Representative photo: barbecue ribs, pork by David McSpadden, CC BY 2.0

Oven-Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Name: Oven-Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 racks (about 1.8 kg) outdoor-reared baby back ribs; 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and chipotle powder; 1 cup barbecue sauce, plus more to serve; 200 g organic smoked bacon, chopped (for the beans); 2 cans (800 g) white beans, drained; 1/2 onion, chopped; 2 tbsp molasses or piloncillo syrup, 1 tbsp mustard, 1/2 cup ketchup

These baby back ribs are rubbed with a smoky spice mix, baked low and slow until tender, then glazed and charred on the grill. Outdoor-reared organic pork has better marbling and a deeper flavor, so the ribs stay moist without needing a smoker.

Prep20 min
Cook180 min
Total200 min
Servings4

Shop the Ingredients Jump to recipe

Ingredients

2 racks (about 1.8 kg) outdoor-reared baby back ribs $455
2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp salt
1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and chipotle powder
1 cup barbecue sauce, plus more to serve
200 g organic smoked bacon, chopped (for the beans) $270
2 cans (800 g) white beans, drained; 1/2 onion, chopped
2 tbsp molasses or piloncillo syrup, 1 tbsp mustard, 1/2 cup ketchup

Instructions

Heat the oven to 150 °C (300 °F). Remove the thin membrane from the bone side of the ribs.
Mix the sugar, paprika, salt and spices and rub it all over the racks.
Wrap each rack tightly in foil and bake on a tray for 2.5 hours, until the meat pulls back from the bones.
Meanwhile, fry the bacon until crisp, add the onion, then the beans, molasses, mustard and ketchup. Simmer 20 minutes.
Unwrap the ribs, brush generously with barbecue sauce and finish on a hot grill or under the broiler for 5 to 8 minutes, until sticky and charred.
Rest 5 minutes, cut between the bones and serve with the bacon baked beans and extra sauce.