Best 8 Best Back Ribs Recipes

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Fall-off-the-bone tender and bursting with flavor, back ribs are a true barbecue classic. Whether you prefer a sweet and sticky glaze, a smoky dry rub, or something in between, there's a recipe here to satisfy your cravings.

From classic oven-baked ribs to slow-cooked ribs in the crock pot, these recipes offer a variety of cooking methods to suit your preferences and schedule. And with a range of flavor profiles, from bold and spicy to sweet and tangy, there's sure to be a recipe that hits the spot.

So fire up the grill, preheat the oven, or plug in the slow cooker, and get ready to indulge in some of the best back ribs you've ever tasted.

**Classic Oven-Baked Ribs:** These ribs are coated in a simple dry rub and roasted in the oven until fall-off-the-bone tender. The result is a classic barbecue flavor that's sure to please everyone.

**Slow-Cooker Ribs:** If you're looking for an easy and hands-off approach, these slow-cooker ribs are the way to go. Simply combine the ribs, sauce, and spices in the slow cooker and let it do the rest of the work.

**BBQ Ribs:** These ribs are slathered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection. The result is a finger-licking good rib that's perfect for a backyard cookout.

**Dry Rub Ribs:** If you prefer a more savory rib, try this dry rub recipe. The ribs are coated in a mixture of spices and herbs and then roasted in the oven. The result is a rib with a crispy exterior and a tender, flavorful interior.

**Honey Garlic Ribs:** These ribs are coated in a sticky glaze made with honey, garlic, and soy sauce. The result is a rib that's sweet, savory, and irresistible.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

THE BEST BABY BACK RIBS



The Best Baby Back Ribs image

I first marinate each rack of ribs, then add a zesty rub before grilling them. They always turn out moist and flavorful. -Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 racks baby back ribs (about 4-1/2 pounds)
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup sugar, divided
6 tablespoons cider vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash cayenne pepper
Barbecue sauce, optional

Steps:

  • If necessary, remove thin membrane from ribs and discard. Combine broth, soy sauce, 1/2 cup sugar, vinegar, olive oil and garlic. Place ribs in a shallow baking dish; pour two-thirds of the marinade over ribs. Turn to coat; refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade., Drain ribs, discarding marinade. Combine remaining sugar, salt and seasonings; rub over both sides of ribs., Grill ribs, covered, on an oiled rack over indirect medium heat for 30 minutes on each side., Baste with reserved marinade, or, if desired, barbecue sauce. Move ribs to direct medium heat and cook until pork is tender, turning and basting occasionally, 20-40 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 647 calories, Fat 41g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 123mg cholesterol, Sodium 2345mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (29g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 37g protein.

THE BEST BABY BACK RIBS



THE BEST BABY BACK RIBS image

Categories     Pork     Backyard BBQ

Yield 2 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 rack of pork baby back ribs.
Dry rub (you can use whatever spices you like, but
definitely don't leave out the brown sugar)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 tablespoon or less of cayenne pepper (unless you
like it HOT)
1-2 tablespoons chili powder
mix it all up.

Steps:

  • Prep the ribs: ( I often do this the day before) On the back of the ribs will be a very thin but very tough membrane that you must remove. You can't really see it well, but trust me that it's there. I usually use a knife to pry up a corner of the membrane, then I just pull it down the entire length of the ribs. Sometimes it tears and you have to try a few times, but you definitely don't want to skip this step unless you want to deal with the membrane while you're EATING. Once the membrane is removed, put the dry rub all over the ribs (both sides) and rub it in. The meat will take on some of the colors in the dry rub and look a little reddish. Wrap the ribs in some heavy duty tin foil and let them hang out in the fridge til you're ready to cook them. Cook the ribs: At 250 degrees, place the ribs wrapped securely in tin foil onto a cookie sheet (sometimes juice/fat can escape the tin foil) and place them in the oven. cook for 2 hours. After 2 hours, pull them out and open the tin foil to take a look. At this point you can add a little apple juice on top of them, but that's not really necessary. Re-wrap them, and put them back in for another 1/2 hour. Pull them out again and open the tin foil completely. At this point you can brush some BBQ sauce on them, or leave them the way they are. Crank up the heat to 350 and put the ribs back in the oven with the tin foil open. After half an hour, they're done! You can always do this last part on a BBQ, but watch the ribs and make sure they don't burn from the sugar.

