BBQ Country Style Ribs in the Oven

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/31/24
Tested by
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Tested by Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 95 mins
Total: 115 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 6 to 8 country-style ribs

Rather than being cooked for hours on the grill or in the smoker, these boneless country-style pork ribs are baked to tender, juicy perfection in the oven! With a spicy rub and your favorite store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce, these ribs are a must-have for your next party.

Baked barbecued country-style ribs brushed with barbecue sauce, stacked on a white serving platter

The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

Using the oven instead of the grill or a smoker also means these juicy ribs are ready in just about an hour and a half. It's a simple, easy-to-prep meal that's mostly hands off, so you can let the oven do the work and spend the rest of the time putting together sides or doing other things around the house.

What Exactly Are Country-Style Pork Ribs?

This inexpensive cut of pork is not a true rib. Instead, country-style pork ribs are cut from either the blade end of the loin near the shoulder or from the shoulder itself.

These ribs are thick cuts that have good marbling and more meat than actual ribs, so they're more like a pork chop. While some butchers leave them in the form of a rack and do not cut all the way through, it's more common to find country-style pork ribs that are cut into individual pieces.

This recipe is for boneless ribs, but you can use bone-in country-style ribs (which contain the shoulder bone) if that's what you find. Plan on substituting about 4 pounds of bone-in ribs for 2 1/2 pounds of boneless ribs.

How to Season Country-Style Pork Ribs

For the best flavor and texture, rub these ribs with dried spices before cooking and then slather them with barbecue sauce at the end of cooking.

The recipe includes a simple Cajun seasoning, though you can also use a store-bought version. Note that the recipe makes more Cajun seasoning than you'll need for the ribs. Store the extra seasoning in a tightly sealed bag or jar and use it to season fish, chicken, roasted vegetables, and more.

What to Serve with Country-Style Pork Ribs

Pair the ribs with classic coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and cornbread, for a hearty meal your family and friends will enjoy.

Tips for Making BBQ Ribs Recipe

  • Scale up or down - Make as many ribs as you need. Count on about two ribs per person, and simply use more or less seasoning and sauce as needed to cover the ribs.
  • Make a rack of ribs - If the country-style pork ribs you buy are cut into individual pieces, stand them up and place them close together to make a "rack." They will cook evenly and are easier to cover with onions and baste with sauce. If you buy one whole piece of meat, slice it into "ribs" after cooking.
  • Season well - If you decide to use store-bought Cajun seasoning and it is salt-free, sprinkle the ribs lightly with kosher salt and add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder for extra flavor.
  • Use foil to line the pan and cover the ribs - Lining the pan makes cleanup quick and easy while covering the ribs keeps them from drying out in the oven. You'll remove the foil to finish baking.
  • Wait to sauce them - Because of its sugar content, barbecue sauce can burn easily. Wait to add it until the very end of the cooking time.
  • Finish by broiling - A few minutes under the broiler gives the ribs a crispy top similar to what you'd get from grilling.


What You'll Need to Make This Country Style Ribs Recipe
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A Sturdy Rimmed Baking Sheet
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A Sharp Chef's Knife
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A Nifty Basting Brush

"Making these ribs was a breeze and the results were impressive. Following the recommended oven temperature and time, they came out perfectly moist and my ideal doneness for pork. It’s a great weeknight meal because it took 15 minutes to prep and the foil made clean-up a snap." —Colleen Graham

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A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Cajun Seasoning:

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

For the Ribs:

  • 2 1/2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs, about 8 ribs

  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

  • 1 medium onion, sliced

  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for baked barbecued country-style ribs recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  2. Heat the oven to 325 F. Line a shallow baking pan with foil; coat the foil with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

    Two foil-lined rimmed baking pans coated with cooking spray

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt 

  3. In a small bowl, to make the Cajun seasoning ingredients, combine 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Mix well.

  4. Pat 2 1/2 pounds bonless country-style pork ribs (about 8 ribs) with paper towels to dry.

    Drying the ribs with a paper towel on a wooden cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  5. Rub 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning mixture over all sides of the ribs. (Reserve the rest of the seasoning mixture for other uses.)

    Ribs thickly coated with Cajun seasoning on a wooden cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  6. Arrange the ribs in the prepared baking pan and then top with 1 medium onion (sliced).

    Ribs arranged on foil-lined baking pans and topped with onion slices

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  7. Cover with another piece of foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the ribs are very tender.

    Bakings pans entirely covered with foil

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  8. Remove the top piece of foil and brush the ribs with 1/2 cup barbecue sauce.

    Browned ribs with onion topping, generously brushed with barbecue sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  9. Bake uncovered for about 15 minutes longer, or broil for about 2 to 3 minutes for a crisper exterior. Serve and enjoy.

    Deeply browned ribs on foil-lined baking pans

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

How to Store BBQ Ribs

Refrigerate leftover ribs in a sealed container for up to four days.


Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • No Cajun seasoning, no problem - Replace the Cajun seasoning with smoked paprika.
  • Make it sweet - Sweeten your favorite barbecue sauce with a tablespoon of brown sugar if you like your ribs on the sweet side.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
847 Calories
52g Fat
19g Carbs
76g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 847
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 52g 67%
Saturated Fat 19g 94%
Cholesterol 272mg 91%
Sodium 2966mg 129%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 76g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 72mg 6%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 1430mg 30%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)