Oven Baked Pork Spare Ribs

Originally published on September 14, 2014


Sundays are always a good rib day.  I almost tried these ribs in the crock pot but they were way too big.  Also I had no propane for the grill.  Soooo, baked ribs it is!

**Note: For this recipe I used a 7 lb. rack of pork spare ribs.  They were 99 cents a pound – I got a super buy on them!  I also split them down the middle with a cleaver so they would bake nice and evenly.  Huge, disposable roasting pans are invaluable for easy cleanup! You can find them for a dollar at the dollar store.


Oven Baked Pork Spare Ribs

Ingredients for dinner:

• 7 lb.  pork spare ribs + Rib Rub
• 4-5 baking potatoes
• 2 heads of garlic
• garlic salt
• sea salt
• olive oil

Rib Rub Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. minced onion
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp. regular chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. chipotle chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. white pepper
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. dried Rosemary
• a couple dashes cayenne (more if you like it hot!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.  Rub liberally over both halves of ribs, getting both sides. Don’t forget the edges, too!  Place in large roasting pan and bake at 375 for an hour. Reduce oven to 300 degrees and bake for 2  1/2 to 3 more hours.  During the last 20 minutes of baking, place your favorite BBQ sauce over ribs if desired.

TIP – A few times during baking, take the rib tray out and use a brush to baste the ribs with it’s own juices.  It really makes a wonderful difference!

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I also like to throw in baked potatoes and garlic heads while the ribs are cooking.  I used large potatoes and let them bake for an hour & a half.  Wash and pierce holes in the taters.  Place them on a half sheet of aluminum foil. Add about 1/2 tsp. olive oil and a little garlic salt over the potato, then wrap tightly in the foil.  Bake on top shelf.

Take 2 large heads of garlic and slice the very tops off.  Add 1/2 tsp. olive oil and a dash of salt on top of garlic.  Wrap 2 bulbs in fold and bake in the same rack as the potatoes.  When garlic is done the cloves will pop right out of the skin and they are so creamy! You can spread the garlic on your baked potato or on your meat.  It’s SO delicious and a really nice touch to your dinner!

Plain ribs are on the left; BBQ on the right.



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Here’s the whole dinner:

Dinner was so dang good I think I’m gonna marry myself.


The only downside to these ribs?  The smell of them baking will drive you absolutely insane!