The easiest oven-baked beef ribs recipe you’ll ever find. All you need is two ingredients, one hour, and a whole lot of napkins.
Looking for more summer favorites? Try my Tri-tip in the Oven, S’mores Cupcakes, and Slowcooker BBQ Tri-tip Sandwiches.
Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you had a productive and fruitful week and have some awesome and/or awesomely relaxing weekend plans!
Wednesday, for Nerd Month (more on Nerd Month here), we paid homage to a scene from Happy Endings, one of my favorite television comedies, by making Strawberry Mimosas so that we might all speak better Italian.
In that scene, we learn that while Penny speaks fluent Italian when drunk, Alex just eats ribs.
So today we are going to follow up Wednesday’s recipe with with that classic brunch mimosa pairing: oven-baked ribs.
Just go with it.
Before we start, I’m just going to stop and say, BBQ devotees, turn away now. This recipe is going to make you so angry.
People who just really want some ribs without spending three hours slow roasting them or manning a grill, come this way.
There’s a category of recipes I call “good enough” recipes. It’s not something I write about often or see highlighted in the cooking community, because “good enough” isn’t exactly a compelling selling point, but I think they are valuable recipes for home cooks. They’re solid, tasty, uncomplicated, and easy. This is one of those.
I love beef ribs, but for the longest time, I didn’t make them because the process to get “fall-off-the-bone tender” meat was too much for me. Then one day in college, I really wanted some ribs, and I made these. And they were great.
The meat wasn’t falling off the bone like you’d get with perfectly cooked Short Ribs, but it had a beautifully baked coat of my favorite BBQ sauce on it and was exactly what I had been craving. My friends and I enjoyed the hell out of those ribs, and I’ve been making this recipe ever since.
These Oven-baked Beef Ribs are one of the easiest dinners you’ll find, and honestly, one of my lazy afternoon summer faves, especially served alongside Mashed Potatoes or a Small Macaroni Salad.
This is what you need: cheap beef back ribs and your favorite BBQ sauce.
This is what you do: Stick the beef ribs in the oven. Wait. Put some BBQ sauce on there. Wait a little longer. Eat.
It doesn’t get any simpler than that. The worst part is cutting the ribs apart if you buy a rack and waiting while they cool before you start devouring them. I have the burns on my fingers to prove it…
Are you a BBQ fan? Do you have any “good enough” recipes you love? Tell me about them!
No-Fuss Easy Oven-Baked Beef Ribs
Ingredients
- Rack of beef back ribs
- Your favorite barbeque sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Cut ribs apart and lay them fat-side down on the sheet, not touching.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Brush generously with barbecue sauce.
- Bake for 15 more minutes.*
- Apply another coat of barbecue sauce if desired.
- Eat and enjoy.
Notes
Derek @ Dad With A Pan says
Love a good rib recipe, I’ll have to try this one out when I’m short on time, and need a quick recipe!
Tracy says
Thanks, Derek! If you do, let me know how it works out for you. 🙂
Jackie says
They turned out chew .. should I cook them longer or did I cook them to long ?
Tracy says
Hi Jackie, unless the meat looked raw, it probably wasn’t under cooked. Beef rib meat is always going to be a bit chewy unless you do a long slow cooking time. If you want really tender ribs, you’ll need to give them a couple of hours to cook. If you google “tender beef ribs,” that should give you what you’re looking for. Hope that helps!
Jerry Rickels says
I like to season my ribs kinda like a roast and slow cooked at 275 for 3 hours. Take the ribs out and place them on a rimmed baking sheet and put BBQ sauce on and put them in the oven uncovered turning the heat to 350 till they glaze over. Sometimes basting again. Check carefully so they didn’t dry out.
Tara says
Absolutely gorgeous ribs! That bbq glaze looks amazing.
Tracy says
Thanks, Tara!
Debi at Life Currents says
Like you, I believe there’s a time and a place for everything. There’s a time to take all day or even longer to make fall off the bones tender ribs. But, honestly that isn’t very often. The lives everyone leads are too busy now. But, “good enough” recipes are often perfect! Thanks for sharing this!
Tracy says
Exactly! Someday I will learn patience and master a slow cooked rib recipe, because they are also delicious, but today is not that day. 😉
james canto says
Boiled some fat off with spices in water. Baking slow 300 for about 2 hrs bathed in fav sauce and chopped onions all wrapped loosely in foil in metal baking pan. I think it will be good!
Tracy says
Sounds DELICIOUS!!
Silvia says
It looks amazing.
Tracy says
Thanks, Silvia!
Bintu | Recipes from a Pantry says
Yaaaaaaas. I’m all about delicious but easy recipes. Plus I’m craving ribs after going to a bbq joint for Mother’s Day. Yum!
Tracy says
Right!? I find that whenever I have BBQ, it makes me want to have more of it ASAP. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
nicaam says
Thanks for the quick rib recipe…hungry kids and a late day at work. Really appreciate this
Tracy says
Happy to help! Hope they enjoyed it!
Mike says
Whats fat side down is that bone up or down
Tracy says
Bone down.
Linda says
My question! Cooking them right now. The only thing, i added a lil bbq before the 45 min. Didn’t read that part til after. Hopefully they come out good.
