Easy & Tender Babyback Ribs

By Addie

This is the best way I have found to make baby back ribs that are probably the best tasting ribs I have ever tasted, and the method is so simple that anyone can do it.

Ingredients

• 1 rack of baby back ribs
• 1 bottle of "Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce"

Preparation

Step 1

First, buy a rack of ribs, and cut it into about 3 chunks, so that it will fit into a pot. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil.

Place the ribs sections into the pot and boil it for 45 minutes.

After the ribs boil for 45 minutes, take them out and place them in a large rectangular casserole baking dish and smother them with BBQ sauce (I like "Sweet Baby Ray's" brand, but you can use whatever kind you like best).

Cover them with tinfoil and refrigerate for several hours. Remove from refrigerator and cook them in the oven on 250°F for 3 hours, then remove the tinfoil from the top, and broil them for 5-10 minutes for a crispy top.

If you don't want to broil them, put them on a hot grill for several minutes and grill until top is crispy.

The only thing about this recipe is that it takes planning. I usually boil them on Saturday night, put BBQ sauce on them, cover and refrigerate, then take them out on Sunday morning and put them in the oven.

This way, I have a nice meal for Sunday afternoon.
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REVIEWS:

These are the best ribs I have ever had!!!! (And my entire family agrees) THANKS :)

I'm a terrible cook, but with this it most definitely wowed everyone. Thank you.

I have spoken to many chefs (including Asian, Texans, etc.)and each one has said, NEVER, EVER, BOIL any type ribs in water first. Apparently,. it takes all the flavor and juices out.

These baby back ribs are even better than going out for ribs. My family loved them. I started Sat. night then put them in the frig overnight with Sweet Baby Rays sauce. AWESOME... and easy....

That's my favorite method for ribs, the only thing I do differently is replacing about half the boiling water with Newcastle beer!

Just started tonight but your the first person I see comments for so i'll give it a try, thanks.

Awesome ribs, they were very easy and tender. Better than going out to a restaurant. I'll be making these again and again, that's for sure!

The meat was extremely tender, but the boiling took away a lot of the flavor of the meat itself.

UNBELIEVABLE! I put them on the pit after all of the prep, great idea. My daughter who loves ribs pulled the first one right off of the bone. The flavor was incredible. I boiled them last night (Sat.) and cooked them Sunday. Very impressed as was my wife, who is a hard sell.

I make my ribs with this recipe and they are better than any restaurant every time. Sweet Baby Rays sauce is what I use every time too. Boil or not, these taste better and are more tender than any ribs I order at restaurants. People rave about my ribs... try it!

I was definitely skeptical with all the cooking involved...but OH MY GOD. These were the best ribs EVER! I am looking forward to next time, and using the beer in the boiling like Pete said.
Sep 21, 9:48 PM
Audrey says:
Great ribs. My family loved it. Fall off the bone and so tender. I will make them like that again. Thanks for the recipe

Try boiling the ribs in Coca-Cola instead of water. Great flavor!!! Just pour in enough to cover the ribs. I boil and then simmer mine for 3-4 hours and then place the ribs on a foil lined cookie sheet, cover them in BBQ sauce, and bake or throw on the grill for about 5 minutes. They are always fall-off-the-bone delicious!

This is a great recipe. My wife always ordered Baby Back Ribs when we went to Chili's but I heard they are a lot of work. This recipe is so easy it is foolproof. I have used it several times. The only thing I changed was I made my own sauce. There are many good ones here!

Wow this recipe is great. This is my fourth time using it. My family loves it!

EXCELLENT!! and easy to make. I have used the recipe many times and they are always good.

Great recipe.... And not only on Sundays!! I made them during the week and it was easy enough.

This recipe is great! The one change I made (big for those of you that say boiling ruins flavor) was to use beef broth. I covered the ribs in the pot with beef broth and the flavor just after boiling was still very good. Great recipe, thanks!!

Great recipe, I was on a time crunch and didn't have time to let the ribs sit over night. I let them sit an hour in the fridge and they still turned out great. Very tender and tasty.

