These oven-baked Chipotle BBQ Ribs deliver big flavor with almost no effort. The oven does all the work, giving you juicy, fall-apart meat every time.
Recipe Overview
Time: 2 hours 40 Minutes - only 20 minutes to prep and about 2 ½ hours to bake
Ingredients: Baby back ribs, olive oil, garlic powder, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chipotle peppers in adobo, and smoked paprika.
Ease: Easy - these ribs are incredibly simple to make with just a handful of ingredients.
If you want to make ribs in the slow cooker - Crockpot Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Baby Back Ribs - Baby back ribs are tender, flavorful, and perfect for cooking in the oven. If you can't find them, you can also use St. Louis-style ribs or spare ribs. Check out the section below for tips on cooking other cuts of ribs!
- Homemade Chipotle BBQ Sauce- This sweet and spicy sauce only takes 10 minutes to make, but you can always use store-bought sauce instead.
- Olive or Avocado Oil - A light brush of oil helps the seasoning stick and keeps the ribs from drying out. Any neutral oil works here.
- Garlic Powder - Adds a simple, savory base flavor. You can swap in granulated garlic or use fresh garlic in the sauce if you prefer.
- Ketchup - The base of the Chipotle BBQ sauce. Any brand works, even low-sugar if that's what you prefer.
- Smoked Paprika - I love using smoked paprika to give it a little smoky flavor you miss out on by cooking these in the oven. If you're not a fan of the smoked flavor, use regular paprika for both the BBQ sauce and to season the ribs.
- Worcestershire Sauce - Adds sweet, salty, tangy, and umami flavors. You can sub it out for soy sauce and add a little more sugar to balance the flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - You can swap apple cider vinegar out with rice wine or red wine vinegar. If using white vinegar, reduce to 3 tablespoons as it's more tart.
- Brown Sugar - Sweetens the sauce and helps it caramelize under the broiler. Honey or maple syrup can be used, but the sauce may be slightly thinner.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo - These bring smoky heat and tons of flavor. Use 2 peppers for a mild kick or 3 for more spice. Add a spoonful of the adobo sauce if you want extra smokiness.
Full ingredient list with quantities in the recipe card below
How to Make Oven Baked Chipotle BBQ Ribs
Step 1 | Prepare Your Baby Back Ribs
Remove the thin white membrane from the back of the ribs. Trim any excess fat if needed and cut them into 2-4 sections for easier handling, if desired.
Step 2 | Season & Bake
Pat dry, oil, and season the ribs. Place the meaty side up on a baking sheet, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 2+ hours until the meat easily pulls from the bone.
Step 3 | Make Chipotle BBQ Sauce
While the ribs bake, prepare the BBQ sauce by blending all sauce ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Step 4 | Brush Ribs with Sauce
Brush the ribs with ¼ cup BBQ sauce and bake uncovered at 325°F for 15 minutes. Add another ¼ cup, broil for 3-4 minutes, and caramelize the sauce.
Can You Use Other Ribs?
Baby back ribs are leaner and smaller than other rib cuts, making them perfect for oven baking. But if you can't find baby back ribs, other work great too!
- Spare Ribs: These are larger and have more fat than baby back ribs. You may want to cook them about 30-40 minutes longer, check on them at the 2-hour mark.
- St. Louis-Style Ribs: These are larger, flatter, and have more fat than baby back ribs. You may want to cook them about 20-30 minutes longer. Check on them at the 2-hour mark.
Prep Ahead of Time!
Prep: You can prep and season the ribs up to 24 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake. The Chipotle BBQ sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container.
Store: Keep the seasoned ribs and BBQ sauce in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
Cook: Follow the recipe as written, no need to adjust the cooking time.
Common Question
Removing it gives you the best texture and helps the seasoning soak in. If you prefer not to remove it, the ribs will still cook, but they may be a bit chewier.
No, it just makes them easier to handle. You can keep the full rack intact if your pan is large enough.
Sides
- Cornbread or Texas Toast
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Potato salad or Potato Wedges
- Mac and Cheese
- A crisp side salad
Tried this recipe? Let everyone know how it turned out! Your feedback and tips help others decide if they should make it.
Baked Chipotle BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
Ribs
- 2 ¾ to 3 pounds baby back ribs
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoons ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- ⅔ cups ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce use 2 for a milder kick
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 275°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil.
- Remove the thin white membrane from the back of the ribs by sliding a small knife under it and peeling it off. Trim any excess fat if needed and cut them into 2-4 sections for easier handling, if needed.
- Pat the ribs dry with paper towels, then brush the meaty side with oil.
- In a small bowl, mix smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sprinkle the seasoning evenly over both sides of the ribs.
- Place the ribs on the prepared baking sheet, meaty side up, and cover the pan tightly with foil.
- Bake for 2 hours. Check for tenderness by piercing the meat with a sharp knife or bending the ribs gently. The meat should pull away from the bone with little resistance. If not tender, cook for another 20-30 minutes.
- While the ribs bake, prepare the BBQ sauce by blending all sauce ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Remove the ribs from the oven and increase the temperature to 325°F.
- Brush the ribs with ¼ cup of the BBQ sauce and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
- Brush with another ¼ cup of sauce, then broil for 3-4 minutes to caramelize.
- Serve the ribs hot with the remaining BBQ sauce on the side.
Notes
-
- Spare Ribs: Cook them about 30-40 minutes longer, but check on them at the 2-hour mark.
-
- St. Louis-Style Ribs: Cook them about 20-30 minutes longer. Check on them at the 2-hour mark.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and may vary based on the ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!