Ribs in the Oven with Blueberry BBQ Sauce
- By Amy Dong
- Published Jul. 29, 2021
- Updated Aug. 17, 2022
Fall-off-the-bone ribs are yours anytime of the year. Learn how to make ribs in the oven, with incredibly tender and succulent results. Smoky, sweet, and tangy blueberry BBQ sauce is fun, festive, and mouthwatering.
Fall-off-the-bone Ribs in the Oven
Juicy, tender ribs don’t have to be complicated. Serving up some perfectly cooked baby back ribs is, in fact, much easier than many people tend to think.
The beauty of this ribs recipe is that they’re oven baked to tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection. No need for charcoal, grills, or smokers. Which means your hair won’t even need a post-grill shampoo (a very convenient fact, especially when you have a gathering of friends over.)
The only after-care needed is to handle the ribs gently once they’re done, as the finished ribs are so tender that they will literally fall off the bones otherwise.
Change up any holiday menu with ribs
We love serving these super-tender ribs for gatherings – so much so, that these ribs have made an appearance on the table for holidays throughout the year.
Why these oven baked ribs are perfect for all the gatherings:
- The dry rub mixture can be made up to a week in advance, which you’ll absolutely appreciate when it’s go-time.
- You can use baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs interchangeably in this recipe. Feel free to buy your family’s favorite cut, or go with whichever is on sale.
- The majority of our ribs recipe is hands-off time. Go about your other tasks while the ribs rest in the seasonings and while they bake.
- Since frozen blueberries can be used in the barbecue sauce, these saucy ribs can be made and enjoyed anytime of year.
- Lastly, these oven ribs are ultra-tender and packed with big flavor.
Perfect sides to serve alongside the ribs:
- Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Bacon – these saucy beans are perfectly sweet, savory, and unbelievably easy.
- Honey Cornbread Muffins – not your average dryish cornbread , these muffin creations are extra tender, thanks to the rich moisture of sour cream and honey.
- Potato Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette – this simple potato salad boasts a flavor profile that’s sweet, savory, and tangy all at once.
- Perfect Macaroni and Cheese – creamy, satisfying, and actually reheats well.
About The Blueberry BBQ Sauce
We all know blueberries are forever fashionable when it comes to blueberry muffins and double crust blueberry pie. But, did you know blueberries can work wonders for savory dishes?
When blueberries are in season, by all means use fresh berries. Otherwise, use frozen blueberries to sweeten the deal, giving regular barbecue sauce a bit of fruitiness that balances out tanginess. The result is a thickened, tangy, sweet, smoky, and scrumptious sauce you’ll want to lick off of the spoon. Feel free to oblige that urge.
Common Questions and Answers
A low and slow approach works best when it comes to ribs. For tender, juicy results, bake at 300F for 2 1/2 hours.
Bake the ribs covered, still wrapped in the same foil you used to cover it with overnight.
Yes! The dry seasoning mixture can be prepared and kept in an airtight container a week in advance.
These ribs reheat very well. Cover and reheat 1 minute at a time in the microwave. You can also reheat them in the oven by wrapping with foil and reheating at 350F for about 15 minutes or just until warmed through.
More to cook and eat:
FaN-FAVORITE SLOW COOKER PORK LOIN:
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Ribs in the Oven with Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 racks uncooked ribs, Baby Back or St. Louis both work well
Dry Rub:
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- 1 TB kosher salt
- 1 ½ TB freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups honey BBQ sauce, your favorite bottled or homemade
- ½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 2 TB liquid smoke
Instructions
- Dry: Pat dry the racks of ribs with paper towels.
- Season: In a bowl, whisk together all dry rub ingredients well. Pat and press dry rub onto both sides of rib racks. Tightly wrap each individual rack of ribs in foil. Place in a single layer on a large baking sheet and let sit in fridge overnight.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 300F. Bake foil-wrapped ribs on baking sheet for 2 1/2 hours.
- Sauce: During last half hour of cook time: combine sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Use spatula to break apart some of the berries. The sauce will thicken nicely. Cover and keep warm.
- Broil: Let ribs cool enough to handle and remove foil. Discard juices. Brush ribs generously with BBQ sauce, reserving a bit of sauce for serving. Broil on high for 5 minutes or just until tops are nicely browned. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn. Slice ribs and serve warm.