Easy succulent Barbecue Ribs seasoned to perfection with the ideal spice rub and finished off with some of the most lip-smacking homemade sauce.
Lots of good things going on today friends.
Clearly, these barbecue ribs, but also some other fun things too!
My whole family including my mom, dad and my younger sister are flying over from Ukraine to visit us this weekend! We haven’t seen each other since last summer and are so excited to spend time together. My mom visited us a few times before, but it will be the first time in Canada for my dad and sister! I couldn’t be more happy and can’t wait to see them! I am planning on making these delicious barbecue ribs with homemade sauce!
These ribs are rubbed with an intoxicating mix of spices, braised in the oven and then finished on the grill. All smothered up in some really tasty homemade barbecue sauce!
I’ve made this recipe for Father’s Day and they were a huge hit. I’m so thrilled to share my tips with you.
If you have never made ribs, or never made barbecue ribs, prepare for your mind to be blown with this easy method. The ribs come out moist and tender every single time!
Prepping The Ribs
First we want to trim off any extra fat and tough membranes from the ribs. Here’s a good guide with step-by-step pictures showing you how to do it.
The Spice Rub
We love making our own barbecue spice rub. It also works nicely on chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, and even salmon or tuna steaks. It includes a blend of paprika, brown sugar, chilli powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. The rub recipe makes quite a bit but don’t be afraid to use all of the blend for perfectly flavoured ribs.
Braising Barbecue Ribs In The Oven
A key step here that infuses the ribs with extra flavour and ensures they don’t dry out while baking is cooking them in a splash of apple cider. The ribs will braise low and slow wrapped up in some foil for about two hours. But the timing isn’t critical here. Cook them for 30 minutes less, if you prefer the ribs on a chewer side. And even if you cook them for more than two hours they are still going to come out tender and juicy. Unless you severely over or undercooked them, they’re pretty hard to mess up.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Meanwhile, whisk up your tantalizing barbecue sauce that is sweet and tangy and just right. It’s a simple mixture of spices, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar and, my secret ingredient, balsamic vinegar reduction. It balances out the acidity with subtle sweetness and makes the sauce so complex and flavourful.
Once the ribs have finished braising in the oven throw them on the grill for a couple of minutes while you slather them in BBQ sauce. Or let them rest until they come to room temperature. Then place them in an airtight container or a large ziplock bag and leave in the fridge until ready to grill. Could not be an easier and more delicious way to do it!
With Canada Day just around the corner and ribs being the most popular item on the menu, I figured you might like this! 🙂
Barbecue Ribs with Homemade Sauce
Ingredients
Spice Rub Mix
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Ribs
- 3 lb baby back ribs
- 1 1/2 cups sparkling apple cider
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar reduction
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup sparkling apple cider
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp molasses
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce (Tabasco or Sriracha)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Ribs
- Prep the ribs (refer to picture guide in the blog post).
- Place two large sheets of foil onto the working surface and place the ribs on top.
Spice Rub Mix
- Combine the rub mix ingredients and rub all over the ribs.
- Fold up the edges of the foil and seal to create a boat (refer to pictures in the blog post).
- Carefully pour over the apple cider.
- Seal foil packets completely and place them on the tray.
- Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C).
- Bake the ribs for 2 hours or to your taste. (30 min less will result in chewer ribs if you prefer).
- After 2 hours remove the ribs from the foil and place them on a tray.
- At this point you can either grill them or leave them in an airtight container or a large ziplock back in the fridge until ready to serve. If you don’t have a grill, you can broil them in the oven instead.
- Once ready to serve generously brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and continue baking for 20 more minutes or throw them on the grill for 3-4 minutes per side, while you slather them in more BBQ sauce.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 – 40 minutes or until thickened.
- Serve the ribs with remaining sauce on the side.
Notes
More Delicious Summer Recipes:
Grilled Chicken Shawarma Pita Pockets – so simple and so flavourful!
Garlic Thyme Fondant Potatoes with Grilled Octopus – tender homemade octopus and melt-in-your mouth potatoes. This dish has it all for all the seafood lovers!
Open-fire Pilaf – going camping on a long weekend? Little else beats the woodsy sights and smells of a campfire dinner.
Homemade Plombir Ice Cream – there’s no summer without ice cream. This homemade version will knock your socks off!
These ribs are beautiful! I see no reason to purchase a spice rub OR to buy bottled barbecue sauce, when they’re both so much better and less expensive to make!!! I do have one stand by sauce that I like, but I need to change things up or else every brisket or rib meal would taste the same!!! Great photos!
Thank you so much Mimi! Hope you give this recipe a try as well one day!
Your photos are awesome! We love ribs at our house, but have never done them in the oven first. We don’t have AC, so this would be a perfect recipe for the cooler months. Delicious!
Yes indeed! Thank you so much Colleen!
We love ribs in our house, but I don’t cook them as much as I used to. This recipe sounds delicious (and the photos are so enticing)! I may have to buy some ribs and cook them up soon! Enjoy your visit with your family!!
Thank you Leanne! Cheers!
I have many memories of attending ribfest growing up! I hope you enjoy it and your time with you family!
Also, this BBQ sauce looks amazing and I think this is the perfect recipe for this weekend. Yay for grilling season!
Thank you so much Lizzy!
So happy for you that your family is lying over to see you! Nobody in my family ever came to visit me here, but I go frequently enough there 🙂 . Ribs are Loreto’s domain, to make and to eat, and these look absolutely amazing. Plus, your pictures make them mouthwatering.
Thank you Nicoletta! ❤️
These look amazing! And the photos are beautiful. How do you make raw meat look so good?!
Looks super delicious! Have you tried with Rum?
I found this recipe which is pretty similar but they put Rum inside. It gives an extra flavor which is awesome.
https://blog.dad.kitchen/rum-bbq-ribs/