If you’re looking for an easy and delicious BBQ Short Ribs Recipe that makes the best fall-off-the-bone tender bbq beef ribs, you’ve come to the right place.
Beef Short Ribs are often overlooked when it comes to barbecue, but they shouldn’t be. Packed with flavor, it’s easy to see why this cut of beef is prized by chefs and often used in creating delicious specials that almost melt in your mouth.
That’s exactly the type of tenderness and flavor you can expect from my bbq beef ribs recipe.
ingredients for Barbecue Short Ribs?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make BBQ Short Ribs. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Made with simple pantry ingredients
- bone-in beef short ribs
- olive oil
- sea salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder
- paprika
- oregano
- brown sugar
- barbecue sauce
How do I make Tender BBQ Beef Ribs?
- Add the spices and brown sugar to a small bowl.
- Mix the seasonings together until well blended.
- Rinse the ribs with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Brush the ribs with olive oil.
- Rub the seasoning mixture (dry rub) into the beef ribs. Add additional olive oil if needed.
- Place the seasoned ribs in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with Reynolds Wrapยฎ Heavy Duty Foil. Cover the ribs with another sheet of foil. Make sure to seal the edges of the foil, so steam does not escape while cooking.
Place the covered seasoned beef short ribs in the refrigerator to marinate for 2-4 hours.
When the oven temperature has reached 275ยฐ F., place the foil pouch of short ribs on the center rack of the oven. Cook the ribs for 3 ยฝ- 4 hours, until you’ve reached an internal temperature of 205ยฐ F. or until the bone starts to separate from the meat.
How to cook bbq short ribs on the grill:
Follow the instructions above through the marinating process. To grill the ribs make completely sealed foil packets; instead of using the covered tray using double layers of foil.
- Preheat your grill to high heat. Once the grill has been heated, turn off the burners in the center of the grill. You will be cooking the short ribs over indirect heat.
- Divide the ribs into two and make two double-layered foil packets. Fold the top and ends to seal the packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
- Place the packets over indirect heat and lower the cover on the grill. Cook the short ribs for 2ยฝ – 3 hours. Cooking time can vary so be sure to use a meat thermometer to check on the temperature of the beef short ribs. Internal temperature should be 200-205ยฐ F.
- When the ribs are fully cooked, carefully open the packets by cutting along the top folds of the packets with a sharp knife, allowing steam to escape.
- Then open the top of the foil packet.
- Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and continue grilling over direct heat with the grill covered for 5 – 10 minutes, until browned and crisp.
Brush the bbq beef ribs generously with your favorite barbecue sauce.
*You can also finish the ribs without barbecue sauce.
Broil the BBQ short ribs on low for 3-4 minutes until the sauce gets bubbly and begins to caramelize.
*Make sure to keep an eye on the ribs. The barbecue sauce will burn quicker than you think.
My Easy BBQ Beef Ribs were incredibly flavorful thanks to the seasoning mixture used and were also very tender. And when I said this was an easy recipe, I wasn’t kidding.
Just a few minutes of prep work is all that’s needed to make the most tender fall-off-the-bone bbq beef ribs.
The meat just pulled off the bone using a fork to separate it. Adding some of the liquid from the pan after shredding the beef, will help keep the meat moist.
Pulled beef from short ribs makes delicious tacos and sandwiches and is an amazing addition to mac and cheese!
Recipe FAQ’s
Beef short ribs are the most tender when the internal temperature of the ribs reaches aroundย 200 โ 205ยฐ F. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the ribs have been cooked long enough.
I have found that cooking beef or pork ribs at 275ยฐ F is the perfect temperature for cooking ribs low and slow, making them fall off the bone tender.
At 275ยฐ F, beef short ribs will take 3 ยฝ- 4 hours to fully cook. Increasing or lowering the oven temperature will affect the overall cooking time.
Christin
Do i need to adjust the recipe for 5 lbs of short ribs? I’m feeding 6 people.
Chef Dennis Littley
That almost twice as much as my recipe so you would need to increase the amounts by about 60%
Madison
Can I season these the night before and leave them sealed in the fridge?
Chef Dennis Littley
Yes you can.
Candice
Do the ribs need to be at room temperature before placing them in the oven? Or can they just go straight from refrigerator to oven?
Chef Dennis Littley
They don’t need to be, but it will help them cook more evenly.
Luba
Can this be cooked in a Dutch oven instead of wrapping with foil?
Chef Dennis Littley
I normally braise short ribs in a Dutch oven, and haven’t used it without liquids in the pan, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Amy Duff
Great flavor! The meat just fell off the bone.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the short ribs!
Deidra
Excellent experience! Ooooh yeah! Thank’s.
Chef Dennis Littley
You’re very welcome. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the ribs.
I have a weird name
I have this cooking in the oven now. The house smells so good. ๐
Tonya R Mccollum
Do you cook them before marinating them in refrigerator?
Chef Dennis Littley
No, marinate before roasting. Just follow the instructions in the recipe card.
Shaun
Does it matter on what side you cook the ribs?
Chef Dennis Littley
If the bone is running through the middle it really doesn’t matter, unless one side has more fat than the other. If that’s the case cook them fat side up.
Megan
So tender and absolutely delicious. The entire family was praising this dish!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the ribs. It’s one of my favorite recipes.