THE BEST BABY BACK RIBS



The Best Baby Back Ribs image

This is the very best recipe for ribs that I have ever had. The sauce is a very wonderful compliment to these tender, fall off the bone ribs. Everyone that has them wants the recipe. Don't let all the ingredients fool you. It is very easy to make. These are sure to be a big hit!

Provided by Kitty 2

Categories     Pork

Time 3h30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 lbs pork baby back ribs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup ketchup
1 cup chili sauce (I use an oriental style Sweet Chili Sauce by the brand Maggi but Heinz or similar chili sauce will d)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 tablespoon molasses

Steps:

  • Place ribs bone side down in a large roasting pan on a rack (if you have one, you don't have to use rack)
  • Combine garlic powder, seasoning salt, and pepper. Sprinkle over the ribs. Top with sliced onions. Cover tightly and bake at 350 for 2 1/2 hours.
  • In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and this is your sauce.
  • Remove ribs from pan, remove onions and discard, and drain fat. Put ribs back in pan and brush ribs liberally with sauce. Cover and bake 25 minutes longer. Uncover and cook 5 more minutes. Serve with remaining sauce.
  • You can reduce the amount of ribs if you are cooking for a smaller group. I usually use 2 racks to serve 4.

BEST BABY BACK RIBS IN TOWN



Best Baby Back Ribs in Town image

When Damon's Restaurant left our area, I had to re-create their delectable, sweet, hickory-flavored ribs because we all loved them so much. These tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth ribs live up to their name and are my family's #1 favorite. Although this recipe takes a while to prepare, the steps are easy, and the results are well-worth the trouble. The sauce recipe came from my cookbook, "True Southern Family Recipes". It can be prepared ahead and refrigerated indefinitely.

Provided by BeachGirl

Categories     Sauces

Time 2h30m

Yield 2 9x13 casserole full of ribs, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 lbs baby back ribs (pork)
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup ketchup
6 tablespoons vinegar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons liquid smoke
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt) or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Make one recipe of Rib Sauce (above) and set aside.
  • Pre-cook ribs by EITHER Baking (preferred method) OR Parboiling.
  • MAKE-AHEAD TIP: After pre-cooking (baking or parboiling) ribs, they may be vacuum sealed and frozen for up to 3 months OR glazed with Rib Sauce and refrigerated or given their final baking immediately.
  • ** BAKING RIBS (preferred method): Cut rack of ribs in half. Place 1 1/2 pounds ribs in each of two 9x13-inch casserole dishes.
  • Add 1/4 cup vinegar to each casserole. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Drain all liquid.
  • ** PAR-BOILING RIBS: Cut rack of ribs in half. Fill large pot with water; heat to boiling. Add all ribs to boiling water (should be enough to just cover top of ribs).
  • Simmer ribs about 45 minutes until just tender but meat is not falling off the bones. Remove ribs from boiling water. Rinse and drain.
  • **** RIBS (Final Baking): Cut ribs in sections. In two 9x13-inch glass casserole, place ribs in SINGLE layer in casserole.
  • Pour about 1/3 of Rib Sauce over one dish of ribs to glaze them.
  • Repeat with second half of ribs, using another 1/3 of sauce or enough of the remaining sauce to glaze all the ribs.
  • MAKE-AHEAD TIP: At this point you can cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.
  • If frozen, thaw before baking.
  • Place UNCOVERED ribs in preheated 350 degree oven.
  • Bake for 45-60 minutes until most of sauce has been absorbed by the ribs and meat is "melt-in-your-mouth" tender.
  • If you have any remaining sauce, serve it with the ribs, along with plenty of napkins.
  • These are finger-licking good and messy to eat-- but is there any other way to eat ribs?.
  • *** RIB SAUCE: Mix cornstarch and water together to make a slurry Set aside.
  • Mix remaining dry ingredients together.
  • Place in saucepan.
  • Mix remaining wet ingredients together.
  • Pour half of wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring to mix well.
  • Add remaining half of wet ingredients, stir to mix well, and simmer mixture, uncovered, for about 10-20 minutes to thicken sauce a bit.
  • While mixture is gently boiling, pour in slurry while stirring.
  • Return mixture to a slow boil and cook until sauce thickens a little.
  • Sauce should be thick enough to cling to ribs, yet pourable.
  • Cool sauce and store in air-tight glass or plastic container.
  • Refrigerated it keeps indefinitely.

