Hello there, rib lovers. It’s not every day you come across a recipe that boasts only “2 ingredients” and still tastes this amazing. But here we are! My Tender Baby Back Ribs, slathered in a sweet, sticky Thai chili sauce (that’s surprisingly not all that spicy) are TO DIE FOR. They’re perfectly juicy, fall-off-the-bone tender, and are guaranteed to have a must-lick-my-fingers-and-possibly-the-plate flavor. Whether you’re making these for game day or just a Tuesday, you’re gonna love these.

tender fall off the bone baby back ribs using 2 ingredients
Two ingredients, 10 minutes hands-on recipe for baby back ribs

Why This Easy Recipe Rocks

With just a few simple ingredients and very little effort, here’s what you’re in for:

  • Only 2 Ingredients Needed: Other than the baby back ribs, just Thai sweet chili sauce and a little salt and pepper. No need to bring a long shopping list or a cabinet full of spices into this. Sometimes, the best ribs are the simplest ones.

  • Ultra Tender, Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs: Possibly the most tender meat you’ve ever tasted, these baby backs will practically melt in your mouth. The secret is slow cooking at a low temperature in your oven. Soon, you’ll have the most perfect baby back ribs. 

  • Minimal Hands-On Time: Only 10 minutes to prep? Yes, please! Most of the magic happens in the oven while the ribs are wrapped in aluminum foil, slowly roasting to perfection. This means you get to relax and get your favorite side dishes ready without a fuss.

  • Sweet & Sticky with a Hint of Chili: The Thai sweet chili sauce brings out a beautiful balance of flavors. Sweet. Sticky. A little spicy! And the best part is that it caramelizes under the broiler, making them slightly crispy with a little char.

  • Perfect for Game Day: Hosting a big party or just settling in for a game day at home? Either way these juicy ribs are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

  • Customizable to Your Taste: Feel free to add your own twist. Want a touch of smokiness? Sprinkle some smoked paprika on top. A dash of liquid smoke is an easy way to get smoky ribs. Fancy a homemade rub? Mix brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of dry mustard to create game changer coating.

Ingredients 

  • Baby back ribs
  • Thai sweet chili sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Tender Baby Back Ribs

This technique can be used with ANY type of barbeque sauce. If you want, you can also use a dry rub instead of the salt and pepper.

  1. Remove the thin membrane on the backside of your rack of ribs, if needed.
  2. Season the ribs with salt and black pepper or your favorite dry-rub.
  3. Roast in oven for 4 hours at 275 degrees F.
  4. Smother your favorite bbq sauce or my favorite, sticky sweet Asian chile sauce (which is not spicy). Broil 3-5 minutes until nicely browned on top of the ribs.

To feed 4 hungry people, start with about 5 pounds of baby back ribs. The recipe is exactly the same, no matter how many ribs you have. Throw in double the amount if you’ve got more people.

baby back ribs on cutting board

Turn the rib over to the bone side. See that layer of white membrane covering the ribs? You’ll want to remove that – it’s tough and stringy.

*Note: some baby back ribs come with the membrane already removed. Ask your butcher!

baby back ribs with membrane still attached

Take a butter knife, wedge it just underneath the membrane to loosen.

cutting membrane off baby back ribs

Pull the membrane up and off the bone.

remove membrane for tender baby back ribs

Once you’ve got a section off, use your fingers to remove the rest – just peel it off.

pulling membrane off baby back ribs

See how thick and tough that membrane is? Removing this is the best way to make your racks of ribs infinitely better. Sometimes this membrane is really thick (like mine) and sometimes it’s really thin and a little more difficult to remove. Try to get as much as you can.

membrane coming off baby back ribs

Place all the ribs in a roasting pan, it doesn’t matter if they overlap. Season with salt on both sides.

seasoning baby back ribs

Pepper on both sides.

fall off the bone baby back ribs in pan

If they overlap, I like to layer them like this.

