Easy Baby Back Ribs In The Oven

by Mike Futia

Updated January 24, 2025

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These oven-baked baby back ribs are some of the most delicious ribs you can make at home. Are they as good as smoked ribs? I'll be honest, probably not. But that's okay—they're still excellent.

So if you don't have a smoker, or it's just too cold outside, but you still want to make ribs—then definitely give this recipe a try. The ribs come out super juicy, super tender, and it's a very straightforward process: no wrapping, no foil, no changing temps. Let's cook this thing.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

  • Baby back ribs — I picked up a whole slab of baby backs at my local grocery store. 
  • Mayo — I love using mayo as my binder, but if you prefer mustard, then you can use that instead. 
  • BBQ rub — We're going to heavily season these baby backs. I'm going with the Pork Perfect rub by Fire & Smoke Society. You can also try my homemade rub for ribs.
  • BBQ sauce — For the final part of the cook, we're going to slather some BBQ sauce on top of the ribs. I'm using Honey Hot by Kinder's.
  • Honey — We're also going to drizzle some honey on top of the ribs with the BBQ sauce, and to keep with the hot honey the, I'm using Mike's Hot Honey.

HOW TO MAKE BABY BACK RIBS IN THE OVEN

1. Clean & Season the Ribs

If your ribs have a membrane on the back, feel free to remove it (this is optional) with a paper towel. Then, we're going to season the ribs first by applying a thin layer of mayo on both sides, and the hitting it with your favorite BBQ rub all over. Allow the rub to adhere to the ribs while the oven is heating up.

2. Cook the Ribs

Place the ribs on a wired rack and toss them in a 350F oven for about 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the ribs hits 180F. You don't need to flip them or touch them at all, just let them cook.

3. Glaze the Ribs

Once the ribs hit about 180F, remove them from the oven and brush them with the BBQ sauce. Then, drizzle the hot honey all over the ribs. 

4. Finish Cooking

Place the ribs back in the oven to let them finish cooking. You want to aim for a final internal temperature of about 200F. For me, this took an additional 40 minutes.

5. Rest & Serve

When you take the ribs out of the oven, they're going to be super hot, so let them rest for about 10 minutes. While they're resting, add a little dusting of extra BBQ rub on top. Then, serve with a side of extra BBQ sauce and enjoy.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

Serve these ribs up with my smoked garlic mashed potatoes or easy smoked mac & cheese.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

  • Simple is key. Don't try to overcomplicate this recipe—you need just five ingredients, and you just let the oven do most of the work. No need to use foil, butcher paper, or change the oven temp at all.
  • Better than the smoker? No, these won't taste better than proper ribs made on the smoker. And that's ok. This recipe is for folks who either don't have a smoker, or who don't feel like going out in the cold weather to make them.

Easy Baby Back Ribs In The Oven

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These oven-baked honey BBQ ribs are sticky, tender, and packed with flavor. With mayonnaise as a binder and a sweet-spicy glaze, they’re perfect for any occasion.
SERVINGS
Servings: 4 people
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 rack baby back ribs
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp BBQ rub
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey

Instructions

  • Pat ribs dry and remove the membrane if needed.
  • Coat ribs with mayonnaise and sprinkle BBQ rub on both sides.
  • Place ribs on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 90 minutes, until internal temperature hits 180°F.
  • Brush ribs with BBQ sauce and drizzle with honey.
  • Bake for an additional 40 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 200°F.
  • Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Simple is key. Don't try to overcomplicate this recipe—you need just five ingredients, and you just let the oven do most of the work. No need to use foil, butcher paper, or change the oven temp at all.
  • Better than the smoker? No, these won't taste better than proper ribs made on the smoker. And that's ok. This recipe is for folks who either don't have a smoker, or who don't feel like going out in the cold weather to make them.

Nutrition

Calories: 1113kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 20gFat: 108gSaturated Fat: 38gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 49gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 267mgPotassium: 457mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 178IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Mike Futia


My name is Mike, and I'm the founder of Grill Frenzy. I love cooking up homemade grilling and smoker recipes in my backyard for my friends and family. Learn more about me.

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