Three words. Tender delicious thanks.

Simple, but delicious. Everyone loved it! Tender and full of flavor.

The result was very tender ribs; and the recipe had super easy steps.

Just got em boiling and they already smell great!!!

This recipe was great! Thank you. I have been trying to make good ribs for years - these tasted just like I got them from a restaurant.

Always did boil country ribs, but being from St. Louis, whenever doing babybacks, peel thin layer of skin before grilling and get a pan large enough to hold ribs and sauce after grilling leave on grill and let sauce boil for 20 minutes or more, meat falls off bone. YUM!!

I never boil baby back ribs. I marinate them for a few hourse in the rub of olive oil, garlic and a some other herbs that you like for pork. put it in the oven wrapped in the foil bones up. Leave it at 400°F. for two hours. Unwrapped, baste it in your fav bbq sauce we use Dianna's or Montanas'(restaurant) souse and the come off so tender and juice off the bone. My kids love them. The key is the slow cooking for 2-1/2 hours in the oven and enough flavour to your taste.
Jan 3, 6:06 PM
Vicki (Wisconsin) says:
I don't boil them just cut them up and mix barbeque sauce with water. Pour over seasoned ribs. Cover pan with foil and cook in slow oven about 250°F. for 4 to 5 hours. Pour barbeque sauce over ribs last hour.

I have made these ribs for a few years. I boil them completely in beer. Cheap beer or more expensive beer only matters the next day when you eat them cold. You can taste the difference then. I put Sweet Baby Rays on but I also mix in a little hot sauce. There is a Jack Daniels one I like. The only problem I have ever had with this recipe, is when you make it for a group of people or friends be ready for them to always ask you to make these ribs.

The ribs were great and as for the sauce I always make my own, just use your imagination. I always use my favorite seeds. Try sesame seeds, they come out great in every dish.

Never boil - it removes the true flavor. If you're able, through a rack or two on a grill (gas is fine). Cook them on a medium heat - just getting the outside cooked and flavored....about 15 minutes. Put the ribs into a 9x13 pan. Brush (or slather - which ever you prefer) them with your favorite sauce. Pour 3/4 can of root beer (I prefer A&W root beer)in the bottom of the pan. Bake in the oven, set at 250-275°F. for 2 hours. FOTBY (Fall off the bone yummy!)

First, take the skin off the back. Broil, not boil the ribs w/ some light seasonings (rubs or liquid). Then refrigrate or aim for the grill with your favorite sauce. Sauces tend to cook before the meat is medium - so don't add sauce until meat is cooked to your desire.

I have used this same basic recipe ever since I discovered Sweet Baby Ray's. However I never boil them. 4 hours in a crock pot set to high tenderizes them and then broil or grill them with sauce. The best, though, is grill them over real apple wood, a real favorite with my friends and neighbors.

I didn't care for ribs because I always thought they were too fatty. A chef from Hyatt Regency Hotel at Ohare Airport in Chicago gave me this recipe for ribs about 40 years ago. Except I add a large sliced onion and some garlic to the water that I boil the ribs in. My son adds beer, also. Baby Ray's is the best. After refrigerating overnight, bring to room temperature and place on the grill to brown. Pre-Boiling reduces the fat.

I also make ribs this way. However I boil them in beef broth and pepper. This helps to keep a lot of flavor.

Absolutely wonderful ribs, regardless of the boiling they taste great. The family loves this recipe......Only change was we boil them in beer.

The best way is to bbq them first until all the blood is out and then steam them with apple cider vinegar and water in a casserole pan that you would put a turkey in for about 4 to 5 hours. Then re-grill, sauce them and these will be the best ribs u have ever had and they will be fall off the bone good!! These are best in world, I promise.
Jan 11, 5:49 PM
Daisy Mae 1 (United States) says:
Wow this sounds good but I never boil my baby back ribs,I actually steam, smoke and grill at the same time. I don't have that big of a grill but I can cook up to 6 slabs at a time!!

