BBQ Back Ribs

These juicy, BBQ-glazed baby back ribs with a garlic-cinnamon spice rub just scream 4th of July! They’re baked and finished off on the grill for a tender, fall-off-the-bone bite.

Why You’ll Love This Baby Back Ribs Recipe

This pork baby back ribs recipe with sweet BBQ sauce and a homemade spice rub will be your new go-to for summer cookouts.

• Great for cookouts. It’s not really a BBQ without tender ribs, is it? Everyone loves them and they’re easy to make.
• Convenient. Store-bought BBQ sauce helps you save lots of time once the ribs hit the grill.
• Perfect for summer. Saucy baby back ribs are a go-to for any summer menu.
• Sweet and savory. Sweet onions and BBQ sauce balance out the garlic, chili powder, and cinnamon spice rub in the recipe.

What You’ll Need

The earthy, spicy, and garlicky spice rubs helps infuse lots of flavor into the ribs while they’re in the oven. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

• Baby back ribs – I prefer pork loin ones.
• BBQ – Use your favorite.
• Sweet onion – Go for shallots or yellow onion if you prefer.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic and garlic paste are best.

For the Spice Rub

• Garlic powder – Feel free to use granulated garlic or onion powder instead.
• Paprika – Smoked paprika adds lots of depth.
• Chili powder – Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes are good swaps.
• Cinnamon – You can use ground nutmeg.
• Salt and pepper – Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper are best.

Baby Back Ribs vs Spare Ribs

Baby back ribs come from the top of the rib cage, near the spine. The bones are close together, so there isn’t as much meat on them but, since there’s little muscle movement, they’re incredibly tender. On the other hand, spare ribs come from the bottom of the rib cage. Since the bones open up to support the stomach, there’s a lot more meat on them.

How To Make Baby Back Ribs on Grill

The most important thing is not rushing the baking time. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Make the spice rub. Preheat the oven to 325F. Whisk all of the spice rub ingredients in a bowl until evenly combined. Rub the mixture over the meat-side of the ribs.

• Add the onions. Place the seasoned ribs in a roasting pan. Sprinkle the onions and garlic over the ribs.
• Bake them. Pour water into each roasting pan until 1/2″ high. Cover with foil and bake for 3 hours. Remove them from the heat. Discard the onions and garlic.

• Grill them. Set the grill to medium-high heat. The meat side of the ribs should be facing upward (towards the sky). Brush them with BBQ sauce and grill them for 5-7 minutes. Flip over and repeat this step.
• Serve. Remove the ribs from the heat. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

FAQs

You don’t need to be a master of the grill to nail these ultra tender and juicy baby back ribs.

How do you easily remove the membrane from ribs?

Flip the ribs over so that the bone side is facing upwards. Carefully slide a sharp knife under the silver skin on any corner of the ribs. Lift it with your fingers and then pull it off in one swift move. If it breaks, repeat this process until you’ve removed it completely from the ribs.

How many baby back ribs per person?

If it’s your main dish, each person typically eats 1/2 rack of ribs. You can calculate that each rack feeds 2-3 people. However, if you’re serving lots of side dishes with the ribs, you might even get away with 1/4 rack per person.

Why do I need to bake the ribs first?

Baking the ribs first allows the meat to cook low and slow, giving the fat a chance to render and melt into the meat for an ultra juicy and tender bite. This way the grilling time is short and only helps caramelize the BBQ sauce on the outside.

Tips for Success

Homemade BBQ sauce and sweet pineapple chunks can take these easy baby back ribs to the next level.

• Marinate them. Place the ribs in a large Ziploc bag. Add 1 cup beef broth, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, 1/2 teaspoon chili oil, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, and 1 teaspoon salt. Seal it and shake well. Refrigerate overnight for more flavor.
• Remove excess moisture. Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel before adding the spice blend. Then place them in the roasting pan and refrigerate them (uncovered) for 4-5 hours. This will help draw out excess moisture and make the ribs extra tender.
• Make them sweet-and-savory. Cut chunks of pineapple and/or peaches and add them to the roasting pan along with the onions and garlic. They’ll release natural sweetness that goes perfectly with the BBQ sauce.
• Don’t uncover them. The ribs need to be covered at all times as they bake to prevent them from drying out and burning. The foil helps trap the steam inside so that the fat can melt.
• Make your own BBQ sauce. Mix 2 cups ketchup, 1/2 cup yellow mustard, 1/4 cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon paprika, 3 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon celery salt, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt until smooth.
• Stay in the middle. Avoid baking the ribs on the top or bottom oven racks. They won’t cook through completely at the top, whereas they’ll burn on the bottom rack. The middle is where heat is more evenly distributed so make sure to stay there.

What To Serve With BBQ Baby Back Ribs

These tender baby back ribs are a wonderful dinner. Pair them with Corn on the Cob and Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños for a classic cookout meal. If you prefer potato sides, try my Garlic Parmesan Fries or Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes. For salad ideas, go for my Simple Arugula Salad or Mexican Street Corn Salad.

Proper Storage

Make sure the ribs are fully cooled before storing.

• Fridge: Place them in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Set the ribs on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Wrap them whole or sliced in foil. Transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
• To reheat it: Sprinkle the ribs with 1 teaspoon water and microwave for up to a minute. You can also heat them in the oven at 300F for 20-25 minutes.

More Pork Recipes To Try

• BBQ Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Bites
• An Easy Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs (Foolproof + Tender)
• Pulled Pork Sliders with Red Cabbage & Avocado
• Honey Balsamic Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Print