Easy Baked BBQ Beef Ribs Recipe
Let me introduce you to the glorious world of oven-baked barbecue beef short ribs. These mouthwatering ribs are a true delight, offering tender, fall-off-the-bone meat coated in a homemade barbecue sauce that balances sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors. In this easy baked ribs recipe, I really appreciate that after you whisk together the barbecue sauce, put it on the ribs, and them in the oven, it’s an extremely hands off dinner recipe. Check on them towards the end of the roasting time, remove the foil, and allow them to finish cooking uncovered. It couldn’t get any easier! Whether you’re cooking this comfort food recipe on a busy weeknight, for a more formal Sunday family dinner, as a treat for the meat lovers at your tailgating event or game day party, with just a few simple steps, you’ll have a dish that impresses your taste buds. And any lucky family, friends, or guests you serve it to will also be impressed that you made these mouthwatering, super tender and juicy ribs with meat that just falls off the bone, leaving everyone begging for seconds!
What Are Beef Short Ribs?
Beef short ribs are typically taken from the lower portion of the rib area, where the meat is marbled with delicate streaks of fat. These beautifully (fat) marbled ribs are what give them their succulence and create an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth experience. Fat = flavor. I talk extensively about this in my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe. When a fattier cut of meat is cooked low and slow, as is the case in this BBQ baked short ribs recipe, the resulting texture of the protein will be tender, juicy, and oh-so-satisfying.
Ingredients in Oven-Braised BBQ Beef Short Ribs
To make this family favorite beef dinner recipe, you’ll need the following easy to find and very common fridge and pantry ingredients including:
Beef short ribs Ketchup Brown sugar Soy sauce Cider vinegar Worcestershire sauce Dijon mustard Chili powder Smoked paprika Garlic powder Liquid smoke, optional and to taste Salt Black pepper
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make BBQ Short Ribs in the Oven
Despite the quick prep time, these ribs do take about 3 hours to bake. It’s the low and slow cooking method that keeps them so tender. Patience is the key here, but I promise you it is so worth it! But as I mentioned in the intro, the bulk of this recipe is hands off or inactive time – the best kind of time in a recipe! Step 1: Rinse the ribs, pat them dry, and place them in a heavy bottomed roasting pan, baking dish, or cast iron skillet. Step 2: Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and pour over the ribs making sure to coat them well all over. Step 3: Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 2 ½ hours on the middle rack. Some people just adore the smoky flavor it lends when you want to mimic outdoor grilling but you’re actually oven-baking. However, other folks not so much. Know your audience and their flavor preferences before adding it, because you can’t undo it or mask it once it’s there. Remember that a tiny bit goes a very long way! It’s not like, for example vanilla extract where if a recipe says 1 teaspoon, you may be tempted to add 2 (or 3 teaspoons in my case). Don’t! 1 teaspoon max with the smoky stuff! Step 4: Remove the foil and bake about 30 minutes more before serving. Ribs are done when a digital thermometer reads 200-205F.
Serving Suggestions for Baked BBQ Short Ribs
While you’re waiting for your ribs to finish, you can get ahead by making some side dishes to serve alongside them. Here are some excellent side dish ideas for what to serve with your barbecue beef short ribs:
Classic House Salad Easy Baked Beans Slow Cooker Bourbon Baked Beans Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Macaroni Salad Potato Salad with Bacon Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Creamy Mashed Potatoes Sautéed Green Beans Parmesan Balsamic Roasted Broccoli Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Avocado Corn Salad Creamy Corn and Bacon Salad No Knead Dinner Rolls
Recipe Variations to Try
I know you’re going to love the basic recipe, but if you’re feeling adventurous and want to put your spin on things, let me inspire you with some of these ideas:
Turn up the heat: If you like it spicy, add some extra heat to the barbecue sauce. Increase the chili powder or add some cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch.
Asian-Inspired: Add some hoisin sauce and grated ginger to the BBQ sauce to give your short ribs some Asian flare.
Sweeten with honey: Replace the brown sugar with honey for a luscious glossy glaze.
Korean style: Add a spoonful of Korean chili paste into the barbeque sauce for an added spicy-sweet flavor.
Other Ways to Make BBQ Short Ribs
While baking is a fantastic method and will give you tender ribs every time, there are several other mouthwatering ways to prepare them.
Option 1: Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
I have a recipe for Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs. While those are pork and we are talking about beef today, the overall gist is the same. Read over that recipe to see how I make those, and you can easily swap in beef short ribs for baby back pork ribs. Of course, pay attention to cooking times since it’s not an exact apples-to-apples situation.