Even easier,,, just cook low and slow in the oven 2 hrs. Turn over another hr. Then put your sauce on them.... Yum yum

I'm making these fabulous ribs for the third time--they are so easy & it's great being able to do all the work ahead. My family loves them. Making them for a crowd of men coming for my husband's b'day. I do use a different sauce--but that's not the important piece...it's them being so tender.

These ribs are awesome !!! Not sure why people are talking about the boiling factor when pork ribs have such a mild flavor which is why there is always rubs, bbq, smoke involed in flavoring ribs... The tenderness is really the most important thing and this is by far the easiest way to get them tender without going through all the hassle...Now if we were talking about steak I would understand keeping flavor locked in because that meat is best plain...

You never, EVER, boil ribs!! u can get the same results with a simple rub and a grill at 250°F for about 6 hours. Ribs will be tender and u wont lose any of the flavor that u pour down the drain with the water. And if you dont have a grill as a last resort u can put them in the over at 250°F for 6 hours.

Boiling ribs is a cardinal sin. Those of you that say these are the best ever, need to try cooking ribs slow and low. The flavoring comes from the rub and the sauce. Boiling changes the make up of the meat, once they have been boiled, they cannot absorb the flavor of the sauce.

Shame on you for boiling ribs. Boiling is not only blasphemy, it's totally unecessary. Bake @ 250F 3 1/2 hrs and finish off with a 10 min broil (or better yet, grill if you have the means)

I just followed this recipe today. After reading comments about the meat losing flavor I decided to add a bottle of Woodchuck Cider and garlic cloves, and just enough water to cover the meat. Also rubbed some Adolf's and other seasonings. All I can say is that they were mouth watering and so tender. Thanks!!

Great recipe and super simple. My family thinks I am a BBQ rib master.

Tried this recipe! Easy and convenient... I hope my husband likes it!! To prevent loss of flavor I used chicken broth which after I transfer the ribs to the pan I can make into soup :) Thanks!!
May 10, 1:32 PM
Southern Gal (Virginia) says:
No boiling. Better method is to pour 1 cup water and 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar in pan. Place ribs on rack over pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in 250°F oven for about 1 hour. Uncover and finish on charcoal grill for about another hour basting with your favorite BBQ sauce (I add about 3 tablespoons drippings to sauce. Rewrap in aluminum and let rest for about 10 minutes. YUMMEEEE!!!!!

This was first time I cooked ribs.They were juicy and tender. Every one loved them. Super easy recipe.

Great and quick... I also love slow cooking ribs on the smoker, but takes a lot longer. In a pinch, I will boil with onions and apple cider vinegar, get the grill going, smoother in Sweet Baby Ray's... About an hour and a half later, my family is eatin some finger lick'n good ribs!

OMG.. I made this last weekend.. And my Husband Loved them... I am actually making them today... Again!! Wonderful Ideas... And the ribs keep their flavor.. They were soo Good.. Thank you!

I have always boiled ribs and this recipe is right on. I boil them in apple juice. the ribs have that wonderful touch of apple flavor and fall off the bone.

I have always boiled my ribs first to make up for time, it is quicker. To make them taste better you can either put some of the juices back over them from boiling them and put them in the fridge cover and let sit over night or dry them really good after you boil them and make a spice rub and put that on and let set over night comes out fabulous.

Excellent! I saw another similar recipe that had a teaspoon of liquid smoke added to the water. Simmered about an hour then cooked on grill about 15 min. So easy and very tasty!

Just cooked baby back ribs Monday night, very good. I boil mine also before baking. In my water I add crushed red pepper, apple cider vinegar, a whole onion, cloves of garlic, season all and black pepper. This combo always yields tender and flavorful meat.

These are NOT bbq ribs! These are Boiled ribs with bbq sauce!! You lose All of the natural flavor when you boil the ribs! If you don't believe me then try boiling a steak before bbq'ing it next time!

Boiling ribs is the stupidest thing i have ever heard. I'm always astounded when some cooks boil pork ribs, especially baby backs. Most of the pork flavor is left in the water, and baby backs are no naturally tender there's no need for this. Slow cooking will remove all excess fat in both spareribs and baby backs. With both, skinning the membrane from the slab will make them very tender if cooked properly. This recipe will work better if you skip the boiling and proceed exactly with the steps after that. Much tastier, too!

