How to Cook Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe (2024)

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Author: Stephanie Dulgarian

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4.37 from 82 votes

This easy recipe will show you how to cook ribs in the oven so they fall off the bone! Following just a few easy steps, you can go from being a novice cook to a grill master in no time.

These ribs are perfect to make for a Summer BBQ, a Super Bowl party, or just getting together with family and friends. Add a side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a batch of Homemade Lemonade and you’ll be all set!

How to Cook Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe (1)

Easy Fall Off The Bone Ribs

The last time we had ribs at a BBQ my kids got tired of trying to tear the meat from the bone, so they just gave up. These ribs are different!!

The meat literally falls off the bone with every bite! They’re easy to eat and SO delicious!

This MASTERPIECE recipe was shared with our family by my brother-in-law. Before he showed me how to cook ribs, I never attempted them because I was too intimidated to try. But I wrote down every step and took pictures of the entire process with this blog post in mind so you can see how easy and delicious these are! BEST.RIBS.EVER.

Here’s how to make them –

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How To Cook Ribs In The Oven

INGREDIENTS –

  • pork ribs (I prefer baby back ribs, but you can also use beef ribs, but be careful not to get spare ribs as those are always tough to cut)
  • paprika
  • salt
  • brown sugar
  • ground black pepper
  • garlic powder
  • BBQ sauce – my favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s
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DIRECTIONS –

1. Spice Rub – Making the rub for your ribs is super easy. Just mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl.

2. Cut The Fat – Trim off any of the excess fat from your rack of ribs with a pair of kitchen shears or a sharp knife.

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3. Prep Them To Fall Off The Bone – Cut and pull off the thin membrane on the underside of the ribs. (This really helps the meat to fall off the bone so much easier!) I had never done this before so it was fascinating to me!

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4. Apply The Rub – Rub both sides of the ribs with the dry rub mixture. Pile it on and really work the mixture into the meat as best as you can. You don’t need to do too much on the underside as most of the flavor will need to go on the meat which is on the top.

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5. Lock In The Flavor – Wrap each rack in aluminum foil two times to ensure no flavors drip out during the baking process. Let the ribs marinate for several hours or in the refrigerator overnight. (This recipe takes a lot of patience, which is something I am working on!)

6. Cook – Bake the ribs in the oven at 220 degrees F for 5 hours. Again, patience, my friends. Baking them slowly is the key to getting the ribs to just fall off the bone when you eat them.

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7. Final Touch – Not necessary, but a delicious finishing touch is to Preheat your BBQ, drench with your favorite barbecue sauce and throw those ribs onto the grill! The meat should already be cooked so just grill them long enough to get the smoky flavor and BBQ feel.

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Tips For Making Fall Off The Bone Ribs

  • Drip Tray – When baking the ribs in your oven, some people prefer to bake the ribs in foil on a cookie sheet, but we just place the foil-wrapped ribs directly on the oven rack. (We lined the bottom of the oven with a couple of sheets of foil to catch anything that might fall.)
  • Flip Them – My brother-in-law also flips the racks of ribs each hour… but his schedule must not be as busy as mine! He said this isn’t necessary, it just gives him something to do and lets the awesome smell start floating through the air! If you don’t want to keep flipping them, bake them upside down so all the juices drip into the meat instead of into the bones.
  • Flipping Tip – Be very careful when you flip the ribs. One time when I flipped them, there was a hole in the foil and a lot of the juices came out and got all over my oven door. If this happens, here’s an Easy Way To Clean Your Oven Glass.

Best Side Dishes To Serve

  • Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
  • Best Potato Salad
  • Easy Coleslaw Recipe
  • Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
  • Mexican Corn Salad

Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe

Now that you’ve seen just how easy it is to make these tender ribs so they just fall off the bone, it’s your turn to give it a shot! Leave us a comment below and let us know how much you liked them or tag us on social media and show us just how easily these ribs are to enjoy!

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Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe

Servings: 2 Racks

This easy recipe will show you how to cook ribs so they just fall off the bone! Go from being a novice to a grill master in no time.

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:5 hours hrs

Total Time:5 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Make your rub by mixing together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a medium sized bowl.

  • Trim off the excess fat from your ribs.

  • Cut and pull off the thin membrane on the underside of the ribs.

  • Rub both sides of the ribs with the dry rub mixture. Pile it on and work the mixture into the meat as best as you can. You don’t need to do too much on the underside as most of the flavor will need to go on the meat which is on the top.

  • Wrap each rack in foil two times to insure no flavors drip out in the baking process.

  • Let this marinate for several hours or in the fridge overnight.

  • Bake in the oven at 220 degrees for 5 hours.

  • Warm up your BBQ grill

  • Drench the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce, and place them on the grill long enough to get the smoky flavor and BBQ feel.