Option 2: Grilled Beef Short Ribs
Fire up the grill and bring out the smoky goodness! Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and sear the short ribs on each side to achieve a beautiful crust. Then, transfer them to indirect heat and brush them with the BBQ sauce, allowing them to cook slowly until tender. Basting and flipping occasionally will help build up that irresistible caramelized glaze. Make sure to keep the heat low and indirect heat because the lower and slower you can go, the better. Remember, no matter which cooking method you choose, the key is to infuse the ribs with that irresistible BBQ flavor and achieve that fall-off-the-bone tenderness we all crave. So, pick your preferred technique, and let the aroma fill your kitchen!
Tips for the Best Baked BBQ Beef Short Ribs
Finish the ribs. When the final 30 minutes of baking time arrives, remove the foil and let the ribs develop a beautifully caramelized glaze in circulating oven air. You can also place them under the broiler for a couple of minutes. I finish my Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs under the broiler so if this is of interest to you, make sure to read that post. Make sure that if you choose to broil them, you pay very close attention and don’t turn your back on the oven or get distracted and you accidentally burn your precious ribs! Drain the grease. After the initial baking period of about 2 1/2 hours, if you find the pan is too full of grease, carefully pour it out before returning the ribs to the oven. This will prevent excessive greasiness and allow the ribs to finish baking beautifully. Spoon, baste, and flip. While the ribs are baking, you can occasionally spoon the sauce over the top and flip them to ensure they are evenly coated and infused with flavor.
Storing and Reheating
Your baked beef short ribs will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for up to 4 months. Make sure to thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating in either the microwave or oven. I add a bit of barbecue sauce when reheating to prevent them from drying out.
More Easy Baked BBQ Recipes
When grilling season has passed, and maybe you’re not a slow cooker fan, I’ve got a few other baked BBQ recipes when you have barbecue cravings and you want to make them in your oven.
Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken: Juicy and tender chicken with zero clean-up! Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Wings: Perfect for entertaining, these wings pack a flavor punch with the simple 5-ingredient BBQ sauce. One-Pan Barbecue Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potatoes: These bone-in chicken thighs are covered in a sweet BBQ sauce and the best part is the sweet potatoes roast along with the chicken in the same baking sheet. So easy! Barbecue Chicken Sliders – These FAST and EASY sliders are made with shredded chicken, smothered in tangy barbecue sauce, sandwiched between soft Hawaiian rolls with cheese, and baked until warm! BBQ Chicken Pizza – This amazingly fresh bbq pizza reminds me of California Pizza Kitchen’s bbq chicken pizza except I think homemade is better. I’m not partial or anything. In just 15 minutes, you have a meal everyone will love!
More Easy Beef Recipes:
Beef Stew with Dumplings — Beef roast, potatoes, carrots, and more are simmered to tender PERFECTION in a rich and savory broth for the best beef stew that’s easy to make! Cheesy dumplings on top are the final comfort food touch making this a classic family favorite recipe especially when the weather is chilly! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff – A comfort food classic that everyone in the family LOVES! Hearty chunks of beef, rich and flavorful beef gravy, and served over a bed of warm noodles to soak up all that goodness! The EASIEST recipe for beef stroganoff ever because your Crock-Pot truly does all the work! Set it and forget it! Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast — A foolproof recipe for tender, juicy pot roast with just FIVE main ingredients! Your slow cooker does all the work in this comfort food classic pot roast that the whole family will adore! EASIER than any pot roast you will ever make and with more robust flavor! Instant Pot Beef Tips – Tender, juicy beef tips smothered in loads of savory mushroom gravy! So much hearty flavor and just PERFECT for piling over mashed potatoes or noodles! An EASY family-favorite comfort food recipe made entirely in your Instant Pot in about 30 minutes! Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew — Comfort food at its finest with thick and tender chunks of beef, buttery soft potatoes, and mixed vegetables. The broth is rich, deep, and exquisite thanks to a mixture of beef broth, red wine, and a mixture of herbs and spices. IMPRESS your family and friends with this CLASSIC beef stew recipe! Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry — These EASY Chinese-inspired Mongolian beef stir-fry bowls are ready in just 10 minutes!! Loaded with rich savory flavor, crisp-tender vegetables, and served over rice! Faster than calling for takeout when you’re craving Asian food!!