Awesome ribs.... Cooked them several times and they are always tender. I add a onion and some garlic when I boil them. Will cook them again and again.

Takes a little planning but they are easy to do and they are a crowd pleaser!

Perfect!! My whole family loved these. Even though they were boiled, these ribs had a lot of flavor and were very tender. Thanks!!

I tried this recipe and it was wonderful. I was afraid to do it at first because I was cooking for several people at a tailgate. The people went wild over the ribs. They were everything you said they would be and more. The only thing I did differently was boiled them in beef broth as someone on this site had mentioned. Wonderful, easy and delicious way to prepare ribs.

Okay people we get it, don't boil the ribs if you are a true BBQ chef. However this recipe is the best and guess what you need to boil the ribs. So if you are not a BBQ chef and don't mind boiling ribs then use this super simple recipe. I have all my neighbors dying over this recipe and guess what (I say with shame) they were BOILED.

The first time I tried it just like recipe called for. The second time I used my own sauce in the water a weak mix. Then followed the recipe and WOW this is the best and you can add a little. Thank you very much. I intend to experiment more.

My honey made these and they were amazing. I would suggest saucing them one more time before broiling, but WOW, had beans, potato salad and cole slaw...great combination. Only missed the corn bread... DEFINITELY a do again!!!

Not a chef but love to cook. Boiling ribs...boo...loses all the flavor. Place them in a baking pan with alittle water on the bottom at 300°F. Add alittle lemon juice to the water. Cover tightly with tin foil steam until fork tender appx.3 hours. Place ribs back in the fridge for about an hour or overnight if prefer. Put on grill or in oven basting with your favorite sauce. Tada....a crowd favorite!!!!!

These ribs are wonderful prepared like this. If you do not like to BOIL YOUR RIBS!! you can season and flour them, then brown then in oil. Also you can add a finely chopped onion to your bbq sauce. cook the same

I just made these and they were perfect! I was nervous about the boiling but the ribs really came out perfectly! I used redhook esp (beer) in the boil. Used sweet baby rays for the BBQ sauce. These honestly fell off the bone and were perfect!

Good times!! very easy and will be using this recipe for all my baby back rib meals!

This recipe doesn't really require that much planning. I bought some pork baby back ribs, boiled them with some salt, and fresh garlic and onion for 45 minutes. Took them out, placed them in a pan, covered them with BBQ sauce (Dave's Sweet and Sassy BBQ sauce) and let them sit for about 30 minutes. Threw them on the BBQ until they got a nice char on them...they were so tender and delicious...

The only thing different I did was boil my ribs in water mixed with apple cider vinegar.

I am a chef by title, and never ever ever are ribs to be boiled first! They may have tasted good to you, but they can taste wayyyy better!

Awesome recipe! I love Applebee's BBQ ribs but these are way better and cheaper too.

I found this recipe about a year ago and will never look for another. The ribs come out so tender and oh so good!!!

This is a great recipe... instead of water I use Black Cherry soda.. I let the ribs simmer in the soda for abut 2 1/2 hours then put them in the over covered with Jack Daniels BBQ or Sweet baby rays bbq and cook them for another 15 mins.... the meat falls right off the bone!!!! Amazing.

Indeed a wonderful recipe and I used Jack Daniels smokehouse bbq sauce and some sriacha hot sauce chili hot sauce mixed with some brown sugar and bbq makes for a wonderful spice meal very excellent.

So incredibly easy I was embarrassed to tell my hubby. I just told him it took two days to make. He said they were the best ribs he's ever had!

This recipe is the best! My whole family thought these ribs were delicious. I will definitely be making these again and again.

This is the only way I make my ribs now. there is no need for any other recipe. I just change up the barbecue sauces sometimes. But the Sweet Baby Ray's is best.

