BBQ Pork Loin Back Ribs Recipe

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BBQ Pork Loin Back Ribs are slow-roasted in the oven to create juicy, fall off the bone meat. This easy recipe is a year-round winner!

BBQ pork loin back ribs on a wooden cutting board and glass jar of BBQ sauce next to them. — BBQ Pork Loin Back Ribs

BBQ ribs may be known as a summertime staple. But great ribs don't need to be just a summertime dinner. Make these tender ribs year round in the oven!

Pork Loin Back Ribs and Baby Back Ribs are the same cut of ribs. The butcher may label them as "pork loin back" or "baby back" ribs.

BBQ loin ribs can be made in many different ways such as the oven, smoker, instant pot or, slow cooker. However, my favorite cooking method and the easiest way to ensure they are juicy and falling off the bone is to use a low temperature in the oven. They always come out perfect.

Another ribs recipe are these BBQ Spare Ribs that are also so tender you can pull the bone right off the meat.

Next time you are looking for a new BBQ sauce give this Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce a try! Also try this simple Smokey and Sweet Dry Rub!

Keep your eye out for my country-style ribs recipe that will be posted soon!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

These are the best ribs. Your friends and family will be begging for the recipe!
The low heat from the oven gives the best results and allows the meat to become super tender and fall right off the bone.
Although they cook for several hours, the actual prep time is only about 15 minutes!
The simple spice rub adds flavor to the meat as it slowly cooks in the oven. Then finish it with your favorite bbq sauce.

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make Pork Loin Ribs in the oven.

The ingredients to make pork loin back ribs.

Pork Loin Back Ribs or Baby Back Ribs are the same cut of ribs so look for either at the grocery store.

Brown Sugar gives a very mildly sweet base to the rub.

Garlic Powder adds a savory seasoning without the bite of fresh garlic.

Onion Powder gives the rub another dimension of flavor.

Smoked Paprika allows the ribs to have a smoky flavor without using liquid smoke.

Salt brings out the flavor of all the spices used.

Black Pepper gives a little bit of a kick without too much spiciness

Cayenne Pepper is optional for some additional heat.

Barbecue Sauce will leave the biggest impact on flavor so using a good BBQ sauce is essential!

How to Make Oven Baked Pork Loin Ribs

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full recipe with ingredient measurements is below!

Preheat the oven. Mix the dry rub in a small bowl. Rinse the ribs in cold water and remove the membrane on the back of the rack of ribs.

Pro Tip: Use a butter knife to lift the silver skin and a paper towel to help grip the slippery skin on the back of the ribs.

The back of a rack of ribs on a cutting board with a hand using a paper towel to remove the membrane and a bowl of dry rub.

Spread the spice mixture over the ribs. Make sure to coat all sides of the ribs.

The back and front of the ribs being covered with the dry rub.

Place ribs in a roasting pan and add water to the bottom of the pan. Tightly cover the pan with aluminum foil and place it into the preheated oven.

A cup adding water to the bottom of a roasting pan with uncooked ribs and tin foil over the pan.

When the meat easily pulls away from the rib bone you know it is super tender.

Two images of a fork pulling the tender meat away from the cooked ribs.

Transfer the ribs to a baking sheet. Brush ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler or on a hot outdoor grill to caramelize the sauce. Add a second coat of bbq sauce if desired.

The finished ribs should be fork tender and coated with delicious BBQ sauce.

Fall off the bone ribs on a wood cutting board with a spoon of BBQ sauce next to them.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Learn How to Tell if Ribs are Done in this article that goes in-depth about how the ribs should look and feel.
Try slow cooking the pork loin back ribs in the oven the day before a party. Then, reheat them right before you need to serve them.
Ribs have a lot of connective tissue. Keeping the oven temperature low breaks that down over time leaving you with delicious succulent ribs.
Use a butter knife to lift part of the membrane and take a paper towel to help grip the slippery skin on the back of the ribs.
I do not recommend cooking ribs in the air fryer. There is no way to lock in the moisture of the ribs and therefore they will be too dry before they can become "bone tender."

