Whether it is a barbecue party or simply a holiday dinner with family, ‘country-style ribs’ is a classic, flavourful, and wholesome dish that you can serve on almost every occasion. It is not only appetizing but also contains an abundance of nutrients like protein, calcium, healthy fats, etc.

Therefore, in this article, we have mentioned the ultimate tips and tricks on how to cook country style ribs to perfection easily at home. Right from preparing a barbecue sauce from scratch to serving ideas, we have covered everything that you are looking for. 

1. What are Country Style Ribs?

Before getting into the details of how to cook country-style ribs, let’s have a quick overview of what kind of meat cuts they are. 

Despite the name country-style ribs, these are not traditional ribs. Instead, they are cut from a pork loin or pork shoulder blade. So, the cuts have more meat than bone. Hence, cooking becomes much easier. 

Country-style ribs are smoked, grilled, or braised according to individual preferences and tastes. Some people also like to glaze them with BBQ sauce.

2. Types of Pork Cuts

When it comes to pork, the variety of cuts is enormous, and each cut has its own unique taste, texture, and properties, which are used in different recipes in many ways. Likewise, you must know how to cook your chosen cut in an appropriate way for the best taste. 

Here are some popular types of pork cuts: 

2.1 Pork Loin 

• Chops: These are tender cuts used for grilling, pan-searing, or roasting.
• Tenderloin: This is the most tender part of pork meat. It is boneless and used for roasts or stir-fries.

2.2 Pork Shoulder

• Boston Butt: Upper shoulder, used for pulled pork 
• Picnic Shoulder: Lower shoulder used for roasting or braising

2.3 Belly: It is a fatty cut containing layers of fat and meat. It is used for bacon.

2.4 Spare ribs: Spare ribs are from the belly and are used for grilling or barbequing.

2.5 Pork rinds: Pieces of pig skin, roasted, fried, or baked. Used as a snack.

3. Barbeque Glazed Country Style Ribs: Recipe Overview

‘Barbecue glazed country-style ribs’ is a classic pork recipe that has been a popular dish in America for many years now. The recipe that we have mentioned below has 3 simple steps, and anybody can easily make it. 

Remember that each step has its own importance. Plus, you have to be patient enough to let the meat cook slowly to perfection. Ultimately, how well you follow the given instructions will decide the final taste of your country-style ribs. You can always modify the recipe according to your taste. 

Here is a brief overview of our recipe:

1. Preparing The Ribs: The first step is to clean the pork ribs thoroughly, followed by marinating them for a while. This step will decide how tender and flavourful your ribs will turn out to be. The better you prepare the ribs the more tender they will become on cooking. 
2. Cooking: In this recipe, we are going to cook the ribs by baking them. Baking country-style ribs has two benefits. Firstly, it results in more evenly cooked ribs, and secondly, it helps in an easy infusion of the flavors into the ribs. 
3. Glazing:  Finally, the country-style pork ribs are either grilled or seared. This step is followed by basting them evenly for a good finish. They are then glazed with a sauce of choice for extra depth. 

4. Making A Barbecue Sauce (Optional)

For this recipe, we are going to make our own barbecue sauce. The ingredients needed, and the steps that you need to follow are listed below.

4.1. Ingredients

The ingredients that we will use in this particular recipe of barbeque sauce include—

• 1 cup of ketchup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey (optional, for extra flavor)

4.2. Combining Ingredients

Take a medium-sized saucepan. Add all the above-mentioned ingredients to the pan. Next, mix well to combine the ingredients.

4.3. Simmering

Simmer the saucepan over medium heat. Keep mixing and stirring the ingredients so that they won’t stick to the pan. This process helps in the thickening the BBQ sauce. It also gives it a glossy finish.

4.4. Adding Alcohol

If you prefer, you can also add bourbon whiskey towards the end of the process for an extra flavor.

Avoid using high temperatures as they might lead to the burning of the alcohol. If not taken proper care of the temperature,  the alcohol may ignite into flames, ultimately destroying your whole recipe. 

4.5. Finishing Off

Once the cooking is done, taste the barbecue glaze and check if it is according to your preference or not. You can add additional salt or spices. Adding a balanced amount of salt and spices results in that perfect smokiness, tang, and spice.

If you want to save some time, you can also buy the barbecue sauce from any local store.

5. Preparing the Ribs

The first step in making country-style pork ribs is the preparation of boneless pork ribs. The process comprises 3 primary steps and 1 optional step. Below, we have briefly described each of them. 

5.1. Preheating the Oven

Firstly, turn the oven on to 145°F (63°C). and place a baking dish in it. This makes sure the oven is hot enough when you place the ribs inside it, and no further temperature changes occur. Preheating the oven will help you cook the ribs at a constant temperature.

5.2. Getting The Ribs Ready

Take the pork rib cuts of your choice. If you see that there is any kind of tough meat attached to the ribs, remove it. This will result in evenly cooked and tender ribs.