Oh my gosh...these were sooo good, yes, plan ahead..they are worth it and the Sweet Baby Rays is our new fave sauce! Thanks for the great recipe!! RIBLOVERS :)

I would like to say that the first and most important part of cooking ribs is to boil them until the meat is tender. I give you a 1000% just for this. Second; simple is best and you achieved this. GREAT! recipe.
May 8, 11:15 AM
Bluewisa (West Virginia) says:
Best ribs ever!!!! I've used your recipe for about two years and it is true everyone loves them. I'm making them for my mother in law for mothers day because she loves them so much. Thanks for sharing an easy, awesome recipe!

I do the same except there is no need to boil the ribs, just roast in the oven with the bbq sauce for 2 hrs. Great!

Absolutely love it... Yum. I actually rubbed my ribs with garlic salt and a pepper blend prior to boiling. After boiling, I followed with a touch of brown sugar and mustard. Refrigerate them overnight, then finished the recipe with baby rays prior to baking them.

Thanks for the assist with the cooking method though. Very tasty.

I am 75yrs of age and been BBQing ribs since I was a kid and NEVER boiled a one as my dad would have disowned me.
Until now! Had to do some quickly and tried this out. I need'nt even have to put my teeth in to enjoy these. Great ! and thanks for teaching an old dog a new trick!

I have been boiling ribs using a recipe similar to this for YEARS!!! I add garlic, spices and Liquid Smoke to my boiling liquid to add flavor. Baby back ribs have very little flavor themselves. Another idea I have used for years is to cook the ribs using a rack. I place the rack over seasoned apple juice or cider to keep the meat moist during the long roasting time (3 1/4 hours @ 250°F) with the BBQ sauce; I prefer Jack Daniels to Sweet Baby Rays. I never have any leftovers!!!

You should not boil ribs. I'm sure they are good but better ways to make them than boil.

I just made the ribs the way listed, I boiled them then set them overnight with sauce. My wife who never had rib's just loved them and the tenderness. I will always make them this way, very impressive for the recipe. :)

I put the racks of ribs in a large roasting pan, cover with salt, pepper and some liquid smoke, and enough water to cover them about halfway. Cover with foil, and roast at 250°F for about 2 to 3 hours. Uncover, and douse generously with bar-b-q-sauce, and roast at 350°F for another 1/2 hr. and serve.

I agree...Sweet Baby Rays is the best!

These are the easiest and best ribs ever! All my friends think I am a genius!

Finally a simple way to get ribs so tender they just fall off the bone. And Sweet Baby Rays is the best sauce.

Ribs can still be decent if you boil them (especially with a good bbq sauce) but are better if you do not boil. Taste the water after you boil them. It's flavored, right? That is flavor lost when you eat the ribs. If you cook them slow, they will be just as tender as if boiled, and the taste will be better.

No boiling. Dry rub marinade a few hours in fridge. Low temp bake for a few hours in foil. Grill to baste in bbq sauce. There are no shortcuts!

Easy... Tender... Delicious... Excellent recipe, thanks for your intelligence!!!

I am 19 years old made this for my gf last night and YUM my favorite food well ribs takes the cake.. boiling them isn't bad you just had to add special ingredients while its boiling i add vinegar, McCormick rib seasoning, onion and garlic on a low boil. then i stick them in the oven and put bbq sauce on it (while turning them over) about 3 times before i take them out. I let them cook for about 2 hours on 350°F then adjust it lower as time passes. Right off the bone and it has that hearty rib taste yummm.