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Store baked pork loin back ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheating: Reheat ribs covered in the microwave or cover them in the oven to prevent them from drying out.
Thawing: Thaw frozen ribs in the refrigerator or the in microwave on the defrost setting.
Freezing: Wrap the cooked and cooled ribs tightly in plastic wrap and then add them to a freezer bag.

Additions and Substitutions

Follow this recipe with St. Louis-style ribs, pork spare ribs, or even country-style pork ribs.
If you have a large roasting pan you can do two racks of ribs. However, make sure they lay in a single layer on the pan.
Make these into boneless ribs, by cooking them until tender and easily slipping the bone ribs away from the meat. Boneless pork ribs are great for kids or they can be used on pulled pork sandwiches.

What To Serve With Ribs

Frequently Asked Questions

How to cook pork loin ribs?

Pork loin ribs can be cooked in the oven, on the grill, in a smoker, in a slow cooker, or in a pressure cooker such as an Instant Pot.

What is the best way to cook pork loin back ribs?

Although ribs can be cooked using many methods, the easiest way to make fall off the bone ribs is in the oven. Remove the membrane, add your rub, cover the roasting pan with foil and cook at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours.

How long do pork ribs cook in the oven?

The time will vary based on the temperature. However, at 250 degrees Fahrenheit pork ribs should be finished cooking in about 4 hours. Keep them tightly covered during the process to make sure they say juicy!

📖 Recipe

Rack of pork loin back ribs on a wooden cutting board with a spoon of bbq sauce next to them.

Pork Loin Back Ribs are slow-roasted in the oven to create juicy, fall off the bone meat. This easy recipe is a year-round winner!

4.89 from 9 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 4

Total Time: 4 15

Servings: rack of ribs

Author: Jen Talley

Cost: $18

Equipment

1 roasting pan

Ingredients

1 rack pork loin ribs or baby back ribs
¼ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ cup BBQ sauce
1½ cups water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 250° Fahrenheit. Mix the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl to create the dry rub.
Rinse the ribs in cold water and dry them with paper towels.
Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs if the butcher hasn't already done so.
Pat the dry rub onto the front and back of the ribs.
Set the ribs in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan until it covers the bottom of the pan about ¼ inch deep.
Tightly cover the roasting pan with foil to seal in the moisture while it cooks.
Put it in the 250° F oven for 4 hours. Carefully remove the pan and lift a corner of the foil (be careful of the steam). Insert a fork into the meat and twist it. If the meat pulls away very easily then it is done. If it feels a little tough cover it back up with the foil and put it back in the oven checking every 30-45 minutes for tenderness.
Keep the ribs covered in the pan until you are ready to add the BBQ sauce so they so they stay moist.
Brush on the BBQ sauce and caramelize the sauce under the broiler in the oven or on the grill (see further instructions).
Under Broiler: Move one of the oven racks about 6 inches below the heating element in your oven. Turn the broiler on your oven on low (if you have the option). Put the ribs on tin foil on an aluminum pan. Brush them with BBQ sauce. Put them in the oven and watch very carefully. The sauce will heat very quickly. It may only take 1-2 minutes. Sometimes even faster.
On Grill: Heat the grill on high. As soon as the grill has gotten hot carefully use tongs to set the ribs on the hot grill. Watch them carefully. It should only take 1-2 minutes to heat the sauce.

Notes

Tips:

Cook the pork loin back ribs in the oven the day before a party. Then, reheat them right before you need to serve them.
Use a butter knife to lift part of the membrane and take a paper towel to help grip the slippery skin on the back of the ribs.

Storage:

Storage: Store baked pork loin back ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheating: Reheat ribs covered in the microwave or cover them in the oven to prevent them from drying out.
Thawing: Thaw frozen ribs in the refrigerator or the in microwave on the defrost setting.
Freezing: Wrap the cooked and cooled ribs tightly in plastic wrap and then add them to a freezer bag.