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Best Brown Sugar Bourbon Baby Back Ribs: Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe

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These tender, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs are glazed with a sticky, caramelized brown sugar and bourbon mixture. It’s a simple, oven-baked recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for weeknights or game day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 to 2.5 lbs baby back ribs
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup bourbon (mid-shelf like Maker’s Mark or Buffalo Trace)
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional but recommended)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs by lifting the edge with a knife and pulling it off with a paper towel.
  3. Pat the ribs dry with paper towels.
  4. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
  5. Rub the mixture generously over both sides of the ribs, pressing it into the meat.
  6. Place ribs meat-side up on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil and wrap tightly to create a sealed packet.
  7. Place the foil packet on a baking sheet and bake for 1.5 hours until tender.
  8. While ribs bake, pour bourbon into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until reduced by half and syrupy.
  9. Carefully open the foil packet and drain excess liquid.
  10. Brush the reduced bourbon glaze generously over both sides of the ribs.
  11. Return ribs to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the glaze is bubbly and caramelized.
  12. Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing between the bones.

Notes

Ensure the foil is sealed tightly to keep moisture in. Do not rush the bourbon reduction; it should be syrupy. Let the ribs rest before cutting to retain juices. Internal temperature should reach 190°F to 200°F for best tenderness.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown sugar ribs, bourbon ribs, baby back ribs, easy ribs, oven baked ribs, game day food, barbecue recipe, fall off the bone ribs

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