Made the baby back ribs this afternoon. used the BBQ sauce (Love it of course) I did not preboil the ribs, instead I put them in the oven at 250°F I used a 1/4cup salt mixed with 1/4 cup sugar, rubbed it well into both sides of rack and then I added a bit of water along with some apple cider vinegar. Covered the ribs and cooked one hour, turned them over, cooked another hour, turned them over spread some BBQ sauce on top and cooked them another hour. Then took it all out to the BBQ pan and all, cooked as is for about one more hour. Tasty, tender, juicy, no need for cutting this meat off the bone, it just fell off. Thanks to Sabor Designs for the posting, it helped me a lot.Oh yes, I did add more sauce while they were outside on the gas grill.
Dec 22, 6:18 PM
Blondie (Texas) says:
I tried this, and these ribs are the best! They tasted just like the ribs you get at restaurants, and it's easy!! I totally disagree about boiling removing the flavor. That's what you'd think would happen, but I found that all it really does is remove a lot of the fat. If you want tender, delicious ribs that aren't dripping in grease, this is the recipe to try!
Feb 5, 11:38 PM
Tasha (New Mexico) says:
Man I looked up this recipe today and my ribs, I boiled them in water and beer for 45 minutes then seasoned the ribs with pork rub and then put the ribs in a pan, smothered them with Jack Daniels BBQ sauce. Then I foiled the pan, preheated the oven to 250°F and put the ribs in the oven for 2 hours and 16 minutes. My god they were the bomb. So tender and juicy. My husband said they were the best that I ever made. But thanks to you I got the credit. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Mar 24, 2:08 PM
J (Alabama) says:
To the freaks that say "never boil ribs", Are you serious?? I've made my ribs this way for years and they have won every competition I have been in. Such great flavor and so tender, they fall off of the bone. You guys are seriously missing out because you think you are purists. I've had the "slow cookers" do a complete 180 after trying my ribs...they had to take home left overs of the "slow cook", my ribs were all GONE. Open up your minds a bit and stop being left out of great ribs. Do you guys walk everywhere because "cars are just a fad"?
Apr 7, 9:54 PM
Phil Englehart (California) says:
Good Form!!
Apr 16, 3:16 PM
Karen Thompson (Tennessee) says:
Love this recipe. So simple and easy. This is the only way our family cooks it.
Apr 23, 10:50 AM
Mary Clough (Illinois) says:
THE BEST RIBS THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD
Yes-I boiled them first w/onions & bay leaves for 2 hrs. Put Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce, covered w/foil in oven @250°F for 3 hours (put in whole potatoes the last 2 hours) made homemade coleslaw and DINNER. I checked on the ribs only once and put more BBQ sauce on them. One of the most easiest dinners ever. Thank you
Apr 23, 12:15 PM
Becky (Kansas) says:
I FINALLY made the best ribs ever with this recipe idea. Boiled the ribs for the suggested amount of time then put dry rub on and left in refrigerator over night. Placed in my Big Easy on '5' for 2 1/2 hours, placed in foil with BBQ sauce and back in the Big Easy for about 30 minutes. These ribs fell off the bone and there wasn't a morsel left over. THANKS!
May 12, 9:58 AM
Virginia Gramma (Michigan) says:
The best tasting, tender, ribs. Sweet baby rays sauce is succulent. Try them you love em. And easy to make. The family will love you for them.
May 20, 2:17 PM
Randy (Mississippi) says:
BOIL RIBS!! THAT IS A CRIME
May 22, 8:15 AM
Cindy Motes (Georgia) says:
Thank you, thank you!! These ribs were avsolutely wonderful!

Love this recipe. Super easy, and requires minimal planning. Delicious ribs never-the-less.

I have always boiled my baby back ribs (in coke or beer - didn't really see a difference) and then grilled soon after, however, after reading your recipe (and everybody's ideas)I let them cool a little, added a dry rub, and refrigerated overnight. When it was time to grill, I let them come to room temp. and brushed with sauce. THIS is my new way of preparing ribs.

Boiling the ribs is such a great idea. Like most stupid people, i never boiled ribs prior to broiling or grilling them. I have to tell you, half budweiser and half water boiling mixture makes all the difference. So much more tender and flavorful than not boiling them. Why would anyone want to sacrifice flavor/tenderness omitting this awesome step? Boil your ribs.... So delicious. Dont listen to the people that dont know what they are doing. Most have probably never tried boiling.

Thank for simplistic but beautiful recipe! Of all the shows I watch for babybacks this takes the cake, quick, easy and mostly,delicious... Friends thought they were a masterpiece!

Thanks for the great recipe. We love the ribs with this one.