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Home · Recipes · Pork · Pork Spare Ribs

Published: Jul 3, 2024 by Kelly Anthony · 24 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Pork Spare Ribs

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With this easy oven-baked pork spare ribs recipe, you will not miss the grill one bit! My family obsesses over these ribs every single time I make them—I'm talking pure, elated joy and excitement from the children because of this recipe. Now, that is a dinnertime win.

Close-up of Spare Ribs.

By far, this is the easiest way to achieve juicy, flavorful spare ribs with minimal effort, like our slow-cooker pork ribs. The ribs are cooked in the oven and topped with our signature savory-sweet brown sugar rub, braised in Dr. Pepper until fall-off-the-bone tender. It's a recipe you will want to add to your must-make list for sure!

Close-up photo of Spare Ribs.

Table of Contents

  • Why This Spare Rib Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • How to Cook Pork Spare Ribs in the Oven
  • What to Serve with Oven-Baked Ribs
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Pork Dinner Ideas

Why This Spare Rib Recipe Works

When we set out to bring the best pork spare ribs to the table, we aimed to solve the problem most home cooks encounter: dry, tough ribs. We slammed out a fall-off-the-bone, flavorful rib with zero fancy equipment by cooking them low and slow in a sweet, carbonated braising liquid--Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper.

The soda creates a moist environment, keeping the ribs from drying out, and also allows the ribs to braise as they cook, slowly breaking down muscle fibers into the perfect, juicy, ultra-tender bite.

But can we also talk about that rib rub?! It's the perfect combo of smoky, sweet, savory, and a touch of heat for both kids and adults. Once the ribs are cooked to juicy perfection, give them a quick broil to keep that rub in place, and prepare yourself for a sticky, sweet, and incredibly delicious dinner that is dependable and easy. Out of all of our pork recipes, this one will be one of your family's favorites, guaranteed!

Ingredients

  • Spare Ribs | When buying ribs for this recipe, look for meaty, plump St. Louis-style ribs with a pink, almost reddish tinge. If beef is more your thing and you want to move outside to the grill, these beef ribs meet those criteria beautifully!
  • Soda | Acidic, carbonated beverages do wonders for tenderizing meat, especially a cut like spare ribs. Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper work great flavor-wise for this recipe!
  • Brown Sugar | If you love a sweet and sticky rib, don't skip the brown sugar in this recipe! You can use light or dark brown sugar. This brown sugar rub is similar to the rubs we use for bacon-wrapped chicken and bacon-wrapped pork loin.
  • Liquid Smoke (Optional) | Liquid smoke adds a smoky element to your spare ribs without firing up the grill. If you'd like to leave out that smoky taste, skip the liquid smoke altogether.
  • Spices | This simple rib rub is where it's at. You likely already have most of the spices in your cabinet: brown sugar, Kosher salt, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
Spare Rib rub ingredients.

How to Cook Pork Spare Ribs in the Oven

Make the Rub | Measure all of the ingredients for your rub and combine them in a small bowl. Once your rub is ready, set it aside and move on to prepping your ribs.

Steps to mix the rib rub for oven-baked spare ribs.

Prep the Ribs | Begin by removing the membrane. If you need some guidance on how to do this, see these steps. Once the membrane is gone, pat the ribs dry with a paper towel and rub the rack with the oil. This will help the rub to stick to the ribs. Coat the ribs with the ⅔ of the rib rub seasoning. You will add the rest when you add the cola.

Patting spare ribs dry with a paper towel and adding rib rub seasoning on a metal baking sheet.

Prep the Pan | You can use a large casserole dish, a roasting pan, or a large, rimmed baking sheet (if you're careful getting the pan in and out of the oven) for this dish. Line your pan with aluminum foil. If you do not have a pan the size of a roaster, you may need to cut the ribs in half to get them to fit.

Add the Cola + Additional Seasoning | Add the cola along with the liquid smoke (if using) to the pan and place the ribs inside. Top off your ribs with what's left of the rub and give it a good pat to make it stay.

Dr. Pepper being added to Spare Ribs covered in rib rub.

Cook Ribs in the Oven | Cook your spare ribs for 2 hours, uncovered, at 325°F, meat-side up in the oven. We use the same method in the oven for our country-style pork ribs. Baste the top of the ribs with the cola from the bottom of the pan every 30-45 minutes to keep the ribs moist and develop a sweet and sticky coating on the top.

Cooked Spare Ribs on a metal baking sheet.

Serve | Once cool enough to handle, slice the ribs, and serve them to your crowd!

Spare Ribs on a baking sheet.

What to Serve with Oven-Baked Ribs

Think up any Southern side dish (ahem, cheese grits!) and you've got dinnertime set! Potatoes and ribs are a match made in heaven, so if you put twice-baked potatoes or old-fashioned potato salad on the menu, I promise you that no one would be mad about it.

For your green side, collards are a no-brainer, but a house salad is always a crowd-pleaser. Speaking of salad, a cold pasta salad would be great for a BBQ! And if fried okra counts as a green side, bring it on.

Creamed corn and baked beans are two dishes that compliment that sweet-savory vibe of the spare ribs, and when you throw homemade cornbread into the mix to sop up all of that juicy goodness--I can't think of a more well-balanced, family-friendly Southern meal!

Close-up of Spare Ribs on a baking sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you remove the membrane from ribs?

It's not difficult to remove the membrane from the ribs, and we've got you covered with these steps!
1. Turn ribs over.
2. Identify the membrane.
3. Use the tip of a knife to lift it away from the meat.
4. Use hands or paper towel to pull away.
Steps to remove the membrane for Spare Ribs.

How do you store leftover ribs?

Oven-baked spare ribs work great for leftovers!

Keep | Store refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 days.

