It was only when I was living in an apartment with no backyard or grill that I first tried cooking beef ribs in the oven. I loved it so much that I still make them even though I now have access to my grill!
In this post, I will show you how to cook boneless country style beef ribs in the oven and provide you with the best ever recipe. Let’s get started!
When most people think of country style ribs, they think of pork ribs. Thus, if you have never had or used beef country style ribs, then you are going to need an introduction.
The first thing that you should know is that country style ribs aren’t actually ribs – at least not in the traditional sense.
This cut comes from the square cut chuck primal. It is also sometimes referred to as boneless chuck roast.
These boneless beef ribs come from cutting a chuck eye steak in half, lengthwise. So, if you are having a hard time finding country style beef ribs, then this is a trick that you can try.
The country style ribs have a nice, beefy flavor and work best when slow cooked.
Related Reading
I know that it isn’t common practice to dry brine country style beef ribs – or any ribs, really. However, this is something that I suggest that you do.
Dry brining is so easy – you simply sprinkle kosher salt all over the ribs and then press the salt into the meat. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight for the best results.
Yes, dry brining does require you to prepare the ribs ahead of time, but I guarantee that it will be worth the effort.
When you dry brine beef ribs, you ensure that the flavor penetrates deeper into the tissues. As an added bonus, this method can be great for preventing the meat from drying out during the cooking process.
If you do decide to dry brine your beef ribs, then make sure to skip the kosher salt in the dry rub. On the other hand, if you don’t salt the ribs ahead of time, you will need to add kosher salt to the rub before applying it to the ribs.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Line a baking dish or tray with aluminum foil.
Combine all the ingredients of the dry rub in a small bowl.
Arrange the ribs on the tray and apply the dry rub all over, on both sides.
Cover the tray with another layer of aluminum foil.
Place ribs in the oven.
Cook ribs in the oven until the internal temperature reads 125 degrees F.
Take the dish out of the oven and remove the top layer of the foil.
Apply the BBQ sauce to the country style ribs – make sure they are coated.
Return the country style ribs to the oven.
Cook until the internal temperature reads 145 degrees F.
Take out of the oven and rest the country style ribs for 15 minutes. Apply more BBQ sauce before serving.
Related Reading
When choosing the ribs, look for ones that have a good amount of marbling in them. This marbling is fat and fat is great for both flavor and moisture.
The more marbling there is, the tastier and more tender your ribs will end up.
Of course, you still want there to be enough of lean meat so that you get a filling meal out of the ribs.
Try to choose ribs that are similar in size and weight to each other. This will ensure that they will cook at a similar rate.
I do like the beef rub that I have chosen for this country style ribs recipe. However, you don’t have to stick to these ingredients specifically.
The great thing about country style ribs – and beef ribs in general – is that they have a strong, beefy flavor. This allows you to use stronger spices and not have to worry about overpowering the natural flavor profile of the meat.
You are free to add or omit spices or herbs as you wish. Now, I would suggest keeping staples like chili powder and garlic powder in there.
If you would like a smokier flavor, though, smoked paprika is always a good option. Chipotle seasoning is also another tasty ingredient.
The only thing that I would advise you here is to make sure that the flavors balance each other out. Keep in mind that flavors like garlic powder and onion powder can be quite strong. So, add these teaspoon by teaspoon to prevent them from overpowering other flavors.
And, if you are sensitive to spicy food, then make sure to take it easy with the chili powder, cayenne pepper, and even the black pepper.
It can be a little tricky to get your spice rub to stick to your beef ribs. If you are having trouble with this, try applying a very thin layer of yellow mustard to the ribs first and then sprinkle on the rub. This should help it to stick better.
Don’t worry as the mustard will evaporate during the cooking process and no traces of it will be left behind.
If you don’t like mustard then you can apply a thin layer of olive oil to the meat instead.
It is really important to use a high quality BBQ sauce here. Use the wrong sauce and you could end up ruining your recipe.
Now, I am not the biggest fan of store bought BBQ sauce and will only use it in a pinch. The reason is because these sauces tend to be quite sweet. Some even have an artificial aftertaste to them.
If you have found a good BBQ sauce brand or have a favorite, then feel free to use it. Otherwise, I would suggest making your own BBQ sauce for this recipe. If you do decide to do this, prepare the barbecue sauce at least a day before.
This way, you simply have to apply the BBQ sauce as needed.
If you want your country style ribs to taste like they have been prepared on a grill or a smoker, I would suggest using (or making) a BBQ sauce that has a smoky flavor to it. This really can make all the difference.
As you will have noticed with this country style beef ribs recipe, I have chosen a fairly low temperature – 275 F.
I know that you might find this is a little too low – and yes, I admit that at this temp, your meat is going to take longer to cook. However, I would advise against turning up the heat higher.
Country style ribs taste best when cooked low and slow. This gives the tissues in the meat time to break down and become more tender. You then get truly succulent ribs.
If you try to rush this process, you are going to end up with a country style rib dish that is quite dry.
There are recipes that let the ribs bake without wrapping in aluminum foil.
The reason that I like to wrap the ribs is because this traps some moisture with the beef. In turn, this prevents the ribs from drying out. It is also great for cooking the ribs a little faster since we are opting for a lower temperature here.
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make with country style beef ribs is cooking them without tracking the internal temperature.
There are too many variables when it comes to the cooking rate of ribs. Due to this, it is difficult to accurately calculate or estimate how quickly the ribs will be done.
This is why it is important to use a meat thermometer or probe here. Make sure to stick it into the thickest part of the ribs to get an accurate reading.
It is best to use a thermometer that can be used in the oven. After all, you need to track the temp throughout the cooking process.
This is especially important here as you need to know when it is time to unwrap the meat and apply the BBQ sauce.
Once the probe hits 145 F after returning the ribs to the oven, take out the meat. You will then be able to prevent them from overcooking and drying out in the process.
A lot of people – and even recipes – tend to skip this step. However, once you have taken the ribs out of the oven, you should leave them to rest.
This gives the meat time to reabsorb any moisture that it has lost. This makes the ribs tender and tastier.
Don’t worry, this process doesn’t take a long time. At most, you need to rest the ribs for about 15 minutes.
To make sure that your dish is as delicious as possible, allow them to rest for this time.
There are so many different options for you to choose from here.
If you would like to create a BBQ-like meal, then mashed potatoes, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and similar side dishes would be excellent choices.
If you want a proper dinner, then consider serving them with garlic bread or even rice. A nice green salad will also be a refreshing accompaniment.
Related Reading
It may take around 1.5 hours to cook ribs at this temperature. However, it isn’t advised for you to do this as the ribs will end up overcooked and dried out at such a high temperature.
It is important to cook the ribs low and slow. Baking the beef ribs at 275 F is best to prevent them from drying out.
If you want to make country style beef ribs in the oven, you now know the top recipe to use. Plus, with all the tips I have provided for you here, you will have no problem getting it right the first time around!
