How to Make Easy Oven Baked Beef Ribs

Tender, juicy oven baked beef ribs with bbq sauce are seasoned to perfection. No grill needed! Perfect for BBQ season when you don’t have outdoor space or just want a no-fuss dinner.

👉 Craving brisket instead? I shared an easy make-ahead oven brisket recipe on TikTok. It’ll feed you for days. Check it out & follow me there.

FYI, please carefully read the recipe notes below before you make these beef ribs

Want to see these ribs in action? The quick video in this post is also up on my YouTube channel as a Short, so if you’re more of a scroll and watch kinda person, check it out there and hit subscribe while you’re at it!

You’ll find easy recipes (some exclusive to YouTube), hauls, grocery store finds, and useful kitchen stuff I actually use. Come check it out!

Why You’ll Love This Oven Baked Beef Rib Recipe

I love firing up the grill as much as anybody when the weather warms up. But not everyone has a grill, a backyard, or even the time to stand outside babysitting a smoker for 6 hours. And maybe you do have an outdoor grill but sometimes you don’t feel like grilling outdoors for whatever reasons.

Whether you like them fall-off-the-bone or with a little bite, it’s foolproof, flavorful, and turns simple oven baked beef ribs into a BBQ lover’s dream.

Should Meat Fall Off the Bone or Not?

Back when I lived in Kansas, I learned from the locals that ribs shouldn’t fall off the bone. In traditional barbecue, that’s actually a sign they’re overcooked. According to the Kansas City Barbeque Society, properly cooked ribs should be tender but still have a slight tug when you bite in, leaving a clean bite mark behind. That said, plenty of people even my family included love ribs so tender they fall right off the bone, and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you enjoy.

Store-Bought BBQ Sauce or Homemade?

Normally I’d whip up a homemade sauce, but this time I grabbed a bottle of Traeger’s Original BBQ Sauce. Shoutout to TikTok for putting me on. It’s one of the best store-bought sauces I’ve had. Sweet, thick (doesn’t slide off the meat) and tangy, and deeper in flavor than the usual store-bought stuff and just enough spice to stand up to these ribs.

That said, use whatever BBQ sauce you love. If you’ve got a go-to bottled sauce, pour it on. If you prefer to make your own from scratch, go for it. This oven baked beef rib recipe plays well with both. It’s all about what you like and what you have on hand.

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Oven Baked Ribs

For the Rib Seasoning:

• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 1/4 tsp Traegers Apple and Honey Rubs (optional)
• salt and pepper for taste
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• Traeger Original BBQ Sauce (or your favorite store-bought)
• 5 lbs of meaty separated beef ribs (I get mine from Costco. They’re pretty big and meaty)

Marinade

• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• ½ tsp liquid smoke
• 2 tbsp minced garlic

How to Make Oven Baked Beef Ribs

FYI. I used pre-sliced beef ribs to keep things quick and easy, but this recipe works with any kind of beef ribs you’ve got.

1. Preheat your oven to 275°F (150°C). Line a baking pan with foil for easy cleanup if you like.
2. Pat the cleaned ribs dry with paper towels. This helps the seasoning stick better and keeps the ribs from steaming.
3. Mix your seasoning blend in a small bowl. Drizzle the ribs with olive oil and rub it in all over both sides. This helps the seasoning stick better and keeps the meat juicy while it cooks.
4. Wrap the ribs tightly in foil You want them sealed up like a little flavor packet. This keeps them juicy and tender while they cook low and slow. I usually use the layers of aluminum foil. Make sure the pan is sealed up like really sealed. Okay? Cool!
5. Bake for about 2-3 hours, depending on the thickness of your ribs, until they’re fork tender and the meat starts to pull back from the bone. You’ll notice that the meat has pulled back quite a lot and usually that’s a sign that its done! Yay!
   
6. Carefully open the foil because it’s very hot, brush your ribs with butter then generously with your favorite BBQ sauce. I love to use Traeger’s Original BBQ Sauce. Next pop them under the broiler for 5-7 minutes until the sauce bubbles and caramelizes.
7. Rest for 5-10 minutes, and serve with extra sauce on the side. Perfect with my Southern Coleslaw.

Pro Tips

• Don’t skip the dry rub. This is where most of your flavor comes from. Don’t be shy with the seasoning, meaty ribs can handle it.
• Keep the oven door shut as much as possible. You want steady heat for tender, juicy ribs.
• If you like a smokier flavor, mix 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke into the olive oil before rubbing it onto the ribs or brush it directly onto the ribs after the olive oil, before adding the dry seasoning.
• Swap out the Traeger’s sauce for a homemade one if you’ve got the time , but honestly, no one’s judging when it tastes this good straight from the bottle.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving these beef ribs with classic sides like coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread. Or if you’re keeping it casual, some dinner rolls works too.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a fancy grill or smoker to enjoy fall off the bone beef ribs. With a solid dry rub, a slow oven bake, and a good bottle of BBQ sauce, you’re all set for a backyard-style meal no matter where you live.

If you grab a bottle of Traeger’s Original BBQ Sauce, let me know what you think. I saw a guy on Tiktok using it and I’ve been hooked ever since. This bbq sauce has been my go-to shortcut lately for beef ribs and chicken lately because life has been lifing lol. If you try them please let me know what you think.