Large Baking Sheet or Roasting Pan Choose one that’s deep enough to catch juices and fits the racks of ribs without folding them.
Aluminum foil Use heavy-duty foil for wrapping the ribs tightly. This locks in moisture, making them irresistibly tender. If you don’t have heavy-duty foil, you can double-layer regular foil.
Sharp knife To trim the ribs and remove the silver skin (membrane) from the back of the ribs.
Small saucepan For preparing the garlic butter mixture.
Pastry Brush Helpful for spreading the garlic butter topping, but a spoon works in a pinch.
Tongs Essential for flipping or moving the hot ribs.
Ingredients
For the Ribs
2racks of pork baby back ribsabout 4–5 pounds total
1tablespoonkosher salt
1tablespoonblack pepper
2teaspoonssmoked paprika
1teaspoononion powder
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoondried thyme
For the Garlic Parmesan Topping
4tablespoonsunsalted butter
6clovesgarlicminced
1cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
2tablespoonschopped fresh parsleyplus more for garnish
Zest of 1 lemon
½teaspooncrushed red pepper flakesoptional, for a bit of heat
For Wrapping & Roasting
Heavy-duty aluminum foil
Instructions
Preheat and Prep the Ribs
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). This low and slow method is the heart of how to cook ribs in the oven so they come out tender and juicy.
Lay the ribs on a cutting board and remove the silver skin from the back of each rack by sliding a butter knife under the membrane and pulling it off. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels.
Season with Dry Rub
In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Rub this seasoning mix evenly over both sides of the ribs.
Place each rack meat-side up on a large sheet of foil. Wrap tightly, ensuring the seams are sealed to create a steamy environment inside. Place the wrapped ribs on your baking sheet.
Bake Low and Slow
Bake the ribs in the oven for 2 hours. This method mimics the tenderness you get from baby back ribs on grill setups, but without the need for constant monitoring.
Prepare the Garlic Parmesan Topping
While the ribs bake, prepare the garlic butter topping. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and add minced garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan, lemon zest, parsley, and red pepper flakes if using. Set aside.
Unwrap and Broil
After 2 hours, remove the ribs from the oven and carefully unwrap the foil. Discard excess liquid or save it for drizzling later.
Brush the garlic parmesan butter generously over the ribs. Sprinkle a little extra parmesan on top for an irresistible cheesy crust.
Return the ribs to the oven, uncovered, and broil on high for 3–5 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Watch closely to avoid burning.
Rest and Serve
Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes before slicing between the bones. Garnish with more parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.
Now you’ve got yourself a batch of truly easy oven baked pork ribs that feel fancy but were a breeze to make.