then transfer to a grill, baste with BBQ sauce, just to finish off and get that great smoky taste.
The Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
A foolproof and simple recipe resulting in the tastiest, tender, and fall-off-the-bone ribs you've ever eaten!
4.52 from 31 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Author Kori
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Course Pork Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 330 kcal
Ingredients
Ribs
- 2 (2 to 3 pound) racks of baby back ribs (If using a pressure cooker, it is best to only cook 1 rack at a time. For 4 people, you can just half the recipe.)
- 1 cup favorite dry rub (See below to make your own - there will be leftovers. Store in an airtight container.)
- 1 cup favorite barbecue sauce
Dry Rub
- 3 tablespoons oregano
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons parsley
- 3 teaspoons ground thyme
- 3 teaspoons onion powder
- 6 teaspoons garlic salt
- 3 teaspoons ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Baby Back Ribs in Oven
Rinse and dry pork ribs. Spray 2 sheets of aluminum foil with nonstick spray. Lay ribs on foil
Liberally sprinkle both sides of pork with seasoning. Cover ribs in foil and wrap tightly. Lay ribs on baking sheet and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight. The longer you do this the more flavor!
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Remove pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Place rib racks (leave on the cookie sheet) in the oven and bake for 2½ hours or until ribs are knife tender. (Adjust time according to your rack size. Smaller racks will take less time (maybe 2 hours), bigger more time (possibly 3 hours). The key is that the ribs must be very tender. Wrapping them tightly in foil is keeping the moisture in.)
GRILL: Heat grill to medium-high. Remove ribs from oven and brush one side with barbecue sauce. Place that side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Brush second side with BBQ sauce then flip, cooking another 3 to 4 minutes.
OVEN: Preheat oven to broil. Place ribs on a clean baking sheet. Brush BBQ sauce on the ribs. Broil ribs on each side until the sauce is bubbly and the ribs achieve some browning.
Cut into serving size pieces (2 to 3 rib sections) and serve with extra BBQ sauce!
Baby Back Ribs in Pressure Cooker
Rinse and dry 1 rack of pork ribs. Cut pork ribs apart into sections of approximately 2 - 3 ribs each. (Note: only 1 rack will fit into a pressure cooker at a time.)
Sprinkle all sides of the ribs generously with dry rub.
Place a rack on the bottom of your pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water to bottom. Stand rib sections on the rack. Secure lid. Pressure cook on High setting, for 25 minutes. When complete, allow steam to release naturally for 10 to 15 minutes.
GRILL: Heat grill to medium high. Remove ribs from pressure cooker. Brush one side with BBQ sauce. Place sauce side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Brush second side with barbecue sauce then flip, cooking another 3 to 4 minutes.
OVEN: Preheat oven to broil. Place ribs on a clean baking sheet. Brush BBQ sauce on the ribs. Broil ribs on each side until the sauce is bubbly and the ribs achieve some browning.
Video
Notes
Tip #1: If using a pressure cooker, experiment with other liquids (always using 1 cup). Beer is a great choice for example! What you add to the pot infuses itself into the ribs. A few cloves of garlic or herbs is nice. I have even put a few drops of liquid smoke into the water before.
Tip #2: If using an oven, be sure to tightly wrap the ribs in the aluminum foil to retain moisture. If the foil is thin use a double layer. Don't forget to spray the foil with nonstick spray!
Tip #3: Remember, the ribs are already cooked. You are simply finishing off on the grill to give them a nice chargrilled smoky taste, and pretty grill marks and browning.
Nutrition
Serving: 2ribsCalories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 6.7gProtein: 37.5gFat: 17.3gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 342mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 2g
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