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Baby Back Ribs with Rootbeer Sauce Pin It!
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How to Make Baby Back Ribs with Root Beer Barbecue Sauce

BBQ baby back ribs are tender, smoky, and lightly sweet pork ribs cooked low and slow until the meat nearly melts off the bone.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 15 minutes
Course: Pork Recipe
Cuisine: Filipino/American
Keyword: baby back ribs, bbq ribs, pork recipe, pork ribs recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 304kcal
Author: Manny

Ingredients

For the pork ribs

  • 1 kilo pork back ribs whole
  • apple juice for spraying

For the dry rub:

  • 1/3 cup garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp. cinnamon powder
  • 2 Tbsp. instant coffee powder
  • 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. cumin
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup cayenne
  • 1/3 cup paprika
  • 2 Tbsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. pepper

Root beer barbecue sauce :

  • 1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
  • 3/4 cup root beer
  • 1 cup reserved dry rub mixture

Instructions

How to cook Baby Back Ribs with Root Beer Barbecue Sauce:

  • Blend together dry ingredients for the dry rub. Set aside 1 cup of the dry rub for the barbecue sauce.
  • Apply the remaining dry rub all over the pork ribs. Cover with aluminum foil and roast in a pre-heated 250 °F oven for two hours.
  • Spray with apple juice every 30 minutes while baking until the meat is fork tender.
  • Brush the root beer barbecue sauce on to the ribs and grill.

To make the root beer barbecue sauce:

  • In a saucepan, mix the barbecue sauce, root beer and dry rub mixture and let simmer.

Notes

Cooking Tips:

Let the Dry Rub Do the Work

Give the seasoning enough time to sink into the meat before cooking so the flavors stay bold even after grilling. The sugar and spices help create a caramelized crust, so do not rush this step. A well rested rub means deeper color and richer taste once the ribs hit the heat.

Go Low and Slow for Tender Results

Keeping the temperature low allows the connective tissues to break down without drying out the meat. This is why roasting at a gentle heat makes the ribs fork tender. Patience pays off because the slow cook builds that soft, pull apart texture everyone loves.

Brush the Sauce at the Right Moment

Add the root beer glaze once the ribs are almost done to avoid burning the sugars too early. This timing helps the sauce cling better and form a glossy coating. With a few minutes of grilling, the flavors deepen and the finish turns sticky and irresistible.