These country style pork ribs bring those same juicy, tender, and decadent BBQ flavors as traditional ribs, but with the added convenience of being cooked in your oven! With minimal prep time and just 5 simple ingredients, you’ll be dying to make these ribs over and over again.
This recipe for pork ribs yields perfectly tender and super flavorful ribs every time. The fact that you can make them in the comfort of your own kitchen is just another reason why these ribs are the best.
Growing up, ribs were something we only ate at BBQ restaurants. Rarely did we have them at home and if we did, it would be after my parents borrowed a relative or friend’s smoker.
Not anymore!
If you’ve tried our air fryer ribs, then just wait until you have a taste of these pork ribs made country-style.
Table of Contents
What are country style ribs?
Compared to traditional ribs, these country style ones are made from pork butt as opposed to the actual ribs. This makes for a delicious alternative that yields flavorful “ribs” that are every bit as delicious as these 3-2-1 ribs.
They are our preferred way to cook ribs and whenever we pick some up from the grocery store, everyone RAVES about how good they taste! They are also-
- Easy to cook. They bake in your oven as opposed to on the grill or in a smoker, which means you can enjoy them year-round without needing anything other than a baking sheet.
- Cheap. Pork butt is the same cut of meat used to make carnitas, so they’re super cheap compared to other cuts of pork.
- More meat for less work. No ribs mean you get more meat per serving, so you get a bigger bang for your buck.
One of the things I enjoy most about this recipe is how foolproof it is. You don’t have to have a fancy smoker or dedicate a whole day to make these juicy ribs. With a baking sheet and some aluminum foil, you can have tender ribs with little active cooking time required.
This recipe is honestly one of the easiest you’ll find for fall-off-the-bone ribs. Besides the pork and barbecue sauce, there isn’t much else that goes into them! Here is everything you will need.
- Pork ribs. Also known as pork butt or pork shoulder. Can be found either boneless or bone-in, so choose whichever you prefer.
- Oil. To rub on the ribs before seasoning them with salt and pepper.
- Salt and pepper. For added flavor.
- Barbeque sauce. To coat the ribs and add an essential smoky and tangy flavor. If I have time, I like to make my own but any good quality grocery store kind works.
How to make country style pork ribs
Besides prepping the ribs, there is ZERO hands-on time required to make this dish. This is the definition of a foolproof recipe.
Step 1- Roast the ribs
Begin by preheating the oven to 150°C (300°F) and lining a baking sheet with tin foil.
Rub oil over the ribs. Season them liberally with salt and pepper, then arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast the ribs for 90 minutes, stopping halfway through to flip them.
Step 2- Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce
Remove the ribs from the oven, then increase the temperature to 210°C (420°F). Discard any excess liquid that forms on the baking tray before brushing the ribs in your barbeque sauce.
Step 3- Roast the ribs a 2nd time
Return the barbeque-covered ribs to the oven and bake them for another 10 minutes or until the glaze on the ribs becomes bubbly.
Pat dry the ribs. Do this before seasoning them, as it will help the seasoning and barbeque sauce adhere to the ribs better.
Allow the ribs to rest. Give the ribs a few minutes to rest after you pull them out of the oven, as this will help keep them juicy. Otherwise, you risk losing all of that goodness as soon as you cut into them.
Use your favorite BBQ sauce. It really makes all the difference. If you want, you can make your own barbeque sauce or just use your favorite store-bought sauce.
Flavor variations
As delicious as these ribs are, they can also be easily customized to suit your preferences. Here are some recommendations:
- Use a spice rub. As opposed to seasoning with salt and pepper, try either a store-bought barbeque rub or the rub used in these 3-2-1 ribs.
- Add mustard. For a Carolina Gold style of BBQ sauce, add a few tablespoons of mustard to your sauce before basting the pork ribs.
- Amp up the heat. If you like spicy ribs, then try adding a little cayenne to the salt and pepper mix.
- Brine the ribs. Letting the ribs sit in a brine of saltwater as opposed to seasoning them with salt and pepper will help make them more savory and impart additional flavor.
- Use different sauces. I like to change up the flavor by using different sauces. Bulgogi and katsu sauce is great for an Asian flare, and when we want something more Italian, nothing beats some homemade pomodoro sauce.
To store: Leftover ribs can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat: Transfer leftover ribs to a baking sheet lined with foil and heat at 250°F for 10-15 minutes or until they’re fully reheated. A microwave will also work. Simply heat them in 30-second intervals until warmed.
To freeze: Store cooled ribs in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What to serve with country style pork ribs
When it comes to serving suggestions for pork ribs, the sky is the limit. From breads, to potato variations, to vegetables, there are tons of options to pair with it.
Traditional ribs, such as baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs, are found in the ribcage of the pig, where strips of bone separate the meat. Country style pork ribs are actually the pork butt cut of the pig, cut into slender strips and cooked in barbeque sauce.
Your ribs may be tough if you attempt to cook them at too high of a temperature. The pork butt is best prepared at a low and slow temperature to tenderize the meat.
The best way to guarantee your country ribs come out juicy and tender is to cook them at a low and slow temperature, covered in aluminum foil. This will help to preserve the heat and slowly tenderize this cut of pork, so it doesn’t become tough.
Country Style Pork Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork ribs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150C/300F.
- Rub the oil over the ribs and season with salt and pepper.
- Line a large baking tray with tin foil and arrange the ribs in a single layer. Roast the ribs for 90 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Remove the ribs from the oven and increase the temperature to 210C/420F.
- Discard any excess liquid on the baking tray and brush the barbecue sauce all over the ribs. Return the ribs to the oven and bake them for a further 10 minutes, or until glazed and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
Nutrition
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Help for all that Sunday fun, We love this delicious, tender and oh-so-good treat 😛
During the 90 minute baking at the lower temperature, are the ribs covered with foil? Or are they open to the air in the oven?
I have been making country style ribs this way for years, but I do one thing different. I pour a couple tablespoons of Liquid Smoke in the pan at the beginning. I owned a restaurant and sold 50 to 60 lbs. of ribs this way every weekend.
Yum!
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