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Baked Southern Roadhouse Ribs

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Tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors, all made in your oven. These restaurant-worthy ribs are practically foolproof and feature a sticky-sweet sauce that creates an irresistible lacquered finish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Ribs
  • 3 pounds beef baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce southern-style blend
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Halal Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke optional

Equipment

  • Baking sheet
  • Aluminum foil
  • Wire rack
  • Knife
  • Paper towels
  • Basting brush

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with foil. Place a wire rack on top.
  2. Flip ribs bone-side up and remove the membrane by sliding a knife underneath and pulling it off using a paper towel for grip.
  3. Rub the ribs all over with olive oil.
  4. Combine all dry seasonings (smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne if using, salt, and black pepper) and massage thoroughly into the meat.
  5. Bake ribs for 2-3 hours.
  6. While ribs are cooking, prepare the sauce by combining barbecue sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and liquid smoke (if using).
  7. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, brush the sauce generously over the ribs and return to the oven to caramelize.

Notes

Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs for the best texture. For spicier ribs, double the cayenne or add hot sauce. Pork ribs can be substituted but require about 30 minutes less cooking time. Maple syrup can replace honey for a deeper sweetness. Store-bought barbecue sauce works well, but look for one with molasses for the best flavor.

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