Bonnie says
Didn’t have a lot of time for dinner prep. This looks easy enough, just hope the hubby enjoys. Will let ya know. Thank you for easy recipe.
Tracy says
Hope you guys enjoy them!
Roger says
Tracy –
Phew! It took awhile to find you 😉 I had to fend my way through countless recipes telling me how many hours I needed, and then there was the marinating, the brazing and the …
I’m a guy. And I don’t cook all that much — but, to quote The Most Interesting Man In The World*, “when I do, it’s gotta be easy.”
The ribs are baking … and I look forward to an hour from now 😉
Thanks!!!
*stay hungry my friends
Tracy says
Hehe, thanks, Roger! I hope you enjoyed them!!
Rob Irwin says
Thanks -google found about 50 recipes that were telling me about slow cooking. This one actually answers the question 🙂
Tracy says
Glad you found it useful, Rob!
Pamela says
Thanks Tracy, I was to looking for a quick beef rib recipe for the 4th (just my mom and me). I will let you know how they turn out.
Tracy says
Thanks for dropping by, Pamela! Hope you and your mom enjoyed them!
Erin says
Can you use pork ribs?
Tracy says
Hi, Erin, you can, but the cooking time will probably be different. I’d go with a recipe specifically for pork ribs so the timing’s right.
lillian says
Do I cover the ribs with foil when I put them I oven?
Tracy says
Nope, you can just put them right on the baking tray.
Christopher M Nowak says
Parboil the ribs on low, overnight in a crockpot, or on high on the stove for 20 mins. Save the liquid for cooking rice in, like bouillon or chicken brother…. or make your own BBQ sauce. Save the fat from the ribs to fry up onion & garlic for sauce.
Then finish up meat in the oven or grill. Less chew depending on how long you cook it for. A little more work.
Great recipe =)
Shandee says
Would this recipe work on county stlye pork ribs?
Tracy says
I haven’t tried this with pork ribs, so I’m not sure how they would turn out with these cooking times. Sorry!
Teri Decker says
I think they’d be burnt! Pork ribs don’t take as long to quick cook as beef does
Charlotte Winters says
Got any other ideas for something this easy? I loved the ribs. I needed to get dinner on the table and 1 hour all together is much better than 3. Thanks so much.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed them! If you’re looking for more easy ideas, you might like this Salsa Chicken recipe (it’s written for two, but doubles or triples easily) https://bakingmischief.com/2017/03/13/easy-salsa-chicken/ or these Tri-tip Sandwiches https://bakingmischief.com/2017/06/27/slow-cooker-tri-tip-sandwiches/ . Both recipes have just a couple ingredients, are super easy to throw together, and are really tasty!
MAH says
Hi – your recipe made me think I could do this on my 22″ Weber charcoal grill for a small 2# of short ribs. I did it at half-vent open heat using indirect cooking (coals on the sides with drip pan below the ribs) and they came out great after an hour. Thanks again!
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Sydney says
My first time making ribs and I have to say these are the best ribs I’ve ever had so thank you for the recipe 🙂
Tracy says
Yay! I’m so happy you enjoyed them, Sydney!!
Kim says
Hi
After I line the bottom of the pan with foil and put ribs on it do I cover with foil or just put them in the oven without it?
Tracy says
Hi, Kim, no need to cover. Just line the pan (so cleanup is easier) and bake the ribs on top.
Holly Bebout says
Hello Tracy! Girl you saved me with this quicker rib recipe! I have a hungry teenager but we didn’t want pizza! Lol.
Thanks again!
Holly
Tracy says
LOL, happy to help! 😉
Devin says
Great recipe. Love the flavor and simplicity. They dont need any fancy additions or cooking methods. Next time, I won’t cook them as long. I’d say for people like me who like their meat juicy, cook it 30 minutes then 10-15 more with sauce. Thanks for making dinner a breeze!
Tracy says
Thanks, Devin! Glad they worked out for you!
Julie says
Are you saying to cut all of the ribs before cooking?
Tracy says
Yes. They’ll cook much faster cut apart.
Lisa says
This will make a great foil packet meal for camping! I just sprayed the foil with cooking spray, though truthfully, I don’t think it even needed that thanks to the bbq sauce. Thanks for showing me a way to make really good food on a campout.
Tracy says
Ooo, love that idea!
Julie says
Tried this and honestly I never cook them any other way now. My boys devour them every time with zero leftovers. Thanks for sharing.
D says
There’s high score “good enough” and low score “good enough”., these are definitely at the high scoring end.I made these last night for dinner, and they were great. I didn’t have BBQ sauce on hand so I just used a seasoning mix and I used pork ribs rather than beef. (For those who were wondering, I left the pork ribs in for about 50 minutes total and an instant read thermometer put the temp. at between 170-175 depending on the size of the rib. This was well above the safe zone for pork.)
These were delicious and exactly what I was looking for. can’t wait to try them with sauce. This recipe is going into my permanent collection. Thanks for posting this Tracy
LD says
Great recipe. I agree, 30 min. is good enough. Then add the BBQ sauce + 10-15min. I also baked Fat side up by accident. I think this is better as the fat drains over the meat and keeps it moist and tender! Came out great! ps. Helps to pre-season meat too.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed them!!