If you're craving rich, tender pork ribs but don't have a smoker, these oven baked country style pork ribs are the perfect alternative. They're ideal for a cozy family dinner or even a casual weekend gathering. Best of all, this recipe is simple and the flavors are deep and satisfying.
What are boneless country-style pork ribs?
Country-style pork ribs are a delicious and versatile cut of pork that, despite their name, do not actually contain any rib bones. Instead, they are derived from the pork butt or shoulder area of the pig, offering a rich, flavorful and often fattier profile than traditional ribs.
These cuts are typically sold in two ways: bone-in, featuring a distinctive Y-shaped bone, or boneless for added convenience. Their meaty texture and potential for incredible tenderness when slow-cooked make them a popular choice for barbecue enthusiasts and home cooks alike.
If your grocery store has a meat section with BBQ cuts, you can usually find them there. Otherwise, you can custom order from a local butcher.
Why Bake Boneless Country-Style Ribs?
Just like smoking, baking country-style ribs works best with a low and slow method. These ribs have a lot of internal connective tissue, similar to a whole pork butt, so cooking them at a low temperature over a longer period is key to getting that fork tender, fall-apart texture.
If you want to try them smoked, check out our recipe for The best smoked country style ribs.
With this oven recipe, the heat gradually breaks down the tough connective tissue and fat. By the time the boneless pork ribs reach an internal temperature of around 185°F to 190°F, they're perfectly tender, juicy and ready to enjoy.
Country-style pork ribs are an affordable, versatile cut that's easy to cook in the oven and delivers the kind of hearty, flavorful barbecue everyone loves-without needing a smoker.
How Long Will It Take to Bake Country-Style Ribs?
When baking boneless pork ribs, it's crucial to rely on the meat's internal temperature rather than a set cooking time. A good meat thermometer is essential for ensuring your ribs reach that perfect tenderness.
That being said, you can expect these ribs to take about 2 to 2 ½ hours at 300°F, plus an additional 30 to 45 minutes after they are covered. The exact time will vary depending on the thickness of the ribs, so keep an eye on their internal temperature-aiming for around 185°F to 190°F.
If your ribs finish earlier than expected, you can always keep them warm by wrapping them in foil and placing them in an insulated cooler until you're ready to serve. This method helps maintain their heat without drying them out.
OvenBaked Country Style Ribs Recipe
Boneless country-style ribs are just as forgiving as a whole pork butt, making them an easy and stress-free option for an oven-baked meal. They're resilient to overcooking, so you don't have to worry about being overly precise. This recipe provides a simple, foolproof method for tender, flavorful oven-baked country-style ribs every time!
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 300°F. While smoke from different wood blends can add unique flavors when grilling, the oven method relies on seasoning and low temperature, slow cooking to achieve depth of flavor. You won't need to worry about wood chips or pellet blends here-just make sure your ribs are well-seasoned and ready to bake for a delicious, tender result.
Prepare the Ribs
Remove the country-style ribs from their packaging and rinse them under cold water to get rid of any bone fragments. Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel to ensure the seasoning sticks well.
Put the boneless ribs directly onto a wire rack in a single layer. Coat them with olive oil or yellow mustard to act as a binder, ensuring the seasoning adheres. Then, generously coat the ribs on all sides with your favorite dry rub. You can use any store-bought rub, or try a homemade BBQ rub to customize the flavor.
Check out our favorite homemade rub recipe that's made with simple ingredients that you should already have in your pantry. Our dry rub is perfect for seasoning this cut of meat as it layers together a range of flavors from chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper balanced with brown sugar, onion powder and garlic powder.
Round it out with kosher salt, and this rub will help make up the depth of flavor that you miss from the smoker.
Bake the Ribs
On the rack, leave a little space between each rib to ensure even cooking. Place a baking pan underneath to make sure you can catch the drippings, and place in the preheated oven.
Bake the ribs for about 2 hours. Check the internal temperature-aim for around 175°F. The cook time can vary per oven, so if they're not yet to temp, continue the cooking process.
If the ribs look like they're drying out at any point, you can baste them with a mixture of apple cider vinegar or apple juice to keep them moist.
Once the ribs reach an internal temp of 175° F, thinly slice some onions and place them into a foil pan with the ribs on top. Cover the ribs with one cup of bbq sauce and ¼ cup of apple juice.
Make sure to try my homemade bbq sauce from scratch!
Then cover the pan with foil and continue baking for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F to 205°F, and the sauce forms a sticky glaze.
Rest and Serve the Ribs
Remove the pan from the oven and let the ribs rest, tented with foil, for at least 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature. This allows the juices to redistribute, making the meat even more tender.
After resting, brush the ribs with some of the thickened BBQ sauce from the pan. For an even better texture place the ribs back onto a wire rack and broil them on each side for a few minutes to finish.
Serve the country-style ribs whole, cut into chunks or shred them. They're perfect for sandwiches, tacos or enjoyed straight up with a side of white bread for a classic, comforting meal!
Here are the perfect sides for this recipe!
Smoked Mac and cheese with bacon
Print
The Best Oven Baked Country Style Pork Ribs
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs country style pork ribs (boneless)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of bbq seasoning
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced thinly.
- 1 cup of bbq sauce
- ¼ cup of apple juice.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Prepare the ribs by removing them from the packaging and rinsing them in cold water to remove any bone fragments. Then pat the ribs dry with a paper towel.
- Coat the ribs evenly with a light layer of olive oil as a binder, then season each rib with bbq seasoning on all sides.
- Place ribs on a wire rack with a baking pan underneath. Then bake them in your oven for about 2 hours. Once the ribs reach an internal temperature of 175°F place them into a foil pan with sliced onions underneath.
- Cover the ribs with bbq sauce and apple juice and cover with foil. Then place them back into your oven for another 30-45 minutes or until the ribs reach an internal temperature of 195-205°F.
- Allow the ribs to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving or, for best results, place them back onto a wire rack, brush on some more sauce from the pan and broil them for a couple minutes on each side.
- Serve with your favorite sides along with the onions that were cooked under the ribs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Kevin I says
the family loved these - thank you!
Jordan Hanger says
Thanks Kevin!