Baby Back Ribs in the Oven
by Sommer Collier — last updated on May 28, 2025 
How to Make the Best Baby Back Ribs! Learn the foolproof steps to bake baby back ribs in the oven or cook them on the grill so they’re fall-off-the-bone tender with a perfect bark, every time. Whichever cooking method you prefer, start with our bold and delicious coffee BBQ sauce recipe for ribs that are finger-licking amazing!
Why We Love Baby Back Ribs In The Oven
There is something so primal and satisfying about picking up a saucy pork rib with your bare hands and biting right into it… You get that first layer of crispy and smoky charred bark followed by melt-in-your-mouth meat that’s juicy, tender, sweet, and smoky. I don’t know about you, but I’m already drooling!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Today, we’re sharing with you our foolproof method for how to make the BEST Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs right at home, without a smoker. That’s right – you can actually cook juicy and tender pork ribs from start to finish in the oven, in just a few easy steps!
OR if you prefer, we’re showing you how to cook baby back ribs on the grill (including a pellet grill), too! Both methods are actually quite similar… They require the same prep work, take about the same amount of time, and yield perfectly moist and meaty ribs with that coveted crisp bark on the outside.
What makes this no-fail guide really unique and mouthwatering is our homemade Coffee BBQ Sauce recipe! It comes together with classic barbecue sauce ingredients like brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and spices. Plus, we include a generous splash of whiskey, instant coffee granules, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra deep, smoky, savory, and slightly spicy flavors.
Ingredients You Need
For the Oven Baked Ribs –
- Spices – chile powder, dried thyme, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper
- Baby back ribs – 2 racks, about 1.5-2 pounds per rack
- Liquid smoke – enhances the meat with a deeply savory, smoky flavor but without any actual smoking
- Oil – your choice of canola oil, avocado, or vegetable oil
For the Coffee Barbecue Sauce –
- Garlic – minced
- Apple cider vinegar – tenderizes and caramelizes beautifully
- Soy sauce – or coconut aminos
- Tomato puree – you can use slightly less tomato paste instead of puree if it’s what you have on hand
- Molasses – pourable
- Whiskey – the alcohol burns off, but feel free to omit if you prefer
- Brown sugar – light brown, packed
- Instant coffee granules – not coffee grounds
- Dijon mustard – the right amount of tanginess without being sour
- Spices – cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper
Pro Tip: It’s fun to make your own coffee BBQ sauce. But in a pinch, buy a bottled variety of sauce you like and simmer for a few minutes with the coffee granules!
How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in the Oven
Get the complete (printable) oven and grill BBQ Baby Back Ribs recipe in the recipe form at the bottom of the post.
Grilling Notes – Cooking baby back ribs on a pellet grill will not yield the same charred bark as grilling on a gas grill. If you’d like that char, then consider finishing the ribs in the oven after brushing them with BBQ sauce.
You can leave the ribs whole if you like the way they look better—I just think they are easier to handle on the grill in smaller pieces!
Serving Suggestions
Whether you choose to cook baby back ribs in the oven or on a grill, these finger-licking good ribs are great to serve alongside all kinds of classic barbecue side dishes.
Make it a traditional Southern-style BBQ plate and pair it with homemade macaroni and cheese, spicy collard greens, baked beans, creamy coleslaw, and potato salad. For a true Southern plate, you’ve got to have a slice of white bread on there, too!
And if you have the grill going, now is the perfect time to grill up some corn on the cob or marinated vegetables as well!
Don’t forget some extra coffee barbecue sauce on the side!
Frequently Asked Questions
Well now, that’s entirely up to you! Both grilled and oven baked baby back ribs are juicy, fall-off-the-bone tender so long as you first cook them in a roasting pan wrapped tightly in foil. This essentially “smokes” the ribs with steam and locks in the juices.
Place the ribs top side up in the pan.
You do not wrap the actual portions of ribs in foil. Rather, the ribs are placed in a pan, which then is wrapped with foil.
Cooked ribs will keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container.
Yes, you can! Wrap each of the cooked sections of baby back ribs in aluminum foil before placing them all together in a plastic ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Then thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven or air fryer.
Looking for More Easy BBQ Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Brisket Burnt Ends
- Chicken Skewers with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- Smoked Shotgun Shells
- Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
- Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
Baby Back Ribs in the Oven (or on the Grill!)
Ingredients
For the Oven Baked Ribs:
- 4 teaspoons chile powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon oil
For the Coffee Barbeque Sauce:
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 28 ounces tomato puree
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1/4 cup whiskey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 tablesppons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the first seven ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cut each rack in several pieces and rub the spices over all the rib sections. You can leave the ribs whole if you like the way they look better—I just think they are easier to handle on the grill in smaller pieces!
- Pour 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke in a roasting pan. Place the ribs in the pan, top side up. Tightly cover the pan with foil and bake for 2 hours. Remove from the oven and rest until ready to grill.
- Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients for the BBQ sauce to the saucepan. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the ribs have cooked for 2 hours, remove them from the oven and place them on a baking sheet, uncovered. Heat an oven to 425 degrees.
- Brush the ribs completely with BBQ sauce. Place them back in the oven and cook for 20 minutes, turning and brushing every 5 minutes until the desired “bark” has developed.
Notes
- Preheat the grill to 300-325 degrees F. Mix the first seven ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cut each rack in several pieces and rub the spices over all the rib sections. You can leave the ribs whole if you like the way they look better—I just think they are easier to handle on the grill in smaller pieces! Pour 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke in a roasting pan or foil pan.
- Place the ribs in the pan, top side up. Tightly cover the pan with foil and place the pan on the grill for 1 ½ – 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients for the BBQ sauce to the saucepan. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the ribs have cooked until tender, remove them from the grill. Raise the grill temperature to 350-400 degrees F.
- Brush the ribs completely with BBQ sauce. Place them on the grill grates and cook for 20 minutes, turning and brushing every 5 minutes until the desired “bark” has developed.
These ribs were so easy to make and tasted like they came straight from a BBQ joint! The slow baking method made them incredibly tender, and the sauce was finger-licking good. Can’t wait to make them again!
Wow – fall-off-the-bone perfection! I followed the instructions exactly, and my family devoured every last rib. You don’t need a grill to get that amazing BBQ flavor!
I can’t believe how tender and juicy these oven-baked ribs turned out! The seasoning was spot on, and the sauce made them absolutely irresistible.