5.3. Applying Dry Rub

Mix freshly ground black pepper and salt to create a simple dry rub. You can also add more seasoning of your choice in this dry rub. 

Examples of some ingredients that you can use include— 

• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Cayenne Pepper
• Flavoring Salt

5.4. Searing (Optional)

Searing is an optional step. It also helps to add texture to the ribs.

Take a large skillet according to the size of your ribs. Then add some olive oil or clarified butter. Next, place the ribs in and sear on both sides for 2–3 minutes.

6. Baking 

Place the prepared ribs in a baking dish. While placing the ribs, you have to keep two things in mind:  

• First, they should be evenly spaced. 
• And second, the meaty side should be facing up. 

After that, cover the baking dish lightly with cooking foil and place it in the preheated oven. 

For 2-4 pounds of pork ribs, slowly cook at an oven temperature of 350°F (177°C) for 1.5 to 2 hours (Until the ribs attain a soft texture)

7. Adding Barbecue Sauce

In this recipe, we will add the barbecue sauce to the ribs after taking them out of the oven. However, you can also do it before placing the ribs in the oven or when the ribs are partially cooked. 

Just remember that if you are going to add the barbecue sauce and place the ribs in the oven again, you have to cook them uncovered for some time. 

Baste once in a while when the ribs bake. Now baste with additional barbecue sauce by pouring it over or use a cooking brush to apply the sauce.

8. Checking The Internal Temperature

Around the 3-4 hour mark, check if the ribs are done by using a meat thermometer to measure the temperature. 

The internal temperature must be at least  145°F (63°C).  If the temperature is not reached, continue cooking and keep checking it every once in a while.

9. Serving

Once cooked completely, take the ribs out of the baking dish and place them gently onto a plate or a tray.

You can arrange them one after another for a more clean appearance and use chopped chives or green onions to garnish them. 

This serving style will also help in making the dish look more appealing and appetizing while also balancing out the overall colors on your plate.

If you have some remaining barbecue sauce, then you can place it alongside the ribs for extra flavor. You can even add sides like mashed potatoes and cloud eggs for a wholesome meal.

10. Tips and Tricks on How to Cook Country Style Ribs for Best Taste

Below, we have mentioned 10 tips that can help you cook your country-style ribs better and make them more flavourful easily.

10.1. Choice Of Cut

Make sure you choose well-marbled pork cuts because they have a good balance of meat and fat. Moreover, since the fat is evenly integrated into the meat, the country-style pork ribs will have a soft and buttery consistency.

10.2. Seasoning Well

Even though you can cook the ribs directly after applying the dry rub on them, allowing them to rest for a while will ensure that the flavors of the dry rub absorb well into the deeper layers.

Use salt, black pepper, onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, etc., as per your taste to prepare the dry rub.

10.3. Slow Cooking

Slow Cooking is the key to soft and tender country-style ribs. This is because slow cooking ensures the breakdown of collagen and connective tissues present in the meat. So for the best taste, you must ensure that you allow the ribs to cook slowly for at least 3–4 hourson low heat.

10.4. Use a Thermometer

Use a meat thermometer to confirm that the ribs are fully cooked. Doing so ensures the ribs are fork-tender and that they are safe to eat. The internal temperature must be 190–203 °F (88–95 °C).

10.5. Regularly  Baste

Baste regularly at intervals of 30 minutes to enhance flavor. This step helps to bring back the moisture lost during the cooking process.

10.6. Foil Wrap

Optionally, you can also wrap the ribs after initial cooking in a cooking foil because: 

• The moisture content is retained within the foil. 
• It gives you moist and tender ribs.

10.7. Rest the Meat

Allowing the meat to rest for a few minutes after cooking is one of the most crucial methods to get the most flavorful country-style ribs.

After cooking, make sure you rest the meat for at least 15-20 minutes because this ensures that the moisture and liquids inside the meat are evenly distributed.

10.8. Smoking 

Optionally, you can also smoke the ribs to add a smoky layer of depth to the dish. 

When smoking, use different wood chips like apple, hickory, and cherry. Different woods add their flavors to the meat when smoked with them. This is because the compounds responsible for the smell mix with the smoke and then eventually enter the meat through diffusion.

10.9. Time Variation

The cooking time varies according to the type of pork cut that you are cooking. So, for thicker cuts, you can slightly increase the cooking time whereas for thinner cuts you can slightly decrease the cooking time. This will make sure that you don’t overcook or undercook your country-style ribs. 

10.10. Overnight Marination

If you need some extra flavor, apply the marinating mixture to the ribs and leave them overnight in the refrigerator. You can then cook these marinated ribs the next day.

In the End

Choosing the correct type of meat cut, applying a sufficient amount of seasoning, regularly checking the internal temperature, and letting the ribs cook slowly at low heat are some essential steps that can help you attain the best flavor of the country-style ribs. You can always modify the recipe according to your taste and preferences. 

Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Daraksha, B.Pharm