BEST CHINESE BABY BACK RIBS



Best Chinese Baby Back Ribs image

From the Great RIBS Book by Hugh Carpenter and Teri Sandison (outstanding little book). I used a 4 pound pork sparerib slab for this recipe and their oven/roasting method and it turned out fabulous. According to the book, you need to remove the membrane on the bony side, if you don't the ribs will be tough.

Provided by Pi-E8216

Categories     Pork

Time 9h30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup plum sauce
1/3 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry sherry or 2 tablespoons chinese rice wine
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon Asian chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
10 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 cup ginger, finely minced
1/4 cup green onion, finely minced green and white parts

Steps:

  • To make the sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients and stir well. Makes 3 cups.
  • Remove the membrane from the underside of 2 sides pork baby back ribs or your favorite type of ribs (I used a 4 pound pork sparerib slab, which came out great). To remove the membrane, place ribs, meaty side down, on a flat surface. Using your fingernail, loosen a little of the membrane along the end of the last rib bone. Then, grasp the membrane firmly with a paper towel (so it won't slip from your grip). Holding the ribs down with the other hand, pull the membrane away. If it doesn't pull away in one piece, dislodge any remaining membrane, grip it with a paper towel, and pull the membrane away.
  • Place the ribs in a rectangular dish or baking pan.
  • Coat the ribs evenly on both sides with the marinade (reserve some for basting later on, I only used half of the sauce for the marinade). Marinate the ribs, refrigerated, for at least 15 minutes. For more flavor, marinate for up to 8 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Use a heavy baking sheet with shallow sides when oven roasting ribs. Line the baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil and position a wire rack on top. Spray the wire rack liberally on both side with vegetable oil cooking spray (it will make clean up so much easier even if its a nonstick).
  • Place a small pan (such as a bread tin or small Pyrex dish) filled with 2 inches of hot tap water in the bottom of the oven, to keep the ribs from drying out as they roast.
  • Lay the ribs on the wire rack, meaty side up. Slide the pan holding the wire rack onto the center oven rack.
  • To prevent ribs from steaming, cook only one baking pan of ribs per oven.
  • Always roast the ribs meaty side up, and never turn the ribs over. Otherwise, the sauce glazing the meaty side of the ribs will be dislodged. Baste the meaty side of the ribs with reserved marinade 1 or 2 times during roasting, if desired.
  • Cook the ribs until the meat begins to shrink away from the ends of the bones, about 75 to 90 minutes.
  • Remove the ribs for the oven. Wait five minutes before cutting each rib into 2 pieces, in half, or into individual ribs.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST BABY BACK RIBS



The Absolute Best Baby Back Ribs image

Three years of trial and error have led up to this recipe. No one has ever tasted these ribs and not commented how great they are. Since the steaming makes the ribs so tender, the meat will fall off the bone so easily you can eat them with a fork and a knife if you wanted to but I always found them perfect as a casual finger food, great for backyard parties.

Provided by Elisciar

Categories     Pork

Time P3DT1h45m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/2 cups loosely pack dark brown sugar
1 cup light soy sauce
3/4 can 7-Up soda
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
5 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup white wine
1 chili pepper, crushed (optional)
1 cup lea & perrins barbecue sauce
3 lbs pork baby back ribs

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients except ribs and BBQ Sauce.
  • Cut rib racks into 3 or 4 rib segments.
  • Store ribs in marinade in refridgerator for 3 days.
  • Drain and discard marinade.
  • Place ribs in a steamer basket in a large covered pot with approx 1 in of water.
  • Bring pot to a boil then lower to simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Remove ribs from pot and coat with BBQ Sauce.
  • (The water left over in the pot makes a great stock for soups.) Place coated ribs on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam.
  • Bake at 300 for 15 mins.

BEST FALL OFF THE BONE BABY BACK RIBS



BEST FALL OFF THE BONE BABY BACK RIBS image

Categories     Pork     Bake     Fourth of July     Super Bowl     Low Carb     Quick & Easy     Backyard BBQ     Tailgating

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

Dry Rub
1/4 cup Hungarian paprika
2 Tablespoons kosher Salt
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
1 Tablespoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
6 cloves garlic minced
3 whole pork back ribs Washed and dried with paper towel.
SAUCE
1 1/2 cup ketchup
3 Cloves garlic minced
1 whole small onion minced
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon smoked hickory flavor
3 Tablespoons mustard, yellow
1 whole lemon, (optional)

Steps:

