The Best Dutch Oven Ribs (Easy & Tender)
These are the best Dutch Oven Ribs! They are super tender, flavorful and hearty. These ribs are incredibly easy to make and they are always a huge hit. Let your Dutch oven do all the hard work!
These ribs are SO easy to make. They are every bit as flavorful as my Whole30 Ribs in the Oven, but they’re cooked in beef broth and BBQ sauce for an extra tender result.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These ribs are melt in your mouth delicious.
- A cast iron Dutch oven does all the hard work for you.
- This recipe is a “set it and forget it” recipe. It is hands off, super easy, and produces the most tender ribs.
- The homemade dry rub is so flavorful and perfectly seasoned.
- These ribs are great as leftovers.
- This recipe is Paleo, Whole30 friendly, Keto friendly, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free.
- Check out this Dutch Oven Chili for another delicious idea!
The Different Types of Ribs
These are the different types of pork ribs.
- Baby Back Ribs: These ribs are extremely flavorful. They tend to be more fatty, but that yields a more flavorful result. They are smaller in size than other ribs. Each rack is typically around 1 to 1.5 pounds.
- Spare Ribs: Spare ribs are typically called the most flavorful even though they have the least amount of meat. The meat is on top of and between the rib bones.
- Country Style Ribs: This style of ribs has the least fat and the most amount of meat. They are typically eaten with a fork and knife, unlike most cuts of ribs.
- Beef Back Ribs: These ribs have a high meat to bone ratio.
- St. Louis Style Ribs: This rectangular cut of meat is cut from the belly. They are hearty, flavorful, and popular.
Recipe Steps
Step 1
First, preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Add chopped onion to a large Dutch oven.
Step 3
Mix together dry rub seasonings.
Step 4
Rub both sides of baby back ribs with dry rub.
Step 5
If ribs are too long to fit in Dutch oven, then cut into 2 or 3 pieces. Then, add ribs to the Dutch oven.
Step 6
Pour beef broth and BBQ sauce on top of ribs.
Step 7
Bake for 2.5 to 3 hours or until ribs are tender.
Step 8
Finally, carefully remove Dutch oven from oven. Serve Dutch Oven ribs with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cooking ribs in the oven or on the grill are both great options. I prefer the oven because it is more hands off. In addition, almost everyone has access to an oven.
I have found that cooking ribs between 275 degrees Fahrenheit and 300 degrees Fahrenheit is best. Cooking ribs low and slow yields a tender result.
Spare ribs are cut from the end of baby back ribs. Baby back ribs tend to be more tender than spare ribs.
Cook ribs for 2 to 3 hours, depending on size and method. Ribs are best with an internal temperature of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Baby back ribs are typically more tender than spare ribs. Both pork and beef ribs taste great!
Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, place ribs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through, about 7 to 8 minutes.
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If you make this recipe, I would love to see it! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow along!
Get the Recipe: The Best Dutch Oven Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 white onion, sliced
- 1 rack baby back ribs, I used pork
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Dry Rub
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar, or brown sugar, see note
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large Dutch oven, add chopped onion.
- Then, mix together dry rub mix. Rub on both sides of ribs.
- If ribs are too long to fit in Dutch oven, then carefully cut into 2 or 3 pieces that will fit inside.
- Once seasoned and cut, layer ribs in Dutch oven.
- Pour beef broth and BBQ sauce on top.
- Place Dutch oven in the oven. No need to cover the Dutch oven.
- Bake for 2 ½ to 3 hours or until ribs are tender.
- Finally, remove ribs from Dutch oven. Top with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- I used a 7 quart cast iron skillet.
- Rub dry rub all over both sides of the ribs.
- I used pork baby back ribs for this recipe.
- Chicken broth or another broth can replace beef broth.
- Any BBQ sauce works. I love Primal Kitchen Foods for a Whole30 option and Sweet Baby Ray’s for a full sugar version!
- Ribs are done cooking at 145 degrees Fahrenheit, but they will still be tough. Cook until internal temperature reaches between 195 degrees and 200 degrees for tender meat.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat, place ribs on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 to 8 minutes or until warmed through.
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52 Comments on “The Best Dutch Oven Ribs (Easy & Tender)”
I’m going to try the recipe tomorrow, sounds delicious. I have a question about the dry rub. Do you think it could be used on steak? I’ve been looking for a good rub for steak and most of the store bought is loaded with salt.
Yes, absolutely! This dry rub is great for steak. Enjoy!
Do you always leave Dutch oven uncovered?
For this recipe I do, but not for every recipe!
How much is a serving size? I can’t locate.
It makes about 4 servings, enough to feed 4 people.
I use pork loin ribs and the ribs are as tender as can be. The meat falls off the bone. I am diabetic and choose a bbq sauce brand with a little lower sugar content and substitute monk fruit sweetener for the brown sugar. It’s so easy to make and my guests are always so impressed with my cooking . The onions left on the bottom always intrigue me as they taste so good I find it a shame to toss them. Maybe they could be used for some other recipe.
This Dutch Oven Ribs is really the best! I tried this last weekend on our family night out, and I must say that these ribs are a game changer. It is tender, full of flavor, and juicy. I will definitely cook this over and over again!
These ribs had wonderful flavor and the meat was juicy and tender.
This is a perfect date night dinner! Prepared this for my parent’s date last mothers’ day and they were so pleased and they had so much fun! this Dutch oven ribs recipe is mouthwatering, tender and juicy! Such a keeper!
These were fantastic! I had this mental block that ribs were tricky and took forever and where hands-on. Your recipe broke through that! I followed your instructions to a “t” and they were so easy and flavorful!
I love these dutch oven ribs! They come out super tender and I double batched with different sauces to make a whole spread, so tasty!
I love ribs but have always found the grilling or smoking method to be a pain to be honest. These came out excellent and were so much simpler to deal with!