Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

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Grab extra napkins! These oven roasted baby back ribs are tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness slathered in tangy bourbon BBQ sauce.

I really have to be inspired to turn on my oven in the dog days of summer and a big plate of baby back ribs is as good a reason as I can think of. 

My son Jack has a teeny tiny obsession with ribs, so I decided to put a smile on his face and make a pile of tender, saucy ribs slathered in homemade BBQ sauce.

Cook your Baby Back Ribs Low and Sloooow!

I cover them first in a dry rub, wrap them up tight, and let them sit in the refrigerator overnight.

The following day, they go straight into a 300 degree oven for a couple hours while I get busy with the BBQ sauce. My homemade BBQ sauce has brown sugar, honey, vinegar, spices and bourbon, because, well…bourbon.

It’s a little sweet, with a little heat, and a lot of tang.

For the last hour I crank the oven to 350 degrees, open the foil wrap, and drench the ribs with the BBQ sauce. The baby back ribs finish cooking in the oven, uncovered, until they are impossibly tender, and juicy. 

The meat falls right off the bone and is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

I like to serve them with grilled corn, fresh bread, a big green salad, ice cold beers, and lemonade. We keep the wet naps and paper towels handy, the conversation light, and the music cranking. This is how to summer!

Let’s make Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1. Remove the membrane from each rack. Nudge it with a knife to get started, then peel.
2. Combine the ingredients for the dry rub. Mix well.
3. Lay each rack in a large piece of heavy duty foil and cover both sides with the dry rub, massaging it into the meat. 
4. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

5. Combine the ingredients for the BBQ sauce in a medium saucepan. Whisk well and simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat.
6. Roast the ribs, covered, in a 300 degree oven for 2 hours.
7. Remove the ribs from the oven, open the foil and pour the drippings into the BBQ sauce. Bring the BBQ sauce to boil, then reduce to a simmer.
8. Slather the ribs with BBQ sauce, reserving some to serve on the side.
9. Return the ribs to the oven, turned up to 350 degrees and continue to roast, brushing occasionally with BBQ sauce, for about 50-60 more mins.
10. Cut the ribs and serve with the remaining BBQ sauce.

Tips for success

• Be sure to remove the membrane before adding the dry rub to the ribs. If you don’t, it will be tough and chewy and won’t allow the flavors of the dry rub to permeate the ribs.
• Heavy duty foil is best for wrapping the ribs. It is tougher and less likely to tear.
• The dry rub gives these ribs an extra spicy kick. You can tweak it to your taste by dialing the spices up or down.
• Don’t skip adding the juices into the BBQ sauce. It gives the sauce a deeper, layered, meaty flavor.
• Yep these ribs cook low and slow and definitely take time. Don’t be in a rush! They’re worth the time and most of it is hand’s off.

More Pork Favorites

• Mustard Glazed Grilled Pork Chops
• Apple Cider Pork Chops
• Pork Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes
• Pork Carnitas with Pineapple Mango Salsa

4 from 3 votes

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Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Prep Time

1 d

Cook Time

3 hrs

Total Time

1 d 3 hrs

 

Grab extra napkins! These oven roasted baby back ribs are tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness slathered in tangy bourbon BBQ sauce.

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baby back ribs

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 617 kcal

Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For...

Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork loin baby back ribs (2 full racks)

Dry Rub

• 2 Tbsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 6- ounce can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. Remove membrane from the racks. Lay each rack on a large piece of heavy duty foil (large enough to completely enclose the rack.)

Dry Rub

1. Combine all ingredients for the dry rub. Sprinkle the dry rub over each rack on both sides, massaging it in.
2. Turn racks meat side up and wrap tightly. Place a on large baking sheet and refrigerate at least six hours or overnight.

Roast the Ribs

1. Remove the racks from the refrigerator about 30 mins prior to roasting. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place the ribs, still wrapped in foil and on the tray, in the oven and roast for 2 hours.

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

1. While the ribs are roasting, make the BBQ sauce. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a medium saucepan, whisking well. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer 10 mins, then turn off the heat.

Finish the Ribs

1. When the ribs have roasted for 2 hours, remove them from the oven. Increase the heat to 350 degrees.
2. Open the foil and carefully drain the drippings into the BBQ sauce. Bring the BBQ sauce back to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
3. Keep the ribs on the foil and generously brush them with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and roast for an additional 50 - 60 mins, or until they are very tender, brushing them with BBQ sauce two more times.
4. Serve ribs with extra BBQ sauce on the side (and plenty of wet naps!).

Recipe Notes

• Be sure to remove the membrane before adding the dry rub to the ribs. If you don't, it will be tough and chewy and won't allow the dry rub to permeate the ribs.
• Heavy duty foil is best for wrapping the ribs. It is tougher and less likely to tear.
• The dry rub gives these ribs an extra spicy kick. You can tweak it to your taste by dialing the spices up or down.
• Don't skip adding the juices into into the BBQ sauce. It gives the sauce a deeper, layered, meaty flavor.
• Yep these ribs cook low and slow and definitely take time. Don't be in a rush! They're worth the time and most of it is hand's off.

Nutrition Facts

Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 617 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 99mg33%

Sodium 2855mg124%

Potassium 1003mg29%

Carbohydrates 61g20%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 51g57%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 2095IU42%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 113mg11%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Update Notes: This post was originally published in August 2017 but was republished with tips and step by step photos in August 2019.