Baby Back Ribs Recipe (Two Ways!) | Seeking Good Eats (2024)

The best baby back ribs recipe (grilled pork back ribs) is a foolproof and simple recipe resulting in the tastiest, tender, and fall-off-the-bone ribs you've ever eaten! Keeping it simple, use our rub or a store-bought rub.

With only 3 ingredients and minimal work, you can easily make these tasty ribs - even if you're a grilling novice. There are two methods to cooking these baby back ribs - oven to grill, and instant pot to grill.

WATCH: Making Baby Back Ribs

Foolproof Guide to Cooking Baby Back Ribs

We don't have a family member or friend who hasn't had these ribs! This is a simple 3 ingredient recipe for grilled baby back ribs with two methods of cooking - baby back ribs in oven and baby back ribs in instant pot.

Both methods are followed up on the grill for just a few minutes - resulting in super tasty, chargrilled, fall-off-the-bone ribs! A low carb, paleo, and keto-friendly recipe that everyone will love!

The Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe

This is literally the best baby back ribs recipe and they are so easy to make even a novice will look like a grilling master! We have made these easy grilled ribs for years, and it is one of our family's most requested recipes.

Easy BBQ Pork Ribs Recipe

This is an EASY recipe. Simply sprinkle ribs with seasoning, wrap in foil, bake in the oven until tender, brush with BBQ sauce, and finish off on the grill for a few minutes (only long enough to get the chargrilled taste and pretty browning).

Family Friendly Recipe

This is definitely a family-friendly recipe that everyone loves! There are 5 of us in our house, and my boys and husband will gobble this up quicker than you can imagine!

Use Your Favorite BBQ Pork Dry Rub

You can use any BBQ pork dry rub that you want. It doesn't matter; just pick your favorite. Honestly, you can even use salt and pepper or garlic salt and pepper.

Make-Ahead Ribs for A Crowd

You can easily pre-cook these ribs in the oven well ahead of time. Cover tightly and remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before grilling.

Low Carb, Paleo, Keto Ribs

Of course, ribs on their own are low carb, keto, and paleo. The trick is to make sure the seasoning and sauce are appropriate to the diet you are following. Be sure to use a sugar free BBQ sauce if following keto.

Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest for later! 😉

Baby Back Ribs Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that you will need to make grilled pork back ribs:

• Baby Back Ribs: you'll want to use 2 racks (approximately 2 to 3 lbs each)
• Dry Rub for Pork: use our quick and simple rub - or use a favorite brand.
• Barbecue Sauce: Be sure to use your favorite - with only three ingredients, each one is important to the final taste. If you are following a sugar free or keto diet be sure to use a sugar free BBQ sauce.

How To Make Baby Back Ribs on Grill (Oven to Grill Method)

Here's how to make baby back ribs from oven to grill:

1. Rinse and dry pork ribs.

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2. Liberally sprinkle both sides of pork with seasoning.

3. Cover ribs in foil and wrap tightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake until very tender about 2½ to 3 hours.

4. Remove ribs from the oven (and foil) and slather with BBQ sauce. Place on a preheated grill and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Tip: The ribs must be very tender before removing from the oven.

Baby Back Ribs in Oven

If you don't have a grill - no problem! Just finish them off under the broiler. Or even an air fryer. Remember, these are already cooked you are only looking for color and caramelization.

1. Liberally sprinkle both sides of pork with seasoning. Cover ribs in foil and wrap tightly. Lay ribs on baking sheet and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
2. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Remove pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Place rib racks (leave on the cookie sheet) in the oven and bake for 2½ hours or until ribs are knife tender.(Adjust time according to your rack size. Smaller racks will take less time (maybe 2 hours), bigger more time (possibly 3 hours). The key is that the ribs must be very tender. Wrapping them tightly in foil is keeping the moisture in.)
3. Remove ribs from foil and brush on BBQ Sauce. Turn oven to Broil.
4. Place ribs on a clean baking sheet or broiling pan (coat with nonstick spray). Broil ribs on each side until the sauce is bubbly and the ribs achieve some browning caramelization.

Cooking Baby Back Ribs (Pressure Cooker to Grill Method)

Pressure cooking is a quick method that makes it easy to make these any weeknight. Keep in mind that you can only cook one rack of ribs in the pressure cooker, so it's perfect for 4 people.

1. Rinse and dry pork ribs. Cut pork ribs apart into sections of approximately 2 - 3 ribs each.
2. Place a rack into the bottom of your pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water to the bottom. Stand rib sections on the rack. Secure lid. Pressure cook on High setting, for 25 minutes. When complete, allow steam to release naturally for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Remove ribs from the pressure cooker. Sprinkle the seasoning lightly over ribs, then brush one side with BBQ sauce.
4. Heat grill to medium-high. Place sauce side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Brush second side with barbecue sauce then flip, cooking another 3 to 4 minutes.

Tip: Experiment with other liquids (always using 1 cup). Beer is a great choice for example! What you add to the pot infuses itself into the ribs. A few cloves of garlic or herbs is nice. I have even put a few drops of liquid smoke into the water before. Lots of ways to experiment!

Tips when making this Baby Back Ribs Recipe

• Wrap the ribs tightly in aluminum foil to avoid moisture loss.
• Remember the ribs are already cooked, so only grill long enough to caramelize the BBQ sauce, achieve nice browning and grill marks - and infuse them with smoky flavor.

Sides to Serve with the Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe

• Baked Beans
• Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon or Cauliflower Broccoli Salad
• Dill Pickle Slaw or Creamy Mexican Slaw
• Pasta Salad
• Easy Recipe for Grilled Romaine Lettuce
• Macaroni and Cheese or Cauliflower and Cheese
• Fruit Salad

Storing and Reheating Leftover Baby Back Ribs

Once cooled, store any leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They can also be frozen for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge.

The Best Way to Reheat Pork Baby Back Ribs

Oven or grill: Reheat wrapped in foil in an oven or on a grill on a medium-low heat.

Microwave: Place ribs in a microwave-safe dish and loosely cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on low for 30 seconds at a time, turning over after 30 seconds.

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