Rubbed the Right Way: The Ultimate Dry Rub Ribs Recipe!
The BEST Dry Rub Ribs Recipe
Stress free, tender and delicious!
I know that everyone says they have the most tender, flavourful and delicious ribs recipe. But I promise that mine really ARE the best ones. These ribs are a family favourite around here. They’re easy, stress-free, and SO DANG GOOD. No really, this is the BEST ribs recipe on the internet today. Make them once and I’m positive you will agree with me!
How Do You Make a BBQ Rub?
I think that when some people hear “dry rub”, they think that means no more delicious saucy ribs. But a dry ribs recipe this is not! You still get your sauce, but the key to the deliciousness of these BBQ ribs is all in the rub. It’s a simple 4-ingredient recipe that I think ALL RIBS must have. This homemade dry rub is generously applied to the top, underside, and sides of the ribs before they are slow-roasted in the oven and finished off on the barbecue. The perfect spice mixture combo and your favourite BBQ sauce means these ribs always come out fall-off-the-bone tender, rich, and flavourful. Perfect.
Short answer: It’s all about the brown sugar spice mix!
And of course, feel free to experiment and change up the recipe slightly too! The ribs on the right are coated in my rib dry rub recipe, and so are the ribs on the left, but those ones have a little additional Montreal Steak Spice sprinkled on them. Feel free to add your own secret ingredients and really make this recipe your own!
How Do I Cook Barbecue Ribs in the Oven?
The way to cook ribs in the oven is very simple: low and slow. Some people also wonder, do you bake ribs covered or uncovered? I put them on a sheet pan meaty side up and cover them tightly with tin foil. Then I bake them on low heat (300 degrees F) for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The ribs slowly steam and roast under the tin foil, resulting in tender and delicious ribs! This cooking style is part of why this is one of the best rib recipes ever.
What is the Secret to Really Good Ribs?
After baking the ribs, there’s a couple more steps to follow. Take them out of the oven, slather the delicious crust in your favourite barbecue sauce, then finish them off on the barbecue. I promise it will be worth this extra step! Using the barbecue at high heat at the end caramelizes the sauce and gives the juicy ribs a nice smoky flavour. Totally worth it!
(I think it’s worth mentioning that this recipe is not just good for a rack of baby backs! You could cook a pork shoulder or pork chops exactly the same way for the same delicious result. Try it next time instead of your usual pulled pork!)
How to Cook Ribs Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks
- Rib rub recipe tip: Double or triple the homemade rib rub recipe and store it in a shaker to use later. I like to use a mason shaker like this one I made here.
- Preparing the ribs: Remove the silver skin (the thick membrane on the backside of the ribs) by grabbing it with a paper towel and pulling it off. (You might need a knife to help you.) If you are getting your meat from a market, ask the butcher to remove it.
- Find ribs that have an even thickness. Some racks will be thick then taper to a very thin end. This will end up in difficult and uneven cooking, so always try to find even-portioned racks for consistent cooking.
- Cover the dry rubbed ribs with aluminum foil while baking. Cover them completely so they steam inside the foil and don’t dry out.
- Wait to sauce your ribs! Slather on the barbecue sauce AFTER you’ve slow-baked the ribs. Putting the sauce on too early will result in the sugars burning and will lead to charring.
- Finish the ribs on the barbecue. Once the ribs have slow-baked, brush them in your favourite BBQ sauce and finish them off on your barbecue at medium to high heat. Grill the ribs just long enough for the barbecue sauce to caramelize and the ribs to get that great smoky flavor.
- If you don’t have a barbecue: Don’t worry! You can finish these ribs in the oven too. Once the ribs have finished slow roasting in the oven for 2 1/2 – 3 hours, remove them from the oven and slather them in your favorite barbecue sauce. Then return to the oven to bake for another 15-20 minutes. You can also broil them for a few minutes to get a nice candied top.
- Invest in a set of good tongs. Trying to flip ribs with a spatula is a surefire way to have full racks fall apart. Tongs work better for this purpose.
Rib Dinner Menu Ideas
No rib dinner is complete without delicious side dishes and salads! Here are some of our favorites.
Apple Beet Slaw // Three Cheese Macaroni // The BEST Ribs // No-Flour Cornbread
Here it is: the BEST Dry Rub Ribs Recipe!
Without further ado, here is the last dry rub ribs recipe you’ll ever need! Follow it exactly for a 5-star rating from your guests and come back and tell me about it in the comments or tag me @aprettylife. Happy cooking everyone!
The BEST Dry Rub Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
Ribs:
- 2 racks of bone ribs back ribs, baby back ribs, pork ribs
Brown Sugar Spice Rub:
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
Brown Sugar Spice Rub:
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, brown sugar, chili powder, and fresh ground pepper.2 tsp salt, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 3 tbsp chili powder, 1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
The Ribs:
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
- Lay the ribs out onto a baking sheet lined with tin foil. If needed, use a piece of paper towel to wipe off any moisture.2 racks of bone ribs
- Rub the brown sugar spice rub mixture all over the top, meaty part of the ribs. I also like to add some to the back of the ribs. Use it all.
- Lay the ribs bones side down on the baking sheet.
- Completely and tightly cover the ribs with another sheet of tin foil.
- Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- Once the ribs have baked, slather them in your favourite barbecue sauce and finish them off on your barbecue at medium to high heat. Barbecue them just long enough for the barbecue sauce to caramelize and the ribs to get that great smoky flavour.
I hope you enjoy this easy recipe. Have a delicious day!