Nutrition

Serving: 3 Ribs · Calories: 99 kcal · Carbohydrates: 24 g · Protein: 1 g · Fat: 1 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Sodium: 5243 mg · Potassium: 221 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 18 g · Vitamin A: 2586 IU · Calcium: 47 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Other Notes

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baking, picnic, summer

How to Cook Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe (10)

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How to Cook Fall Off The Bone Ribs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to cook fall off the bone ribs? ›

Cover the ribs with aluminum foil. Bake the ribs at a low temperature (275°F) for 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours or until they are tender. Slather the baked ribs with barbecue sauce, and then broil (or grill) the ribs for a few minutes until the sauce is caramelized.

Is it better to boil ribs before cooking? ›

The reason you would boil ribs before cooking them is simple. This process helps tenderize the ribs and makes them more juicy. It not only shortens the cooking time significantly, but it also helps make the meat far easier to chew.

Do you put water in the pan when cooking ribs? ›

Fill a small baking pan two-thirds full with cold water and place on the lowest rung in the oven. This helps to keep the ribs moist during the lengthy cooking time.

How do you cook ribs and keep them moist? ›

This recipe skips the braising step, so you have to keep them moist another way. Steam and basting are the magical solutions to this conundrum. Using a small saucepan heat apple cider and butter and then place it in the grill with the ribs. The steam from the liquid will keep the ribs from drying out.

Do you bake ribs covered or uncovered? ›

Do you bake ribs covered or uncovered? You can cook ribs either covered with foil or uncovered. Foil is used to stop the meat from drying out but is not essential. If cooking uncovered and you notice the meat is drying out or browning too quickly, you can cover with foil for the remaining cook time.

Should I bake ribs at 250 or 275? ›

Place the foil-wrapped ribs on a baking sheet and bake:For fall-off-the-bone tender ribs, bake at 275°F (135°C) for 2.5 to 3 hours. For slightly firmer ribs with a bit of chew, bake at 325°F (163°C) for 2 to 2.5 hours.

What cooking method is best for ribs? ›

For the most tender ribs I would recommend a braise. The slow, low, moist cooking of a braise is perfect for breaking down connective tissue in the ribs without drying them out or washing away natural flavor.

Why boil ribs in vinegar? ›

Essentially, the vinegar solution "cleanses" the meat and makes the flavors shine through without any "gamey" flavor. According to Elizabeth, you don't need a charcoal grill to achieve deliciously-barbequed ribs.

Are ribs better in the oven or grill? ›

Because ovens have controlled temperature you are less likely to overcook or under cook your ribs. You can also put the ribs in the oven and leave them as the heat will be even the entire time that they are inside. Ovens also have the added benefit of cooking faster than BBQ.

What happens if you put BBQ sauce on ribs before baking? ›

Try and be careful putting BBQ sauce on ribs before cooking. The majority of store bought BBQ sauce has a very high sugar content. The danger is having the sauce over caramelize during the cooking process giving it that burnt bitter flavour usually visible by the black edges on the ribs.

What liquid do you put on ribs? ›

You may, if desired, spritz or mop your ribs while smoking with a liquid of your choice. Apple juice or cider, butter, Dr. Pepper, apple cider vinegar, beer… there are plenty of options.

Should I oil my ribs before cooking? ›

You can coat the ribs with olive oil or mustard first to help it stick. Then, use your hands to spread it evenly on the surface of the ribs. The thick coating of the rub will keep the meat moist and tender while giving it a flavorful exterior.

Why are my ribs not falling off the bone? ›

Low and slow is the secret to irresistible fall off the bone ribs. You won't get them tender by just grilling them, so the key is finding a way to cook them slowly at a lower heat. You don't have to be a master chef to know how to make ribs that fall off the bone.

Why do you rinse ribs before cooking? ›

While washing meat and poultry to remove dirt, slime, fat or blood may have been appropriate decades ago when many slaughtered and prepared their own food, the modern food safety system doesn't require it. Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary.

How should I season my ribs? ›

Mix brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Rub into pork ribs. For best results, allow ribs to marinate overnight.

What temperature do you fall off the bone ribs? ›

Most ribs hit their sweet spot for doneness around 198 degrees F, but some take until 203 degrees F to be perfectly tender. This spread in final temperature is one reason why thermometers are a great jumping off-point for rib perfection, but not the be-all-end-all indicator.

Do you bake ribs at 225 or 250? ›

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Season your ribs with Dale's marinade, your favorite rib rub, grill seasoning, or simply salt and pepper.

How long do you cook ribs at 250 degrees? ›

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees then unwrap the ribs and place them directly onto the foil. Cover the ribs tightly with another piece of foil then bake for 3-1/2 hours (see notes if your rib rack is larger).

How long do you cook ribs in the oven at 350? ›

Shoot for around 2 hours at 350 degrees if the ribs are uncovered, as in our Barbecued Pork Ribs. If wrapped in foil, the ribs can go for up to 3 hours at 300°F degrees, or crank the oven up to 400 degrees for a briefer baking time—1.5 to 2 hours.

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