How to Cook Beef Ribs in the Oven Fast and Delicious

Cooking beef ribs can seem intimidating. Many recipes call for slow roasting or grilling for hours to achieve fall-off-the-bone tenderness. But who has time for that on a busy weeknight? The good news is you can make tasty oven-baked beef ribs in just over an hour with the right technique.

In this article, you’ll learn how to cook beef ribs in the oven fast so you can enjoy finger-lickin’ barbecue flavor without the hassle.

Benefits of Cooking Beef Ribs in the Oven

Cooking beef ribs in the oven has several advantages over grilling or smoking:

• It’s fast – Oven ribs take 1-2 hours while grilled can take 4-6 hours.

• Easy to monitor – You can easily check doneness and adjust time or temp as needed.

• No specialized equipment – All you need is a standard oven. No grill or smoker required.

• Weather proof – No concerns about rain, wind, or snow.

• Indoor cooking – Oven ribs let you stay comfortable inside.

While oven ribs may not have quite the same smokey flavor, the convenience can’t be beat. Let’s look at how to nail oven-baked beef ribs every time.

Choosing the Best Beef Ribs for Oven Cooking

You want to select the right ribs to ensure tender and flavorful results:

• Beef back ribs – More marbled than short ribs. Need less time to become tender.

• Meaty – Choose ribs with a good amount of meat, not just bone.

• Individual ribs – Cut ribs give better bark and cook faster.

• Grass-fed – Leaner but more flavor than grain-fed beef ribs.

Avoid short ribs for quick oven cooking since they require braising for tenderness. Beef back ribs are ideal.

Oven Baked Beef Ribs Step-By-Step

Follow these simple steps for finger-lickin’ oven baked beef ribs:

Step 1: Prep the Ribs

• Trim – Trim off any excess fat or sinew.

• Remove membrane – Flip ribs over and slide knife under membrane then pull it off.

• Cut – Slice ribs apart for better bark and even cooking.

• Pat dry – Blot ribs with paper towels to remove moisture.

Removing the membrane ensures tenderness while patting dry helps the rub adhere.

Step 2: Season the Ribs

Beef ribs need aggressive seasoning since there’s no long, slow cooking to build flavor. Use a dry rub or marinade:

• Dry rub – Coat both sides with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, brown sugar, and salt.

• Marinade – Soak ribs in a wet marinade with olive oil, spices, and herbs for 1-2 hours.

Massage the seasoning in so it penetrates the meat. Go heavier than you think on the spices.

Step 3: Arrange Ribs on Baking Sheet

• Line pan – Cover sheet with foil for easy cleanup.

• Place ribs – Arrange ribs meaty side down in a single layer without overlapping.

• Don’t crowd – Avoid overcrowding which prevents browning. Use two pans if needed.

Leave some space between ribs for air circulation and crispy edges.

Step 4: Bake Uncovered

• High heat – Bake at 425°F-450°F to sear the ribs and lock in juices.

• Flip halfway – Rotate ribs front to back and flip over about halfway through.

• Cook to temp – Bake until ribs reach 185°F-195°F for medium doneness.

The high heat helps render fat and develop a nice crust on the ribs.

Step 5: Apply Barbecue Sauce

• Brush on sauce – During last 10-15 minutes of baking, coat ribs with barbecue sauce.

• Avoid burning – Add only as much sauce as will caramelize and bake on.

• Thicken sauce – Simmer sauce before glazing to prevent dripping.

Brush on bold flavored, sticky sauces for finger-lickin’ results.

Step 6: Rest and Serve

• Let rest 5-10 minutes – Lightly cover ribs with foil after baking.

• Slice – Cut ribs apart between bones for easy eating.

• Serve extras – Offer more sauce on the side.

Saucy, spice-crusted beef ribs are ready to devour right out of the oven. Dig in!

Oven Baked Beef Ribs FAQs

Get answers to common questions about cooking beef ribs in the oven:

How Long to Bake Beef Ribs?

Cook at 425°F-450°F for about:

• 1 pound – 35-45 minutes
• 2 pounds – 50-60 minutes
• 3-4 pounds – 60-75 minutes

Check for doneness after the minimum time.

What Temperature are Beef Ribs Done?

Beef ribs are perfectly cooked when they reach:

• Medium rare – 145°F
• Medium – 160°F
• Well done – 195°F+

Use an instant read thermometer to test doneness.

Do You Wrap Beef Ribs in Foil?

Wrapping isn’t necessary but can help tenderize ribs faster. Wrap tightly in foil after applying rub and roast 20 minutes covered then finish uncovered.

How to Make Beef Ribs More Tender?

For tender oven baked ribs, be sure to:

• Remove membrane
• Cook at high temp (425°F+)
• Bake until 185°F+ internal temp
• Let rest before cutting

Marinating also helps tenderize.

Oven Baked Beef Rib Recipes

Try these easy oven baked beef rib recipes for finger-lickin’ barbecue flavor:

Simple Oven Baked Beef Ribs

The classic simple preparation with just a spice rub.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 lbs beef back ribs
• 1–2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1–2 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1⁄2 tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Prep ribs by trimming, removing membrane, and cutting apart. Pat dry.
2. Coat ribs all over with olive oil then sprinkle with the dry rub spices.
3. Arrange ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet meaty side down.
4. Bake at 450°F for 60-75 minutes until 185°F internally.
5. In the last 10 minutes, brush with barbecue sauce.
6. Let rest 5 minutes then serve.

Sweet and Spicy Oven Baked Beef Ribs

These Asian ribs have the perfect balance of sticky sweet and spicy.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs beef back ribs
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp chili-garlic sauce
• 2 tsp minced ginger
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 tsp Chinese five spice

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients except ribs to make a marinade.
2. Prep ribs by trimming, removing membrane, and cutting apart.
3. Place ribs in a zip top bag and pour in marinade. Refrigerate 1-2 hours, flipping occasionally.
4. Arrange ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet meaty side down. Discard extra marinade.
5. Bake at 425°F for 60-70 minutes until 185°F internally.
6. In the last 10 minutes, brush with remaining marinade.
7. Let rest 5 minutes then serve.

Oven Baked Beef Ribs Tips

• Choose the right cut of ribs – back ribs work best
• Remove membrane for tenderness
• Cut ribs apart so they cook evenly
• Season aggressively with spice rub or marinade
• Bake uncovered at 425°F+ to develop crust
• Brush on sticky barbecue sauce at the end
• Let ribs rest before slicing and serving

With the right prep and baking technique, you can enjoy saucy, tender oven-baked beef ribs any night of the week. Ditch the grill and smoker – the oven lets you cook ribs fast.

Oven Baked Beef Ribs Frequency of Entities

• Beef ribs: 36
• Oven: 28
• Bake/Baked/Baking: 26
• Ribs: 22
• Temperature: 7
• Minutes: 7
• Sauce: 6
• Tender: 6
• Cut: 5
• Rest: 4
• Fast: 4
• Grill: 3
• Smoke: 3
• Cook: 3
• Meaty: 3
• Spice: 3
• Marinade: 3
• Minutes: 7
• Temperature: 7
• Tenderness: 2
• Smoke: 3
• Grill: 3