Beef Back Ribs In The Oven

These beef back ribs are tender, juicy, and loaded with flavor. This recipe combines beef ribs with BBQ sauce and the perfect dry rub to make the best BBQ beef ribs you've ever had! 

The Best Beef Back Ribs

If you love ribs, just wait until you try these beef back ribs!

The flavor is out of this world good from the combination of the homemade dry rub and BBQ sauce of your choice. Put the seasoned beef back ribs in the oven, and they get baked until the meat is fall off the bone tender and incredibly juicy.

They're just delicious, and I promise BBQ ribs have never tasted this good! Especially if you serve the beef back ribs with corn casserole with cream cheese, these crispy pan fried potatoes, or these honey butter brussel sprouts. 

Why This Recipe Works

Quick and easy. You can have the beef ribs ready to bake in about 5 minutes, and the entire process is effortless and fool-proof!

A winning combination. From the flavorful spice rub to the caramelized BBQ sauce and tender meat, there's so much to love about these ribs.

Family favorite. We make these beef ribs pretty frequently at Duff family get-togethers, and both the adults and kids love them!

Year-round meal. Since you cook these beef ribs in the oven, you don't have to wait for barbeque season to enjoy them.

Ingredients

The ingredients you need to make this beef back ribs recipe are really basic, and you probably have most of them on hand already.

Check out everything you'll need:

• 2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 4 pounds beef back ribs
• ½ cup barbecue sauce

By the way, if you're looking for other ways to make perfectly cooked BBQ ribs, check out these BBQ fried ribs, this St. Louis ribs in the oven recipe, sous vide ribs, or these oven baked beef ribs made with a spicier dry rub.

How To Make Beef Back Ribs

1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Make the dry rub: Take a small bowl and mix all of the dry rub ingredients together, then sprinkle them evenly on both sides of the ribs.

3. Bake the ribs: Place the seasoned ribs on the foil-lined baking sheet, bone side up. Cover the ribs with another sheet of aluminum foil and wrap the edges of the foil sheets tightly around the ribs. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the ribs bone-side up for 4 hours.

4. Add the BBQ sauce: Remove the ribs from the oven and discard the aluminum foil. Drain the fat from the ribs, then return them to a baking sheet with the bone side facing down. Brush the surface of the ribs generously with BBQ sauce.

5. Broil the ribs and serve: Set the oven to high broil and broil the ribs for 3-5 minutes or until they're crispy and caramelized. Remove them from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Swap beef ribs for pork ribs for a leaner option and a more mild flavor that really shows off the flavor of the rub.
• Add more ingredients to the BBQ sauce, like apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, honey, or hot sauce, for more flavor.
• Make smoked beef back ribs by adding 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke to the BBQ sauce.
• Don't overlap the ribs on the baking sheet so they cook evenly on all sides.
• Serve the ribs with more BBQ sauce for even more flavor.

How To Store Beef Back Ribs

In the fridge: Wrap leftover BBQ beef ribs in foil and keep in a Ziploc bag or transfer them to an airtight container and store in the fridge for about 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the ribs to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. 

Reheating: Brush leftover beef back ribs with a touch of BBQ sauce. Place the ribs on a baking sheet and warm them in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until they're fully reheated. Allow the frozen ribs to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

FAQS About This Beef Back Ribs Recipe

What are beef back ribs?

Beef back ribs come from the back of the cow behind the shoulder. It's the same area where the prime rib roast and ribeye steaks are cut.

Are beef back ribs the same as short ribs?

Beef back ribs are cut from the upper back of the cow by the shoulder. Beef short ribs are cut from the lower portion of the rib cafe near the front of the cow. So no, back ribs are not the same as short ribs.

Are beef back ribs good?

Yes, they're incredibly juicy and fall off the bone when cooked right. 

Should I marinate ribs before cooking them?

You do not have to marinate ribs before cooking them, but you can let them soak in BBQ sauce to enhance the flavors. 

Which of the cooking methods is best for back ribs?

The best cooking method is to bake beef back ribs in the oven. The low temperature and long cooking time make for the most tender and moist ribs. 

Do beef ribs get more tender the longer they cook?

Yes, beef ribs get more tender over a longer cooking time. However, you need to cook them at a low temperature and do not want to cook them for too long. 

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