Reheat | Set your oven for 275°F and reheat those ribs for 20-30 minutes. It may be a good idea to cover with BBQ sauce during reheating to keep them extra juicy.

Freeze | Allow the ribs to cool to room temperature and place in a freezer-safe storage container or freezer-safe zip top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I use baby back ribs instead?

Baby backs are a leaner cut but can be used in place of spare ribs in this recipe. Bake at 325°F for 1-1.5 hour.

Close-up of Spare Ribs on a baking sheet.

More Pork Dinner Ideas

  • Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy
  • Pork Steaks
  • Pork Loin Roast
  • Crispy Baked Pork Chops
  • Pork Tenderloin Loin
  • Smothered Pork Chops
Close-up of Spare Ribs.
Print Recipe
4.42 from 53 votes

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs

Easy BBQ Pork Spare Ribs slow-cooked in the oven always come out juicy, tender, and full of flavor thanks to Dr. Pepper and a smoky, brown sugar rub!
Prep Time12 minutes mins
Cook Time2 hours hrs
Total Time2 hours hrs 12 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pork Spare Ribs
Servings: 6
Calories: 730kcal
Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

For the Rub:

  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 ½ teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

For the Ribs:

  • 3 pounds St. Louis-Style Spare Ribs
  • 1 tablespoon canola or avocado oil
  • 2 cups Dr. Pepper (or Coca-Cola)
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325° and have ready a very large baking dish or roaster. Combine all of the rub ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  • On a large work surface, remove the membrane from the ribs, pat dry with a paper towel, and rub with oil. Add about ⅔ of the rub to both sides of the ribs and rub to adhere.
  • Pour Coca Cola and liquid smoke into the pan. Add the ribs, and pat the remaining rub on the top of the ribs.
  • Bake for 2 hours (uncovered), basting the ribs with Coca-Cola every 30-45 minutes or so. Remove the oven, cut, and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 730kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 1478mg | Potassium: 621mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2.6mg
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Comments

  1. Amanda says

    May 16, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    What a perfect and flavorful rub! I love ribs in the summer, so I'll definitely be using this recipe over and over again.

    Reply
  2. Jacqueline Debono says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:18 pm

    Those ribs look good. I love doing spare ribs in the oven in winter when we can't bbq! Never thought to use coca cola! Have to try that!

    Reply
  3. Alexandra says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    Delicious and packed full of flavour - these are a real hit at dinner parties!!

    Reply
  4. Beth Neels says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:44 pm

    These look juicy and luscious! I am going to have to try your Dr. Pepper trick! I haven't done that before!

    Reply
  5. Veena Azmanov says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    I am drooling with the look of this delicious pork ribs. Baked amazing. Mouth melting and yum.

    Reply
  6. sue says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    OMG luscious, luscious, luscious! I love the deep rich color of these ribs 🙂

    Reply
  7. Annissa says

    May 24, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Great flavors and a perfect summer dish! Wonderful photos too!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    September 27, 2019 at 11:29 pm

    I used cherry coke but OMG delicious!! Best ribs ever, homemade and restaurant.

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      September 30, 2019 at 12:23 pm

      What a fun twist! And thank you, Amanda! What an amazing compliment!

      Reply
  9. Lori says

    January 22, 2020 at 12:19 am

    I made these tonight and they were so good! My three year-old even ate some!

    Reply
  10. Lydia says

    May 09, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    We are currently eating keto, how about Diet Coke and Swerve as substitutes?

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      May 10, 2020 at 5:54 pm

      Lydia, I personally have not ever looked into the keto diet and am not familiar with the restrictions. I'm so sorry I can't be of more help!

      Reply
  11. Jen says

    May 13, 2020 at 2:20 am

    Its all about the brown sugar rub!! So tasty on these ribs.

    Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    May 13, 2020 at 3:09 am

    This was really good. We're going to make it again this weekend

    Reply
  13. Kathryn says

    May 13, 2020 at 3:14 am

    Okay -- I'm so totally intrigued by these spare ribs. The Dr. Pepper is something I'm definitely going to have to try this week. These look out of this wold!

    Reply
  14. Tracy says

    May 13, 2020 at 5:02 am

    OMG these are amazing. My husband flipped over them!

    Reply
  15. Dannii says

    May 13, 2020 at 6:34 am

    I always order these when getting a Chinese, but I am going to have to try making them myself. They look pretty simple.

    Reply
  16. Carolyn Abriola says

    January 27, 2021 at 10:15 pm

    Are these ribs very spicy with the chili powder and smoked paprika .

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      March 15, 2021 at 10:01 pm

      Unless your extremely sensitive to heat, I wouldn't consider most chili powders or paprika "spicy" spices. They don't hold a candle to cayenne or even black pepper, I don't think. They're really there for flavor purposes 😉

      Reply
  17. Raymond Daniels says

    March 07, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    Cooking them oncovered won't dry them out? I found ribs were generally juicer if I covered them while cooking. Would covering them be a disadvantage? Ray

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      March 15, 2021 at 9:48 pm

      No, the liquid at the bottom of the pan locks steam and moisture in the oven and helps to keep them from drying out. Also, spare ribs are fairly fatty (which is why they taste SO AMAZING) so that's another element working in your favor! If you were to use baby back ribs, on the other hand, I could see how the foil might be necessary. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  18. Kelly Huff says

    November 03, 2024 at 7:15 pm

    I made these today and they were so yummy and simple. I've done ribs different ways but think this will be my new go to for the oven. Southern and Mexican style foods are my favs so I really enjoy your site!

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      November 11, 2024 at 2:27 pm

      Thank you, Kelly!

      Reply
  19. Rachel Lee says

    December 31, 2024 at 5:36 pm

    Will definitely make this again. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
4.42 from 53 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

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