How Long To Pre Cook Ribs

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If you want succulent, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs then the only way to go is to bake them in the oven first, and then finish them off on the grill. Slathering them with a sticky, homemade BBQ sauce of course.

This 2-step process will assure the most fantastic sticky ribs that fall off the bone and will be talked about for weeks afterward! They are that good!

BBQ Ribs Recipe garnished on a platter and ready to be served

Recipe Pairing Ideas:

Kick-off your summer BBQ with some refreshing Watermelon Lemonade
Followed by some Mac and Cheese Bite Appetizers
Serve these fantastic ribs with my favorite traditional potato salad and my Mexican Corn salad for a delicious, mostly make-ahead summer dinner!
And don't forget the Buttermilk Biscuits!
And for dessert? You can't go wrong with my S'More Pie or my Triple Berry Campfire Cake.

Vertical shot of BBQ Ribs recipe on a platter

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Step#1: Prepare the Spice Rub

The best way to get the most flavor from oven-baked ribs is to use a spice rub. I love this rub because it's made with many common spices you probably already have in your pantry like cumin, smoked paprika, and ground coriander. When mixed with the brown sugar the flavor created is sweet and smokey with a little bit of a kick.

Mixing spice rubs for ribs in a small bowl

What Type of Ribs to Buy?

For this BBQ Ribs recipe, you'll use 2 racks of Pork Spare Ribs (St Louis Style). I think these are the best ribs for entertaining because they've been trimmed to a uniform size and are just easier to handle. But for the full rundown on buying pork ribs consult Bon Appetit's awesome pork-rib buying guide.

A plate of raw pork spare ribs before being turnmed into a wonderful BBQ Ribs recipe by entertaining with Beth

Step#2: Rub the Spice Blend on the Ribs

Be sure to rub the spice blend all over the ribs, it will look like a ton of spice but it will dissolve in the oven and flavor the meat. Then seal it up in the foil creating two separate foil packets for each rack.

adding rib rub to a rack of ribs on foil

Step#3: Bake the Ribs for Two Hours in the Oven

Two hours may seem like a long time to wait for ribs! But trust me, you'll be so glad you did when you take your first bite! Succulent meat, falling off the bone, is well worth the effort! And the only way to get that is to bake them in the oven first!

Placing rib packets in oven on 2 different racks

Place the ribs on separate racks and then switch their positions after one hour.

Once the ribs are done, they will look like this and be tender to the touch. In fact, they'll be so tender they will be a bit fragile so be careful when handling them.

Opening a foil packet of ribs that were baked in the oven

The best way to bring them out to the grill is on a large baking sheet. They will be easier to handle that way and once cooked, two racks will fit nicely on one sheet pan.

Oven Baked Ribs resting on a sheet pan

Step#4: Prepare the BBQ Sauce

It's also a good idea to prepare the BBQ sauce ahead of time so it's all ready to go once you head out to the grill. This can even be done up to two days before. If you have a large crowd you can make extra BBQ sauce and serve the ribs along with my BBQ Chicken Sliders.

How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade BBQ Sauce combines store-bought ketchup, molasses, garlic, brown sugar, hot sauce, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk it together in a saucepot on a medium-low flame and that's all there is to it!

Adding ketchup to a sauce pot for homemade BBQ Sauce

Once you learn how to make homemade BBQ sauce from scratch you'll never go back to anything in a bottle again! Homemade sauce is so much more flavorful and you can dial up the heat or sweetness to suit your personal tastes. And the best part is you probably have most of the ingredients sitting in your pantry and fridge.

Pouring Homemade BBQ Sauce to a Pyrex Pitcher

Allow it to cool in a Pyrex pitcher and keep refrigerated until you are ready to bring it out to the grill.

Step#5: Grill the Ribs

Since the ribs are already cooked, they only take a few minutes on the grill, on each side, to get a nice char on them. Brush each side with the BBQ sauce in a thin layer to allow the heat to set into the meat.

Grilling oven-baked ribs on a BBQ

Then you can slather on some more sauce on each rack once they are grilled. You really can never have too much BBQ Sauce. Especially, when it's homemade! Just be sure to provide some thick napkins for your guests.

2 racks of BBQ Ribs with BBQ Sauce on cutting Board

Plating the Ribs

Bring everything you need for carving out to the grill with you so as soon as the ribs are done, you can slice them tableside before serving.
It adds a bit of drama to the cocktail chatter and allows you to sit down right away with your guests as soon as they are ready.

Slicing BBQ Ribs on a cutting board

Garnishing the Ribs

You can serve them just like this, or take the extra step to garnish them with some green onions and sesame seeds.
It's a simple touch that makes them look a bit fancier and more presentable, "dressed for dinner" if you will. Slice the green onions on the diagonal for an elegant touch.
These ribs would be a great dinner idea for Memorial Day, Father's Day, or the 4th of July!

BBQ Ribs garnished with green onions and sesame seeds on white platter

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Ingredients

For Ribs:

2 racks, (5 lbs/2250g) pork spare ribs
2 tablespoon (30 ml) brown sugar
4 teaspoon (20ml) ground cumin
4 teaspoon (20 ml) smoked paprika
2 teaspoon (10 ml) garlic powder
2 teaspoon (10 ml) ground coriander
2 teaspoon (10 ml) salt

For BBQ Sauce:

1 c (240 ml) of ketchup
¼ cup (60 ml) of white wine vinegar
⅓ cup (80 ml) brown sugar
⅓ cup (80 ml) of molasses
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of hot sauce
1 teaspoon (5 ml) Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon (2.5ml) Worcestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced

For Garnish:

A sprinkle of sesame seeds
2 green onions, sliced diagonally

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350F.
In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, coriander and salt.
Lay out 2 large pieces of aluminum foil, fastened together by folding the seams, across a rimmed baking sheet. You'll do this twice for 2 racks, 2 baking trays.
Place the foil going diagonally, since this is probably the only way the ribs will fit on the baking sheet. Place each rack on each piece of foil, rub the dry rub on ribs, both sides.
Seal up the foil and place in the oven at 350F for 2 hours, rotating each rack (from top to bottom portion of your oven mid-way through).
Meanwhile, you can prepare the BBQ Sauce in advance.
To make the sauce: Place everything in a pot and whisk until combined. Simmer to allow flavors to marry. Then allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to serve. Then just reheat before serving.
After roasting grill ribs for 3-5 minutes on each side for desired charring. Brush ribs with BBQ sauce on both sides. Cut into single ribs. Place on platter. Brush with more sauce as needed. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, sliced on the diagonal. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 364 Total Fat: 22g Saturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 65mg Sodium: 361mg Carbohydrates: 28g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 23g Protein: 15g