Baby Back Ribs in the Oven (or on the Grill!)

Baby Back Ribs Recipe with Coffee Bbq Sauce

5 stars (3 reviews)

Baby Back Ribs in the Oven (or on the Grill!)

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!

Prep Time20

Cook Time3

Total Time3 20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Southern

Servings:

Calories: 362kcal

Author: Sommer Collier

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

US Customary - Metric

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

Grill Method -

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.

Barbecue Sauce Note - It's fun to make your own coffee BBQ sauce. But in a pinch, buy a bottled variety you like and simmer for a few minutes with the coffee granules!

Leftovers - Cooked ribs will keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container.

To Freeze - 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 it in the fridge overnight before reheating it in the oven or air fryer.

Nutrition