4.93 from 13 votes

Need a foolproof recipe for Keto Ribs Recipe in the oven? Here ya go. With a simple dry rub, you can make smokey ribs right in your oven that taste like they spent the day in a smoker.

We love our smoker and love smoked ribs, but it takes an entire day to smoke a rack of ribs, and we don’t always have enough time. I wanted an easy way to get that nice smoke flavor and have tender dry rub ribs just by cooking in the oven.

Cooking the ribs slowly and in the oven is still a TON faster than smoking them. Plus, they are so tender and juicy it’s hard to believe they were made in the oven. The key to making them extra gorgeous and locking in that moisture is broiling them for the last few minutes. It is a real game-changer!

Now you can make ribs in the dead of winter and not even put your shoes on to head outdoors. Talk about a HUGE win. Game days and dinner just got a whole lot more simple, and the taste is going to blow your mind.

How to Make Dry Rub for Baby Back Ribs

My secret to imparting food with a smoky flavor is smoked paprika. It is tied with roasted garlic powder for my favorite spice. Smoked paprika is great on low carb barbeque dishes because it gives so much flavor without adding any carbs. It’s like striking gold in the flavor department.

dry rub baby back ribs on a sheet pan rack from above

How to cook ribs in the oven

My husband used the same 3-2-1 ribs recipe technique he uses when smoking ribs to cook dry rub baby back ribs in the oven. 3 hours uncovered on low, 2 hours covered on medium, 1 hour uncovered on high. Then I broiled them for about 10 minutes to get a nice crust on the oven ribs.

Top Tips For Making Keto Ribs

When you are at the market, look for ribs that have the meat distributed pretty evenly among them. Steer clear of any that are loaded with lots of fat.
Make sure to remove the membrane on the ribs. If you don’t, they will be tough to eat and separate. Removing that membrane is a game-changer. You can take a sharp knife and press it between the membrane and the bone of the rib. Then move it around, so it begins to separate from the bone. Pull it off the rest of the way, and you are all set.
When making ribs in the oven, you don’t have to worry about them flaring up as you do in the smoker. But you want to make sure you don’t overcook them.
It’s important to take your time cooking the ribs. If you attempt to toss them in the oven and cook quickly, they will be tough and chewy instead of falling apart.
Let the ribs rest a few minutes before serving them. This helps keep the meat nice and juicy.

dry rub covered baby back ribs on a rack

What to Serve with Ribs

We typically serve our dry rub baby back ribs with typical bbq foods like Cauliflower Salad, Ranch Broccoli Salad, Caesar Salad, Zucchini Salad, and raw vegetables with dip. Ribs are a rich, fatty, filling meat that goes great with lighter cold salads and sides.

Is It Okay To Add Barbecue Sauce?

Certainly! Don’t skip the rub, and add your favorite sugar-free barbecue sauce right before you broil the keto ribs. This will give you some added flavor and make them finger-licking good. You can also dip the meat into the sauce as you are eating them as well.

What Temperature Do I Need To Cook The Ribs To?

The ribs need to be cooked to at least 145 degrees. Now, keep in mind that for most meats, I am not going to tell you to cook past the required cooking temperature, but when it comes to ribs, I am. They are way more tender and falling apart when you cook them to reach anywhere from 180 degrees to 200 degrees. This allows them to become off the bones easily and makes them more enjoyable. Typically, other meats should come out of the oven when they hit temperature, or they become dry. Ribs don’t do that unless you go above 200 degrees. I highly recommend a digital thermometer, so there isn’t any doubt what the temperature is.

baby back ribs covered in a dry rub on a rack close up

Ribs with dry rub are perfect as is or great with barbecue sauce! These ribs were literally falling off the bone when we were trying to cut them. That is how tender they are.

Want to smoke some ribs? Try my Keto Smoked Ribs! And these Country Style Ribs are amazing!

Want to use the crock pot? Check out this recipe for Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs.

baby back ribs on a aluminum lined sheet pan

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Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs

Taryn Scarfone

You can make Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs right in your oven that taste like they spent the day in a smoker.

4.93 from 13 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 6

Total Time 6 5

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 441

Ingredients

4 lb baby back ribs
1/4 cup smoked paprika rub
2 cups water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Smoked Paprika Rub:

2 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 225. Rub the paprika rub on the ribs and place them on a stainless steel rack. Pour 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar in the tray. Bake for 3 hours uncovered on the rack.
Remove the ribs from the oven and wrap in foil. Cook for an additional 2 hours at 225.
Uncover the ribs, turn the heat up to 400 and bake for 1 hour.
Optional: Broil on high for 5-10 minutes at the end to brown the ribs. Watch closely as they can burn.

Notes

To Reheat: heat the ribs in the oven at 250 degrees. Cover with tin foil and heat for 20 minutes or so until they are all the way hot.

To Freeze: wrap in tin foil and place in a freezer bag or container. They will last around 3 months and should be thawed before being reheated.

Substitutions: use any kind of rub you like or have on hand if you'd rather.

Nutrition

Calories: 441Carbohydrates: 2gProtein: 44gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 167mgSodium: 584mgPotassium: 775mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2.3mg

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