If you thought achieving fall-off-the-bone deliciousness meant standing over a hot grill for hours, I’m here to tell you you’re wrong! Seriously, don’t sweat it. My absolute favorite way to make incredibly tender meat is right in the oven, and these Country Style Pork Ribs are the proof. I remember the first time I tried this method; I was shocked how easy it was to get that perfect, pull-apart texture on this cut. Forget complicated smoking setups; this simple baking method gives you restaurant-quality flavor every single time.

Why This Baked Country Style Pork Ribs Recipe Works (Experience & Expertise)

Look, I love grilling, I really do, but grilling thin cuts like these Country Style Pork Ribs too fast dries them out before they ever get tender. The secret here is embracing the oven. We build flavor first, then we gently steam them until they surrender! This low and slow process is hands-down the best way to treat this specific cut of pork compared to high-heat methods. You get amazing results without needing special equipment, trust me.

Here’s what makes this cooking method unbeatable for tender meat:

The Magic of Low and Slow Cooking for Country Style Pork Ribs: We start at 325°F, which is just warm enough to gently coax those tough connective tissues in the pork to melt into gelatin. That gelatin is what gives you that mouth-coating tenderness. It’s the same care I take with my slow-cooked brisket—patience pays off!
Building Flavor with the Dry Rub: Wrapping them up with liquid is essential, but you can’t skip the seasoning first! Rubbing that savory blend of salt, pepper, and spices directly onto the meat lets it penetrate deeply. By the time we add the BBQ sauce later, that underlying spice foundation is already locked in.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Country Style Pork Ribs

You don’t need a whole specialty grocery run for this recipe; that’s one of the best parts! It relies on basic pantry staples combined with the star of the show. When I first started making these, I realized that having the right spices pre-mixed makes everything easier later on. Speaking of easy sides, if you’re looking for something wonderful to sop up the sauce, you absolutely must check out my ultimate homemade cornbread recipe!

The Country Style Pork Ribs and Seasoning Base

You’ll need about 3 lbs of Country Style Pork Ribs—get whatever thickness looks best at the butcher counter. For the rub, we keep it simple but powerful: 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of paprika. Make sure you rub that mix all over every little crevice the best you can!

Braising Liquid and Finishing Sauce for Country Style Pork Ribs

The moisture comes from 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water—though if you have it on hand, feel free to swap that water out for chicken broth for a little extra savory depth! Finally, you need 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce for that gorgeous, sticky glaze at the end.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Tender Country Style Pork Ribs

Okay, this is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s so straightforward you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with fussier methods. Follow these steps, and soon you’ll be serving up Country Style Pork Ribs that practically fall apart if you look at them too hard. If you’re planning a game day, these are amazing served on slider buns!

Preparation and Initial Seasoning of Country Style Pork Ribs

First things first: crank that oven up to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. While it’s warming up, take your 3 lbs of Country Style Pork Ribs and get that spice blend we mixed earlier onto every surface. Really massage it in there! You need an even coating of salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and paprika across the top, bottom, and sides. Don’t be shy with the rub!

The Covered Bake: Creating Tender Country Style Pork Ribs

Once seasoned, tuck those ribs snugly into a large baking dish. Now for the moisture layer: pour in that 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water right into the bottom of the dish—this creates a steamy environment. This is non-negotiable! Cover that dish as tightly as you possibly can with aluminum foil. We need to trap every bit of steam for the next two hours. Don’t peek! We bake them covered for a solid 2 hours.

Saucing and Final Caramelization

When the two hours are up, carefully remove the dish from the oven. Take off the foil—watch out for hot steam! Drain off most of that liquid that’s built up; we don’t want soggy ribs. Now comes the fun part: brush the tops generously with that barbecue sauce. Pop the uncovered ribs back into the oven for about 30 more minutes. You want that sauce to get bubbly and slightly caramelized around the edges, but keep an eye on them so the sauce doesn’t burn!

Resting the Country Style Pork Ribs

This might be the hardest step, but you have to do it! Once they look sticky and perfect, pull them out and let them rest for 10 minutes before you even think about slicing or serving. This lets all those amazing juices settle back into the meat. Seriously, these ribs are excellent with my BBQ meatloaf!

Tips for Success When Making Country Style Pork Ribs

Even though this baked ribs recipe is incredibly forgiving, I have one huge pro-tip if you really want to pamper your Country Style Pork Ribs and guarantee they are beyond tender. We aren’t just aiming for good here; we’re aiming for the kind of succulent bite that makes people ask for your secrets!

Adjusting Time for Maximum Tenderness in Country Style Pork Ribs

The recipe calls for 325°F, which is great, fast, and delicious. However, if you have just a little extra time on your hands, try dropping the temperature down to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook your Country Style Pork Ribs this low and slow for an extra half hour—making it 2.5 hours total before saucing—the collagen breaks down even more thoroughly. You get that incredible, melt-in-your-mouth texture that usually requires a smoker. It’s worth the extra 30 minutes, seriously. If you’re using bone-in cuts, this method works wonders, just like with my oven-baked bone-in pork chops.