  • Mix spices together and apply rub thoroughly over the three racks of ribs on individual large sheets of aluminum foil. Rub both sides of each rack and then tightly seal each rack within the foil. Put on a cookie sheet or two and bake in a preheated 225 degree over for 4 to 5 hours depending how fall of the bone you would like your ribs. When done cooking carefully drain the liquid from the ribs and if you are going to use the sauce you will want ot put them back in oven under a preheated broiler, with foil open for about ten minutes to dry the outside a little. This last procedure can also be done on an open barbeque without using foil. Carefully move ribs, as they will be very tender. SAUCE Put olive oil in heated saucepan add onions and saute over medium heat until soft, but do not brown. Add garlic and stir for 2 to 3 minutes more. Add rest of ingredients and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Taste and add lemon juice or more sugar to suit your taste if needed. If you are using the sauce, then you remove the ribs from the oven and glaze the top of the ribs with the sauce. Warm uncovered on grill or under broiler for 15 to 20 minutes.

BEST BABY BACK RIBS IN TOWN RECIPE



Best Baby Back Ribs in Town Recipe image

Provided by á-164749

Number Of Ingredients 12

SAUCE
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup ketchup
6 tablespoons vinegar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons liquid smoke
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • · Make one recipe of Rib Sauce (above) and set aside. · Pre-cook ribs by EITHER Baking (preferred method) OR Parboiling. · MAKE-AHEAD TIP: After pre-cooking (baking or parboiling) ribs, they may be vacuum sealed and frozen for up to 3 months OR glazed with Rib Sauce and refrigerated or given their final baking immediately. · ** BAKING RIBS (preferred method): Cut rack of ribs in half. Place 1 1/2 pounds ribs in each of two 9x13-inch casserole dishes. · Add 1/4 cup vinegar to each casserole. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Drain all liquid. · ** PAR-BOILING RIBS: Cut rack of ribs in half. Fill large pot with water; heat to boiling. Add all ribs to boiling water (should be enough to just cover top of ribs). · Simmer ribs about 45 minutes until just tender but meat is not falling off the bones. Remove ribs from boiling water. Rinse and drain · **** RIBS (Final Baking): Cut ribs in sections. In two 9x13-inch glass casserole, place ribs in SINGLE layer in casserole · Pour about 1/3 of Rib Sauce over one dish of ribs to glaze them. · Repeat with second half of ribs, using another 1/3 of sauce or enough of the remaining sauce to glaze all the ribs. · MAKE-AHEAD TIP: At this point you can cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. · If frozen, thaw before baking. · Place UNCOVERED ribs in preheated 350 degree oven. · Bake for 45-60 minutes until most of sauce has been absorbed by the ribs and meat is "melt-in-your-mouth" tender. · If you have any remaining sauce, serve it with the ribs, along with plenty of napkins. · These are finger-licking good and messy to eat-- but is there any other way to eat ribs?. · *** RIB SAUCE: Mix cornstarch and water together to make a slurry Set aside. · Mix remaining dry ingredients together. · Place in saucepan. · Mix remaining wet ingredients together. · Pour half of wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring to mix well. · Add remaining half of wet ingredients, stir to mix well, and simmer mixture, uncovered, for about 10-20 minutes to thicken sauce a bit. · While mixture is gently boiling, pour in slurry while stirring. · Return mixture to a slow boil and cook until sauce thickens a little. · Sauce should be thick enough to cling to ribs, yet pourable. · Cool sauce and store in air-tight glass or plastic container. · Refrigerated it keeps indefinitely.

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality pork back ribs for the best flavor and texture.
  • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs to ensure tender and flavorful meat.
  • Use a flavorful rub to enhance the ribs' taste. Experiment with different combinations of spices and herbs to find your favorite blend.
  • Cook the ribs slowly and low to allow the meat to tenderize and absorb the flavors of the rub.
  • Baste the ribs with a sauce or marinade during cooking to keep them moist and flavorful.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure the ribs are cooked to your desired doneness. The internal temperature should reach at least 145°F (63°C) for medium-rare, 155°F (68°C) for medium, or 165°F (74°C) for well-done.
  • Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

Conclusion:

By following the tips and recipes provided in this article, you can create delicious and fall-off-the-bone back ribs that will be a hit at any gathering. Remember to choose high-quality ingredients, use a flavorful rub, cook the ribs slowly and low, and baste them regularly with a sauce or marinade. With a little practice, you'll be able to make perfect back ribs every time.

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