Fall Off the Bone Ribs Recipe
Published May 24, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This delicious, easy-to-make BBQ fall-off-the-bone ribs recipe will quickly become a family and friend favorite. You will be blown away at just how flavorful these ribs are and how simple they are to prepare.
No matter the BBQ, side dishes are a huge part of making it successful. If you want tasty recipes to serve alongside this smoked brisket, check out my Creamy Coleslaw or Southern Potato Salad.
Fall Off the Bone Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone ribs are a bit of an anomaly in the BBQ world. Contrary to popular belief, ribs are not supposed to fall off the bone. They should be smoked at low temperatures for long periods of time and should require a gentle tug to remove them from the bone. However, there are many people out there, my family included, who enjoy eating ribs that are so tender they fall right off the bone.
Since many folks do not have smokers, this is a great alternative that renders excellent results and flavor. You can customize this recipe to your liking by using your spice rub and BBQ sauce.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ribs – I used baby back-cut ribs for this recipe.
- Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar will help provide some much-needed acid to the ribs before grilling.
- Sauce – I like to use my Homemade BBQ Sauce or my Vinegar BBQ Sauce for this. However, you can use your favorite sauce for this.
- Stock – Beef stock will add some great flavors when steam roasting the ribs in the oven.
- Seasonings – I prefer only sea salt and ground black pepper, but you can step it up and use a BBQ rub.
- Binder – A binder is used to ensure the seasoning sticks to the ribs. I like to use rendered lard for this.
How to Make Fall Off the Bone Rib
Remove the membrane (peritoneum) from the bottom of the ribs by taking a small slice of the last bone.
Grab ahold of the membrane using a paper towel and gently pull it until it is removed.
Cover the ribs on all sides with softened rendered pork lard to act as a binder for seasoning.
Generously season the ribs on all sides with sea salt and ground black pepper.
Place the ribs bone side down into a large deep baking pan. I used a 400-hotel pan.
Pour 2 cups of beef stock into the pan.
Cover with foil and bake at 300° for 2 ½ hours or until the meat easily pulls away from the bones.
Remove the ribs and let them rest on a cutting board or sheet tray for 10 to 15 minutes.
Generously spray or brush on apple cider vinegar on all sides.
Add the ribs bone side up to a hot grill (450° to 550°) for 2 to 3 minutes to mark the ribs. They should get some light grill marks on them.
Flip the ribs over and then generously brush the top of the ribs with BBQ Sauce and grill for 2 to 3 minutes or mark them.
Turn them over one last time to get the BBQ sauce cooked into the ribs for 1 to 2 minutes, and then brush the bottom part of the ribs with more sauce.
Remove the ribs, and serve.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: These ribs are meant to be eaten when they’re done cooking. However, you can keep them warm in a pan covered with foil in the oven at low temperatures (<200°) for up to 1 hour before serving.
How to Store: Cover and keep the ribs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. These will freeze covered for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator for 1 day or until thawed.
How to Reheat: Add the desired number of ribs to a pan and cover with foil. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until hot.
Chef Notes + Tips
- You can use spare ribs or St. Louis-style ribs using the exact cook times and temperatures for this recipe. and procedures.
- Other binders you can use are Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, softened butter, or oil.
- If you don’t have a grill to mark the ribs, place them under the broiler on high heat for the same time as on the grill.
More BBQ Recipes
Video
Fall Off the Bone Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 baby back rib racks
- 4 tablespoons room temperature lard
- 4 teaspoons sea salt
- 4 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Remove the membrane (peritoneum) from the bottom of the ribs by taking a small slice on the last bone.
- Grab ahold of the membrane using a paper towel and gently pull it until it is removed.
- Cover the ribs on all sides with softened rendered pork lard to act as a binder for seasoning.
- Generously season the ribs on all sides with sea salt and ground black pepper.
- Place the ribs bone side down into a large deep baking pan. I used a 400-hotel pan.
- Pour 2 cups of beef stock into the pan.
- Cover with foil and bake at 300° for 2 ½ hours or until the meat easily pulls away from the bones.
- Remove the ribs and let them rest on a cutting board or sheet tray for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Generously spray or brush on apple cider vinegar on all sides.
- Add the ribs bone side up to a hot grill (450° to 550°) for 2 to 3 minutes to mark the ribs. They should get some light grill marks on them.
- Flip the ribs over and then generously brush the top of the ribs with BBQ Sauce and grill for 2 to 3 minutes or mark them.
- Turn them over one last time to get the BBQ sauce cooked into the ribs for 1 to 2 minutes, and then brush the bottom part of the ribs with more sauce.
- Remove the ribs from the grill and serve.
They were so tender and full of flavor
so good!!
Yes, we did make this recipe Billy. We did it all on the grill though. My son had his competition this past Saturday. 31 entries and he came in at 4th place with Judges and 1st place with The Peoples Choice. It was a lot of fun this day… Thanks to you and all of your ideas, tricks, and great tips. my so was a very happy man. I always prepare everything for him and set up his station, while he starts his smoker. Then it’s all him after that point. These BBQ are so much fun, and it is always nice to win, and even better when you get a check to go with it….
Fantastic recipe. I make so many of your dishes they never fail thank you. Do you have a printed recipe book please.
Great!
Love your recipes!! I’m looking forward to trying these ribs can you tell me if you updated the recipe as you mentioned? Also, which would likely to be more tender beef or pork?
Thanks
Not for a few more weeks yet 🙂
Hey Chef. Just wanted to say thank you! Relative beginner here and have made several dishes from your site, and they have been absolutely delicious. The smoked pulled pork has been a hit, these ribs were well-received. I have learned a lot, impressed a few people, and just super enjoyed the experience of investigating new flavors and ways to cook. Appreciated brother! Much love
Nice. I’m actually getting ready to update this recipe to make it a bit easier and a lot tastier.
I used short beef ribs with the rub, let it marinade over night and cooked them in the slow cooker….WOW…fall off the bone is an understatement!!! Fantastic flavor!!!! I’m having to be careful with sugar intake right now so I skipped the bbq saucepart (which I’m totally going to try at a later date cause I know it will be amazing) and I had to use caraway seeds instead of coriander cause I didn’t have coriander on hand but soooo delicious! Can’t wait to make these again! Thanks so much Chef Billy for your tried, tested and true recipes!!! All our family can say is W O W!!
This recipe is a “must try”! Can you tell me if the mangoes are the small yellow variety or the large green/yellow.
you can actually use either.
Hi Billy
The sauce recipe looks real good. I am going to have to try it for sure. I been doing a brown sugar base dry rub for the last few years and doing a low heat light smoke with a rotisserie for my ribs. I always have some extra rub I save. I let you try some next time your in town or I’ll mail you some.
Take care chef
Uncle Bob
Hey just one question master, how do you move the ribs to the grill after the oven if they are falling off the bone. It would be a shame to try and sear and flip them and they break everywhere. What’s your trick?
I have a really long set of tongs that allows me to sort of scoop them up and flip them pretty easily. Remember you are really just marking them to crust on that bbq sauce so at a max 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Hope this helps?
I am an aspiring Chef currently in culinary school. I just wanted to say I admire your passion for food. You push me to be creative and take chances where I wouldn’t normally! Thanks!
Thanks so much for the kind words! Keep pushing yourself, just like one of my favorite chefs used to tell me, “You are only limited by your own creativity!”