These country style ribs are tender, juicy, and slathered in the most delicious sticky BBQ sauce. They're cooked low and slow in the oven, giving you all the smoky, sweet, and savory flavors without having to fire up a grill.
The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
I didn’t grow up eating a lot of BBQ, but as I started cooking for my own family, I fell in love with it. The smell of ribs cooking, the sound of sauce bubbling, and the first juicy bite feel like a celebration.
When my family started craving ribs, I knew I had to make something tasty. This recipe brings big BBQ flavor to the table.
If you love ribs like we do, make sure you also check out my Oven Baked Beef Ribs and my BBQ Air Fryer Ribs. You’ll also want to grab my Homemade BBQ Rub and Homemade BBQ Sauce to take these ribs to the next level.
A Quick Look at the Ingredients
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
This recipe keeps things simple but flavorful — just the way I like it:
- country-style pork ribs - For this recipe, you’ll want to grab country-style pork ribs — not baby back ribs, not spare ribs. Country-style ribs come from the shoulder or blade end of the pig, which means they’re meatier, thicker, and perfect for slow cooking. They’re usually boneless or have just a small bone running through them.
- the seasonings and sauce - yellow mustard, light brown sugar, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, ground black pepper, BBQ sauce - The yellow mustard acts as a binder to hold all those beautiful spices in place, the brown sugar adds that hint of sweet caramelization, and the spice blend layers in smoky, savory flavor. A good quality BBQ sauce brings it all home.
Tools Needed
- 13x9-inch baking pan (to catch all those delicious juices)
- Aluminum foil (to keep the ribs moist while they slow-cook)
- Pastry brush (for slathering on your BBQ sauce)
If you're looking for my favorite pans and brushes, you can check out my kitchen essentials here.
How to Make Country Style Pork Ribs
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Place the ribs in a 13x9-inch baking pan.
Step 2: In a small bowl, mix the mustard, brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Rub this mixture evenly over the ribs.
Step 3: Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the foil, brush the ribs generously with BBQ sauce.
Step 5: Raise the oven temperature to 350°F. Bake uncovered for 15 more minutes. The sauce should become glossy and caramelized.
Helpful Tip: For even more sticky goodness, brush with a little extra BBQ sauce right before serving.
Substitutions
- If you don't like mustard or don't have any, use a thin layer of olive oil instead to help the rub stick.
- For less sugar, Skip the brown sugar and use a sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- Add a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes to the spice mix if you like your ribs spicy.
Variations
- Smoky twist: Add a few drops of liquid smoke to the BBQ sauce.
- Kid-friendly: Stick with a sweet BBQ sauce and serve with mac and cheese.
- Deluxe version: Top the finished ribs with crispy fried onions or a drizzle of hot honey.
How to Store/Make Ahead
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze cooked ribs for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 300°F oven until warmed through.
Make ahead tip: Bake the ribs the day before, then reheat and glaze with sauce right before serving.
To reheat: Reheat ribs in a 300°F oven, covered with foil, for 15–20 minutes. Brush with extra sauce to bring them back to life.
Tanya's Top Tip
Be patient. Low and slow cooking is key for melt-in-your-mouth ribs. Don't rush it — the payoff is worth it when you bite into that perfectly tender meat.
FAQ
They're a cut from the pork shoulder, not actual ribs. They're meatier and juicier — perfect for slow roasting.
Absolutely! You can grill country style ribs low and slow over indirect heat until they’re tender, then finish them over direct heat for that beautiful char. Or, if you prefer an easier method, bake them first until tender, then finish them off on a hot grill for a few minutes to get that smoky flavor.
I hope you like these ribs as much as we do. Check out these recipes that would go great with these ribs.
Other Recipes
Looking for other recipes? Try these:
Country Style Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs country-style pork ribs
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the ribs in a 13x9-inch baking pan.
- In a small bowl, mix the mustard, brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Rub the marinade evenly over the ribs, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Remove the ribs from the oven, take off the aluminum foil, and brush the ribs generously with BBQ sauce.
- Increase the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Return the ribs to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 15 minutes to allow the BBQ sauce to caramelize.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Make sure you're using country-style pork ribs — not baby back or spare ribs. Look for thick, meaty cuts from the shoulder.
- For extra sticky ribs, brush on an additional layer of BBQ sauce after baking and broil for 1–2 minutes. Keep a close eye so they don't burn!
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