Oven Baked Ribs – Grill Finished

This is the only recipe you will ever need for delicious pork ribs that are so tender, they fall off the bone when being cut. These oven baked ribs cook low-and-slow and then finish on the grill, just to give them that delicious, smoky BBQ flavor that we all love!

By husband loves to BBQ…and I mean, he loves it. He is out there year round in his shorts with a beer in hand. Rain, sun or snow, he is at the BBQ every weekend.

While he is out there BBQ-ing I’m inside working on the rest of the meal. We love to serve these with our simple Pear Salad with pomegranates and walnuts and these amazing smashed potatoes.

When I brought home pork ribs earlier this year, he was excited to cook them on the grill. But we knew from experience that baby back pork ribs turn out best when they are precooked on the stove and then finished on the grill. We just could never achieve that fall off the bone rib that we really wanted!

Oven Baked Ribs That Fall Off The Bone

After a year of trial and error, we finally discovered a no-fail technique that always results in amazing ribs. This recipe works for both pork and beef ribs.

Many recipes will have you boil the ribs to precook them before putting them on the BBQ. We found that boiling the ribs melted the fat away and resulted in a drier rib. Once it sits on the BBQ, it dries out even more and you are forced to slather it in BBQ sauce just to salvage it.

Other recipes will have you cook the ribs in the oven and then serve it. This works well, but it tastes like meat that was cooked in the oven. There is no smoky BBQ smell or bits of crunchy meat.

This recipe combines the best of both worlds. Slow cook it in the oven (you don’t even have to check up on it) and then pop it on the BBQ to finish. Depending on the BBQ sauce you choose, you can even add this to your list of paleo recipes!

Watch Us Make It! – Coming Soon

Ingredients You Need

• 3-4 Pounds Pork Baby back ribs – Baby back ribs are the ones everyone is familiar with. There is a lot of meat and not a lot of fat, but they are smaller than other ribs. We have also tried this recipe with beef ribs that are much larger and they turned out beautifully too!
• Rosemary – Rosemary is optional in this dish, but it adds such a delicious flavor! Grilled rosemary is smoky and delicious and gives the ribs an added dimension of flavor. We used fresh rosemary, but dried rosemary would work too. Thyme would also be delicious!
• Garlic Salt – You could also mince fresh garlic, or make a garlic paste and rub it on the ribs. We didn’t do that here because we didn’t want the garlic falling in to the grill and burning.
• Salt & Pepper – Salt generously!

Step By Step Process For Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs

How To Cook Ribs In The Oven

This is going to be easier than you think! The hardest part is having to smell them as they cook for hours!

1. Remove the membrane from the ribs – Sometimes you will find that the butcher will remove the membrane for you. This is a win for sure! If you buy it in a package at the grocery store, chances are that the membrane is still attached. Use a knife to gently pull the membrane away from the pork. Once you get it started, you can use your hands to pull it off.
2. Season the pork generously with Salt, pepper and Rosemary.
3. Place the ribs in a baking dish. You may need to cut the ribs to make them fit. Then cover them tightly with foil. Bake in the oven for 3 hours.
4. Be sure to start warming up your grill before the 3 hours are up. Once done, remove the ribs from the oven and place on the BBQ over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes or just until they are browned.

Important Teaching Tips

1. For tender ribs, the white membrane from the back of the ribs must be removed. The easiest way to do this is use a knife to carefully peel it back. Once you get it started, you can use your hands to pull it off. When making beef ribs, the membrane is really difficult to pull off. I will usually give it a try but end up leaving it on. Here is a great post on how to remove the membrane if you get stuck: Removing The Membrane From Ribs
2. Warm up your grill before the ribs are done in the oven. We use a gas grill and will start warming it up 20-30 minutes before the 3 hours are up. If the ribs have to sit while you heat up the grill, they will dry out. If you forget to preheat your grill before the 3 hours are up, consider putting them under your oven broiler instead. That can be done immediately, and you will still get some crunchy parts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oven Baked Ribs

Here Are More Dinner Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Kalbi – Korean Short Ribs
• Crispy Chicken Wings in the Convection Oven
• Smash Burger Sliders In A Cast Iron Skillet
• Impressive But Easy Roasted Cornish Game Hens
• Kimchi Chicken Sandwich Slider
• Spinach Stuffed Pork Chops – Easy and delicious weeknight dinner

Side Dishes That Pair Well With Ribs

• Accordion Potatoes in the Convection Oven
• Grilled Bread Skewers
• Smashed Potatoes in the Convection Oven
• How to Saute Asparagus so Your Kids Will Actually Eat It!
• Simple Sauteed Pea Shoots