side shot of pan with fall off the bone baby back ribs

For the best result, cover with double layer of tin foil. Bake at 275F for 4 hours or so.

pan covered in foil, bake 4 hours at 275F for the most tender baby back ribs

After 4-ish hours, they’ll look like this:

roasted tender baby back ribs

Use a spatula to move them to a baking sheet.

tray with tender baby back ribs

Brush on the sweet chili sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce all over the ribs.

basting sauce on tender baby back ribs

Be generous! Brush on a lot.

tender baby back ribs with chili sauce

Now move your oven rack to the top 1/3 of the oven and broil for 5 minutes. Keep a good watch on ’em! Don’t let them burn.

ribs broiling in oven

And that’s it! Baby Back Ribs with Sweet Chili Sauce.

fall off the bone baby back ribs
ribs on platter
side shot of ribs

What’s The Best Sauce For Ribs?

sweet chili sauce in bottle

Here’s an Asian sweet chili sauce that’s sweet, sticky and not spicy at all. Mae Ploy is my favorite brand. Really, you can use any type of BBQ sauce, thick teriyaki sauce that you want. No need to stick to sweet chili sauce (but please, try it just once!).

Top Tips For These Tender Baby Back Ribs

  • Remove the membrane before cooking, for super tender ribs.
  • Double up on the recipe if you have more guests.
  • When it comes to sauces, choose whatever you like, but sweet chili works so well!
  • Once the sauce is on the ribs, keep an eye on them, so the sauce doesn’t burn.

FAQ: Best Baby Back Ribs

  • Can I use homemade barbecue sauce instead of the Thai sweet chili sauce? Of course! You can whip up a homemade barbecue sauce using ingredients like ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a little  garlic powder.

  • What’s the best way to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs? The easiest way is to use a butter knife to lift the corner of the membrane, then grab it with a paper towel and pull it off in one go.

  • How can I make sure the ribs are juicy and not dry? Slow cooking at a low temperature is the secret sauce! (So to speak.) Wrapping the ribs in aluminum foil also helps lock in their moisture and stay juicy.

  • What are some good side dishes to serve with baby back ribs? Try some of the classics like coleslaw, cornbread, or baked beans. For a lighter option, a fresh salad or steamed vegetables work great.

  • How do I know if the ribs are done? Check is to see if the meat is easily pulling away from the bone. Use a fork to test it, and if it’s falling off the bone easily, it’s done. 

  • Can I add other spices to the dry rub for more flavor? Sure! Feel free to experiment with spices like cayenne pepper, chili powder, or smoked paprika for an extra kick. Mixing these into your dry rub can enhance the flavor, if that’s what you’re into.

  • How should I store leftover ribs? Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should be good for 3-4 days.

Check Out These Other Delicious Rib Recipes

Have you tried these tender baby back ribs? Feel free to leave a star rating and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Tender Baby Back Ribs

Jaden Hair
There aren't very many recipes that can boast "2 ingredients" and taste better than fall off the bone Tender Baby Back Ribs, smothered in sweet, sticky Thai chili sauce. Which by the way, isn't really all that spicy despite the name.
4.67 from 6 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 577 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 5 pounds baby back ribs
  • salt & pepper or your favorite pork dry rub
  • 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 275F. On the underside of the rib, remove the thin membrane and discard. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Place the ribs in a roasting pan, cover with double thickness of tin foil.
  • Roast for 4 hours or so. Discard foil. Use a wide, flat spatula to carefully lift the ribs onto a baking sheet. Spread the sweet chili sauce generously over the ribs.
  • Place oven rack near the top of the oven. Turn broiler on and broil the ribs for 3-5 minutes, or until the sweet chili sauce begins to caramelize. Make sure you don’t burn the sauce, so keep a close eye on the ribs.

Nutrition

Calories: 577kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 46gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 588mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 52IUCalcium: 74mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baby back ribs, sweet chili ribs, tender ribs
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!