Tender country-style pork ribs in the oven – a super easy and delicious rib recipe using just a few simple ingredients.
Baking country-style ribs in the oven is an easy, relaxing affair. Five minutes to start the pork rib recipe and another five to finish it; the oven takes care of the rest. And the result? Fall-of-the-bone, flavorful, and moreish country-style pork ribs that your whole family will love.
And if you like ribs, check out the Air Fryer Ribs, Ribs and Cabbage, or learn How to Cook Beef Ribs in the Oven.
Recipe ingredients
- Bone-in or boneless country-style pork ribs, about 3 lbs/1.3 kg. You can use more if your ribs still have the bone in. But make sure that they fit in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Spicy rub: Brown sugar, sweet paprika, smoked sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, fine sea salt or Kosher salt, and ground black pepper. If using hot smoked paprika, leave out the cayenne pepper.
- Alternatively, season the pork ribs with only salt and pepper or your favorite spice mixture.
- BBQ sauce is optional. You can brush the cooked meat with it, or you can brush it with the pan juices.
How to cook country-style ribs in the oven?
This is a simple three-step oven-baked country-style ribs recipe: season, bake, and broil.
- Season: Mix the spices in a small bowl and rub the meat with the dry rub.
- Bake them in a shallow baking pan in the preheated oven, covered with aluminum foil, for about 2 hours or until fork tender. The cooking time depends a bit on the thickness of the ribs and the oven temperature; some get hotter than others.
- Brush them with sauce and broil them on a foil-lined baking sheet for 3-4 minutes.
Expert Tips
- The secret for cooking incredibly tender ribs is to cook them slowly and long at a low temperature. Two hours at 300°F/ 160°C should do it, but check the meat; if it’s not perfectly soft and tender yet, allow it more time in the oven.
- BBQ sauce or pan juices? If you are wondering which version is best, I cannot decide; I love both. Country-style ribs brushed with BBQ are sweeter and spicier, while the other version is a bit more savory and saltier.
- You can use your favorite barbecue sauce or homemade sauce. The homemade sauce I used for making Slow Cooker Country-Style Ribs is delicious and only takes a few minutes to make.
- You can make a double or triple match; ensure that the baking dish is large enough and the ribs fit in a single layer. Or use two baking dishes.
- Slotted spoon: I recommend using one for transferring the pork pieces to the baking sheet instead of tongs. The super tender meat might fall apart if you try to move it using tongs.
Recipe FAQ
They are cut of meat from the pork shoulder, and, despite the name, they are not precisely ribs. However, once cooked, their taste and texture are similar to ribs, hence the name.
There are two different cuts: some pieces are cut from the blade end near the shoulder (they often have the bone in), and some are cut from the shoulder area of the pig (they are mostly boneless). You can use any of these cuts for the recipe.
It’s very unlikely; slow cooking usually ensures you cannot overcook the meat.
Refrigerate leftover baked pork ribs in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for about 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat before serving.
Reheat country-style ribs in the preheated oven at 300°F/150°C. Place them in a roasting dish and add a few tablespoons of broth. Cover with foil and reheat for about 20 minutes or until heated through; the meat should reach an internal temperature of about 140°F/60°C.
What to serve with pork ribs?
Mashed potatoes are my favorite side dish for pork country-style ribs. Try Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, Rich Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Creamy Carrot and Swede Mash, or Creamed Celeriac.
There are also many other excellent options besides mash. How about serving them with Sour Cream Potato Salad with Bacon, German Potato Salad, Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes, or Polenta Roast Potatoes?
Try them with Romanian Mac and Cheese or any other mac and cheese you like, Feta Pasta Salad, or a simple green salad with Yogurt Dressing or vinaigrette. German Cabbage Salad or Coleslaw or a Simple White Cabbage Salad are perfect as well.
Or how about roasted Jerusalem artichokes, French-Style Green Beans, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, or Sweetheart Cabbage?
More pork recipes
Country-Style Pork Ribs in the Oven
Equipment
- Baking dish
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Slotted spoon (Note 1)
Ingredients
- 3 lbs country-style pork ribs 1.3 kg, Note 2
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar Note 3
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
- 1 ½ tablespoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce optional Note 4
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F/ 160°C.
- Rub: Mix all the spices in a small bowl.2 Tbsp brown sugar + 2 tsp sweet paprika + 2 tsp smoked paprika + 1 tsp garlic powder + 1 tsp onion powder + ½ tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste) + 1 ½ Tbsp fine sea salt + 1 tsp ground black pepper
- Season: Dry the pork ribs with a paper towel. Rub them well with the spice mixture.
- Bake: Place the ribs into the baking dish. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake them in the oven for 2 to 2 ½ hours until very tender. Remove the foil but be careful: the steam is hot!
- Broil: Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Transfer the ribs to the baking dish using a slotted spoon. Brush the ribs with pan juices or BBQ sauce. Broil for 3-4 minutes until the ribs are browned to your liking. Always keep an eye on them to prevent them from burning.
- Serve: Baste them again with pan juices or BBQ sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
- I recommend using a slotted spoon for transferring the ribs to the baking sheet instead of tongs. The meat is very tender and might fall apart if you try to move it using tongs.
- Boneless or bone-in country-style pork ribs, about 8 ribs. You can make as many as you can fit into the baking dish in a single layer.
- Rub: This is my favorite spice rub for ribs. However, you can rub the ribs with just salt and pepper or any other spice mixture you like.
- BBQ sauce or pan juices: You can baste the pork ribs with BBQ sauce OR pan juices before and after broiling them. Both versions are delicious.