Serving Suggestions for Country Style Pork Ribs

Now that you have these ridiculously tender Country Style Pork Ribs, you need the perfect supporting cast next to them on the plate! Since these ribs have a nice, rich flavor from the smoky BBQ sauce, I always like pairing them with something cool and creamy to cut through that richness. My go-to is always a classic, creamy potato salad—you can find my recipe for the ultimate delicious potato salad right here!

For something green, keep it simple; maybe some vinegar-based coleslaw or a quick side of green beans sautéed with garlic. You want sides that complement the meat, not compete with it, so you can focus on that amazing pork flavor!

Storage and Reheating Country Style Pork Ribs

I always seem to have leftovers because 3 lbs of Country Style Pork Ribs vanish slower than I expect! Honestly, they reheat beautifully, which is one reason I love making a big batch. Store any extras tightly wrapped in foil or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three or four days. They just get better!

When you are ready to eat them again, the key is moisture. Don’t just microwave them dry! Wrap those leftover ribs back up tightly in foil, maybe even add a tiny splash of water or broth to the bottom of the foil packet—just a teaspoon or two of liquid. Then, reheat them in a 350°F oven until they are heated through. It keeps them just as tender as the day you cooked them.

If you need to keep them longer, you can absolutely freeze them! I freeze mine in heavy-duty freezer bags, squeezing out all the air, which works great for things like herbs too, as I detail in my post on how to freeze fresh herbs in oil. They last about two months this way, ready for a quick dinner later!

Frequently Asked Questions About Country Style Pork Ribs

You know, whenever I post this Country Style Pork Ribs recipe online, I get the same questions popping up in the comments. It makes sense—people want assurance before they commit that 2.5 hours to the oven! But trust me, these baked ribs are worth every minute of that tenderizing time.

Are Country Style Pork Ribs truly ribs?

That’s a tricky one! Technically, no, they aren’t the traditional curved rack you picture. These are usually cut from the pork shoulder or blade area, which means they have lots of rich flavor and meat, sometimes with a small piece of bone or just thick strips of muscle. That texture variation is why they handle the low-and-slow bath so well compared to actual spare ribs.

Can I make these Country Style Pork Ribs on the grill?

Oh, absolutely you can adapt this pork recipe! The main thing is you have to cook them indirectly. Set up your grill for two-zone cooking—coals only on one side. You’ll still want the liquid bath, so place the ribs on the cooler side, cover them tightly with foil or a foil pan, and cook slowly. You’ll probably need about 2 to 2.5 hours covered, then you can finish them over direct heat for that BBQ char if you want that extra smoky flavor.

What is the best way to season Country Style Pork Ribs if I don’t have all the spices listed?

Don’t panic if your spice rack is looking a little sad! The salt and pepper are the foundation—make sure you have those. If you are missing onion powder or paprika, focus heavily on the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Garlic is your best friend in any pork recipe. That trio will still give you a really tasty, savory crust even without the other components!

Estimated Nutritional Information for Country Style Pork Ribs

Now, I always tell people that when you’re cooking meat this flavorful, you shouldn’t worry too much about the numbers—just enjoy it! But just so you have a good ballpark idea, here are the estimates based on the recipe breakdown for these amazing baked ribs. Remember, this is just an estimate since your BBQ sauce and the exact cut of pork can change things!

Calories: Approximately 450 per serving size (about 4 ribs)
Protein: A solid 30 grams!
Fat: Around 25 grams total fat
Carbohydrates: About 28 grams, mostly coming from that delicious BBQ sauce.

It’s a hearty, satisfying meal, especially when paired with a fresh side salad or some of that cornbread I mentioned earlier. Eat heartily!

Share Your Tender Country Style Pork Ribs Results

Whew! We made it to the finish line, and I sincerely hope your kitchen smells incredible right now. Serving size is about four ribs per person, which this recipe handles perfectly, yielding four great servings. Now, I absolutely live for hearing about your kitchen adventures when you make my recipes!

Did these Country Style Pork Ribs turn out as fork-tender as mine did? Were they the easiest baked ribs you’ve ever managed? Please take a moment and drop a comment below! I want to know what you thought, if you made any tweaks, or if you served them with your own favorite sides. Your feedback helps other cooks know they can trust this recipe too.

If you want to share photos or just need to get in touch about a specific issue, feel free to hop over to my contact page—I try to answer everyone personally. Happy cooking, and enjoy those amazing ribs!

Country Style Pork Ribs

Author: jekof.com
Total Time: 2 hours 45 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Low Fat

Print Recipe

Description

Simple recipe for tender, flavorful country style pork ribs.

Ingredients

Scale

3 lbs country style pork ribs
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Rub the spice mixture evenly over all surfaces of the pork ribs.
Place the seasoned ribs in a large baking dish.
Pour the apple cider vinegar and water into the bottom of the baking dish.
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake for 2 hours.
Remove the foil and drain off any excess liquid from the dish.
Brush the tops of the ribs generously with barbecue sauce.
Return the uncovered ribs to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce is slightly caramelized.
Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can substitute chicken broth for water if desired.
For extra tenderness, cook low and slow at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 2.5 hours before saucing.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 min
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4 ribs
Calories: 450
Sugar: 25
Sodium: 650
Fat: 25
Saturated Fat: 9
Unsaturated Fat: 16
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 1
Protein: 30
Cholesterol: 100

Keywords: country style pork ribs, baked ribs, barbecue ribs, pork recipe, easy ribs