Country Style Ribs Recipe

Country-style Pork Ribs ribs are a great rich and fall-apart tender alternative to traditional ribs. Cheap, easy to make, and SO good, this might just be your new favorite way to eat pork.

One of the first really popular recipes on this site was my No-Fuss Easy Oven-Baked Ribs. The recipe’s designed to use beef back ribs, but since the post went live people have been asking about using it to make country-style pork ribs.

And every single time, I would have to admit that I had no idea because I’d never eaten, let alone cooked, country-style ribs.

Whelp, I finally got sick of saying “I don’t know,” and feeling like I was missing out on something (because clearly, people love these things), so I tried them for myself, and now I am so angry.

Guys, I am so angry I haven’t been making these for years because country-style ribs ARE AMAZING. And this is coming from someone who is usually firmly Team Beef Ribs over pork.

These ribs are so tender and rich and easy to make. Two ingredients, ten minutes of hands-on prep time, and you end up with these absolutely beautiful ribs with meat you can shred with a fork.

And if you’re sitting there going sure, that sounds great, but WTF are country-style pork ribs? Read on, friend.

Country-style pork ribs aren’t ribs at all. They’re cuts of pork shoulder, which is the same meat you use to make pulled pork and carnitas. If you get bone-in “ribs,” you’ll recognize the distinctive y-shaped bone you get when you buy a bone-in pork shoulder roast.

This means that one, just like pork shoulder roasts, country-style ribs are super cheap, usually about $2/pound.

Two, they’re way meatier than regular pork or beef ribs (and don’t have all that gross cartilage), so you’re getting more meat for your buck.

And three, they have that wonderful marbling of fat which helps keep them moist during the long, slow cooking process on the way to tender, fall-apart ribs.

country style ribs recipe

Easy Country-Style Pork Ribs in the Oven

country style ribs recipe

Country-style Pork Ribs ribs are a great rich and fall-apart tender alternative to traditional ribs. Cheap, easy to make, and SO good, this might just be your new favorite way to eat pork.

Prep: 10min

Total: 195min

Serving Size: 6 ounces

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 6 ounces, calories 372 kcal

Ingredients:

  • Foil
  • Roasting pan (or rimmed baking sheet)
  • Silicone basting brush (optional)
  • Country-style pork ribs*
  • Salt and pepper
  • Your favorite BBQ sauce

Instruction:

  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F. Salt and pepper both sides of your ribs and place in a single layer in your pan, fattier side up.
  2. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 2 hours. Carefully (steam and liquid in the tray will be hot!) remove ribs from the oven and check the meat. They should be starting to become tender. If they still feel tough, re-cover them and place them back in the oven for 15 to 30 minutes.
  3. Transfer ribs to a plate and drain liquid from the pan. Return ribs to tray and brush with a generous coating of BBQ sauce.
  4. Turn oven down to 275°F and bake ribs, uncovered, for 1 hour more, or until you can pull the meat apart with a fork (if your ribs were small and already pretty tender when you put them back in the oven, start checking after 20 minutes). Brush with another coat of BBQ sauce, rest for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy!

You’ll Never Make Country Style Ribs Any Other Way

FAQ

How long does it take to cook country style ribs?

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place ribs in a single layer in a shallow baking pan or roaster; salt if desired. Spread garlic on ribs, then arrange lemon slices on top. Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 2 hours.

What is the best way to tenderize country style ribs?

That low temp—about 250° to 300°—is needed to tenderize the meat while keeping it juicy and flavorful. Seven pounds of country-style ribs will take about two and a half hours to cook at 275°.

How long does it take to cook country style ribs in the oven at 350?

For tender and delicious barbecued pork ribs, aim for two hours of baking at 350°F. For an even more succulent experience you can wrap them in foil and slow cook them over a lower heat; this will take up to three hours at 300°F or just 1.5-2 hours if the oven is cranked up to 400 degrees!

Why are my country style ribs tough?

If your ribs are chewy, you either forgot to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs or you didn’t cook them long enough. If your ribs are dry, you likely cooked them too hot and fast.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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