How to cook spare ribs in the oven fast

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You don’t need to bake these boneless country style pork ribs low and slow for hours to get deliciously tender results – this quick and easy recipe is ready in only 35 minutes!

Boneless Pork Ribs In Oven

I normally make country style ribs with a BBQ sauce coating, but my father-in-law recently requested them with more of a Cajun vibe, and the results were so delicious that I had to share it with all of you!

The combination of oregano, thyme, garlic, onion, paprika (which also gives it that gorgeous color) tasted amazing. There’s also a little cayenne pepper that gives it just the right amount of spice (but not so much spice that the kids couldn’t enjoy it – they loved these tasty ribs!).

These boneless pork ribs turned out beautifully in only 34 minutes in the oven. They were juicy, tender, and oh so flavorful. Since the prep time and cook time was so minimal it almost felt too good to be true!

Try serving these ribs with some pasta salad, potato salad, this amazing doctored up Jiffy Cornbread, or with some creamed corn.

If you love country style ribs, be sure to check out our super popular Crock Pot Country Style Ribs recipe – it has tons of 5 star reviews!

Ingredients

Homemade Spice Rub: The magic of the flavor in this recipe is really all in the homemade spice blend. A combination of paprika, fine sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, ground black pepper, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper seasons the country style ribs absolutely perfectly.

It has a bit of a Cajun vibe, but the spice definitely isn’t overpowering (even my 2 1/2 year old nephew loved these ribs and didn’t think it was too spicy). If you love heat, feel free to add some more cayenne pepper or a bit of crushed red pepper flakes. If you like a sweeter rub, feel free to add in some brown sugar.

Country Style Ribs: I used boneless country style ribs, and it’s important to use boneless ones if you want to keep the quick cook time that’s listed in the recipe card. If you don’t mind cooking the ribs for quite a bit longer, then you could use bone-in ones.

It’s also important to note that the thickness of the ribs makes a difference in cook times. The ribs I used were anywhere from 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 inches thick, so that’s the thickness I’d recommend buying.

BBQ Sauce: Technically the BBQ sauce is optional, and it really is flavorful enough without it (and a bit healthier). That being said, I really love BBQ sauce on my ribs, and there are two ways you can use it in this recipe.

I like to dip the baked ribs in BBQ sauce, but if you love sticky ribs, then you can also coat the ribs in BBQ sauce after you bake them, but before you broil them. Broiling them in the BBQ sauce will caramelize it on and makes it taste pretty amazing!

How To Bake Country Style Ribs

Start by preheating the oven. Next, mix the homemade spice blend together in a small bowl. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)

Lay the boneless pork ribs out in a single layer in a casserole dish, and sprinkle half of the spice blend over them. Rub the spice blend into the ribs so that it really sticks to them as they bake.

Flip the ribs over, and sprinkle the remaining spice rub on the second side. Massage the spices into the ribs, then bake them uncovered in the preheated oven.

After you cook the ribs, transfer them to rimmed baking sheet lined in aluminum foil (leaving the juices behind). If you’re going to coat the ribs in barbecue sauce, do that now. Broil the ribs until they’re cooked through with a golden and slightly crispy exterior.

Alternatively, you can also skip the broiling and crisp the ribs up in an air fryer instead. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.

How Long Do Boneless Ribs Take In The Oven?

These boneless ribs only take 35 minutes in the oven! I think the texture is amazing even with the quick cook time (being able to bake them that quickly really is the beauty of this recipe).

If you want totally fall-apart tender country style ribs, this is how you’d adjust the cooking time (the temperature remains the same). Cover the dish in aluminum foil, then bake them for 2 to 2 1/2 hours (or until the ribs are fork tender, checking them at the 2 hour mark). Then proceed with the broiling instructions.

I found that the best temperature to bake boneless pork ribs at is 325 F. That temperature was still low enough that the ribs didn’t dry out, but high enough that I was able to cook them relatively quickly.

How To Cook Country Style Ribs In The Oven Fast

This recipe is written to cook as quickly as possible (while still having a delicious moist texture). It only has to bake for 35 minutes!

What Are Boneless Country-Style Pork Ribs?

Country-style ribs aren’t actually ribs! This cut of pork actually comes from the shoulder area of the pig. It’s a muscular part at the end of the loin that is fatty.

They got their name because the flavor and consistency of this cut of meat is similar to baby back ribs or spare ribs once they’re finished cooking. Depending on where you are, they can also be called Western ribs.

At What Temp Are Country Style Ribs Done Cooking?

Pork is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 F on an instant read meat thermometer. Since this cut of meat is fatty with a lot of marbling, it will taste even more amazing if you let it reach a higher internal temperature though.

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Pork Recipes

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out our entire section of pork recipes! Some reader favorites are:

• Country Style Pork Ribs in the Slow Cooker
• Slow Cooker Carnitas
• Best Sausage Gravy
• Sausage Balls
• Ham and Cheese Sliders

Yield: 5 servings

BEST Boneless Pork Ribs in Oven Recipe {Baked Country Style Ribs}

Deliciously tender baked boneless country style pork ribs are ready in only 40 minutes! You'll love this quick and easy recipe.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 34 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 pounds country style ribs*
• BBQ sauce (optional, for coating before broiling, or dipping with the finished ribs)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 F (162 C).
2. To a small bowl, add all the dry spices. Mix until fully combined.
3. Place the country style ribs in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Sprinkle about half of the rub on top of the ribs, and massage it into the ribs. Flip the ribs over, and repeat with the remaining spice blend on the second side.
4. Place the casserole dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.**  
5. While the ribs are baking, prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil.
6. Transfer the ribs to the lined baking sheet (optional - if you’re coating the ribs in BBQ sauce, do that now)***. Broil them in the oven for 4-5 minutes (or until the ribs are golden with a slightly crispy exterior).
7. Remove the ribs from the oven and check the internal temperature using an instant read meat thermometer (ribs are done when they read 145 F internally). Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite BBQ sauce and desired sides.

Notes

*The country style ribs I used were 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches thick. The thickness of your ribs will affect the cook time.

**I love the texture of these ribs as the recipe is written, but if you want totally fall-apart tender country style ribs, this is how you’d adjust the cooking time (the temperature remains the same). Cover the dish in aluminum foil, then bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours (or until the ribs are fall-apart tender, checking them at the 2 hour mark). Then proceed with the broiling instructions.

***These ribs are super flavorful without coating them in BBQ sauce, but if you want the sticky sweet texture and flavor, you can coat them in BBQ sauce just before broiling them. I normally don’t, and just use BBQ sauce as a dipping sauce, but the recipe will work both ways.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate. The optional BBQ sauce is not included in the nutrition information.

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