Beef Ribs in BBQ Sauce - slow cooked short ribs!

Beef Ribs in BBQ Sauce - slow cooked short ribs!

Recipe video above. Extremely hands off, foolproof way to cook beef ribs - slow cooked in the oven in a homemade BBQ Sauce braising liquid until the meat is fall apart and ridiculously juicy inside, and the outside is bronzed and sticky. BONUS: this all happens in one pan, it's 100% perfect for make ahead and freezing, and makes its own barbecue sauce (and it might be the best you ever have in your life because it's made with the rib juices!).

Ingredients

  • 6 x 300 - 350g / 10 - 12 oz beef ribs

    patted dry, aka beef short ribs

  • 1 tbsp brown sugar

    sub white

  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

    sub 1 tsp fresh garlic

  • 1 tsp onion powder

    sub garlic powder

  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 3/4 tsp mustard powder

    Note 2

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves

    minced, sub 2 tsp powder

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

    Note 2 subs

  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup

    or Aussie tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

    loosely packed, ie don't pack it tight

  • 2 tsp EACH black pepper

    onion powder, mustard powder, Note 2

  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
    adjust to taste re: spiciness
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

    sub soy sauce

  • 2 cups water
  • Parsley or chives

    chopped

Directions

  1. 1

  2. 2

    Preheat oven to 160°C/320°F (all oven types).

  3. 3

    Mix Rub in a small bowl large, enough to fit one rib.

  4. 4

    Press beef ribs into the rub, coating all sides. Shake off excess.

  5. 5

    Mix Barbecue Sauce ingredients, except water, in a baking pan. Then mix in water.

  6. 6

    Place ribs in sauce, turning to coat. Arrange meat side down in the sauce, bone side exposed (sauce won't cover completely, that's ok).

  7. 7

    Cover tightly with foil or lid, bake 3 1/2 hours.

  8. 8

    Remove from oven, remove foil. Turn ribs (some may have fall over, that's ok, just turn them). Spoon over sauce.

  9. 9

    Bake 30 minutes uncovered, spooning over sauce again halfway through, until surface is caramelised and sticky. Check to ensure ribs are tender - pry a bit apart using two forks. (If not, cover and return to oven, but after 4 hrs they certainly should be!)

  10. 10

    Remove ribs onto serving plate (use a spoon as meat will barely be attached to bone, if at all). Mix sauce to bring together (Note 3 on adjustments). Serve with ribs!

  11. 11

    SERVING OPTIONS:

  12. 12

    Share platter (rustic!): Serve ribs on a platter for people to help themselves with some sauce on it, and some sauce on the side for people to help themselves.

  13. 13

    Individual posh restaurant style: place rib on plate, spoon over sauce (see note about straining option). Garnish.

  14. 14

    See in post for side options (both rustic and posh!).

Beef Ribs in BBQ Sauce - slow cooked short ribs!

Beef Ribs in BBQ Sauce - slow cooked short ribs!

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About this Recipe

Craving beef ribs so tender they literally fall off the bone, all coated in a rich, homemade BBQ sauce? This recipe for slow-cooked beef short ribs offers an incredibly hands-off path to that deeply satisfying, restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen. It's designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for home cooks of any skill level.

The magic of these beef ribs truly lies in their leisurely oven braise. As they slow cook, the meat becomes ridiculously juicy and fork-tender, while the braising liquid transforms into a sticky, bronzed, and intensely flavorful barbecue sauce. This ingenious one-pan method ensures that every drop of savory rib juice contributes to what might just be the best BBQ sauce you've ever had.

What you'll experience is a feast for the senses: incredibly succulent beef that yields effortlessly, contrasting beautifully with the sticky, caramelized exterior. The homemade BBQ sauce, infused with the essence of the ribs, is a complex blend of sweet, tangy, and subtly spicy notes. This foolproof dish makes an indulgent meal feel approachable, leaving you with tender, fall-apart ribs drenched in their own perfected sauce.

Customizing this dish is simple. If fresh garlic isn't handy, 1 tsp of garlic powder can be used instead, and conversely, minced fresh garlic works if you're out of powder. For the sauce, white sugar is a perfectly fine substitute for brown sugar, and soy sauce can stand in for Worcestershire sauce in a pinch. Feel free to adjust the cayenne pepper to perfectly match your desired level of spice.

These slow-cooked beef ribs are ideal for a comforting family dinner or to impress guests at a casual gathering. A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives adds a lovely pop of color and freshness, completing the presentation.

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