When I think of bbq.. I think of home. I think of sitting around the kitchen as my dad hovers over the grill making chicken, ribs, fajitas..etc. Whatever he is grilling, the smell from the smoke is intoxicating and I can taste the aroma on my tongue as my stomach rumbles with hunger. Some of my favorite dinners growing up were when my dad got outside and grilled for the family. Bbq is one of those foods that brings everyone back to their childhood and sparks memories of good times with loved ones. At least that how I think of it! Either way, I think we can all agree… Barbecue. Is. AMAZING.

Now that my family and I are living in an apartment, it’s a little more difficult to have bbq on the grill or smoker. Our apartment complex does not allow grills on our porches so we have to make due with our oven or the (not so fabulous) community grill. Just because of our circumstances, I was not about to let that get in the way of satisfying my bbq cravings. The oven is a wonderful way to get tender bbq without the convenience of a grill or smoker. It’s definitely a meal you want to plan for in advance since most of the day the ribs will be cooking slow and low in the oven.

By wrapping the ribs tightly in foil, this will then create a warm moist space for the ribs to get “fall off the bone tender”. All the fat from the ribs will begin to melt into the meat and the ribs will essentially begin cooking in its own juices. Just talking about it gets my stomach rumbling. The aroma from the oven fills our entire apartment and has that unmistakable bbq smell. Oh let me tell you… it is heavenly. Once the oven works its magic, I love to finish off the ribs on the grill (if possible). This gives the saucy ribs a good char that I love. If you don’t happen to have a grill…no worries. Crank the oven up to a high broil and let the heat caramelize the bbq sauce on the ribs. Works great trust me! (find all of the steps and notes in the directions below)

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OVEN BAKED BBQ RIBS

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Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 5-6 hours

Total time: Less than 6 hours

Yields: 1 rack of ribs

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INGREDIENTS:

• 1 rack pork spare ribs/ or baby back ribs (according to preference)
• Your favorite bbq sauce: I used a combination Stubbs “sweet heat” and “spicy”

Spice rub:

• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp light brown sugar

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DIRECTIONS:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 225 degrees F.
2. Prepare a baking sheet by covering it tightly with foil.
3. Mix together the spice rub.
4. Rinse the ribs in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle and rub on the spice mixture on both sides of the ribs (you will use all of it).
5. Place the ribs in the oven for 2 hours uncovered.
6. After 2 hours, removed from the oven and wrap the ribs in foil so that no air can get through. This will create condensation and make the ribs very tender and “fall off the bone”. 
7. Place back in the oven for 3 hours, covered. 
8. Remove from the oven after 3 hours and take off the foil and drain the juices. (Check to see how tender the ribs are by using a fork to pull back the meat. If the ribs don’t come clean off the bone, place the ribs back in the oven covered in foil. Cook for an additional hour or more until ribs are tender to your liking.) Place the ribs back on the foiled covered baking sheet. Brush on a layer of your favorite bbq sauce. Place back into the oven on a high broil. 
9. Reapply bbq sauce every 5 minutes for the next 15 minutes till the sauce begins to char and caramelize under the high broil. 

NOTE: If you happen to have a grill..you can finish them off over a high heat. Brush on bbq sauce and place them over the hot grill. Reapply sauce while flipping every 5 minutes. Remove from the grill once the sauce is caramelized and ribs are slightly charred. (I prefer this method of finishing the ribs)