These succulent country style ribs will cook low and slow in the oven for about 3 hours. When done, get ready to feast on the most tender and delicious pork you’ve ever enjoyed.
What are Pork Country Style Ribs?
Country style ribs are not actually ribs at all. I know I know… bummer, right? Not all all. Country style ribs are actually cuts of pork from the shoulder/butt area of the pork, which is the exact same meat used in pulled pork. Yay! The meat is cut in such a way that it resembles ribs. Most cuts are boneless but some do have the y-shaped bone that you find in a shoulder/butt roast. Either way, the meat is well marbled, so tender, and absolutely mouthwatering. Country style ribs are usually sold in packages of about 8 “ribs”, totaling 2-3lbs. Of course, depending on the particular store, the packaging can vary. Also make sure the meat is well marbled. Some country style pork ribs are cut from the loin area and tend to be very lean. These ribs are not as good and tend to be very dry. The standard packages of 2-3lbs are perfect for a hearty family meal. If cooking for more than 4, look for larger packages of more than 3 lbs. As a general rule, 2 standard sized country style ribs are the prefect serving size for 1 person.
What Do I Need to Make This Recipe?
You won’t need any special equipment to make these country style ribs. They cook right in the oven in a baking dish. A 13″ x 9″ glass baking dish is perfect for 2-3 lbs. of ribs. I like to line it with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier. You’ll also need foil to cover the dish while they roast in the oven.
Ingredients
Naturally we’ll need 2-3lbs. of country style pork ribs. Make sure is says butt/shoulder ribs and not loin ribs. We’ll make an awesome pork rub with some real basic ingredients:
brown sugar onion powder garlic powder ground mustard smoked paprika cayenne pepper salt and pepper
And finally, we’ll brush some of our favorite BBQ sauce onto the ribs for the final 30 minutes of cooking. This will give the sauce a chance to caramelize and stick to the ribs.
Preparation
Start by mixing all the dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Then we simple coat all the meat with the rub. I’ve found the best way to do this is to use a large, gallon-sized zip-top bag. Add the ribs, seasoning, seal the bag and shake, shake, shake. Massage that seasoning into all the ribs for about a minute and you’re good to go.
Line a glass or oven safe baking dish (13″ x 9″ is the perfect size) with aluminum foil and place the seasoned ribs in the dish, spaced apart as best possible. Make sure the fattier side of the ribs are on top. This allows that moisture from the fat to drip down through the rib, making it as juicy as possible. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
Bake Low and Slow
Place the covered dish into a preheated oven at 325°(F) for 2.5 hours. After the 2.5 hours, remove from oven, carefully remove the foil cover and drain the liquid from the dish. You can do this by removing the ribs to a plate, and just pouring the liquid out, then return the ribs to the dish.
Now, apply a liberal amount of your favorite barbecue sauce. Use a brush and brush it on each rib as best possible. Back in the oven they go, uncovered, for another 30 minutes with the temperature bumped up to 375°(F). After the final 30 minutes, remove from oven and they’re done.
Ready to Serve
No need to wait, your country style ribs are now ready to serve. The best way to serve is to place them on a plate or platter and let everyone serve themselves. They can be quite large so usually one or two will be plenty.
The brussels sprouts you see in the picture are our Best Damn Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. They’re the perfect accompaniment for this dish and also very easy to make. I’m also a HUGE fan of macaroni and cheese with BBQ dishes and our Best Damn Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is an excellent choice for a side-dish. And of course, BBQ pork can be topped with, or served with some delicious homemade country coleslaw. The cool crunch is perfect to go along with the tender pork.
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