Oven-Finished Baby Back Ribs with Fries

Name: Oven-Finished Baby Back Ribs with Fries
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 270 min
Total time: 290 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 racks baby back ribs, membrane removed; 2 tbsp smoked paprika; 2 tbsp light brown sugar; 1 tbsp kosher salt; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 cup barbecue sauce, any thick, sweet style; 1 chipotle in adobo, minced; 2 lb russet potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch sticks; 2 quarts peanut oil, for frying; 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely sliced; flaky salt, for the fries

Foil-wrapped baby backs cooked low in a home oven, glazed under the broiler and showered with chives, then served with a heap of double-fried fries for an easy rib platter.

4.5 1210 cooks rated this

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 4 hr 30 min
Serves: 4
Level: Easy

Free recipe Jump to method

Not every rib night needs a smoker. A 275 F oven and a tight foil packet do the slow work, turning baby backs tender with zero babysitting. The smoky flavor comes from smoked paprika in the rub and a minced chipotle stirred into the sauce, so the finished rack still tastes like it spent time near a fire. The broiler handles the rest, caramelizing the glaze in minutes. Keep the rack 6 inches from the element and stay put; sugar goes from glossy to burnt in under a minute.

Ingredients

Serves 4

Method

Heat the oven to 275 F. Rub the ribs all over with the paprika, brown sugar, kosher salt and onion powder.
Done
Set each rack meat side down on a large sheet of heavy foil, crimp into a sealed packet, and place both on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 3 1/2 hours, until the bones wiggle loosely when nudged.
Done
While the ribs bake, soak the potato sticks in cold water for 30 minutes, then dry them thoroughly on towels.
Done
Stir the minced chipotle into the barbecue sauce. Carefully open the packets, pour off the juices, and flip the racks meat side up.
Done
Brush on a thick layer of sauce and broil 6 inches from the element for 3 to 5 minutes, turning the pan once, until the glaze bubbles and chars at the edges. Rest 10 minutes.
Done
Heat the oil to 325 F in a heavy Dutch oven and fry the potatoes in batches for 5 minutes, until limp but not browned. Drain, raise the oil to 375 F, and fry again for 3 minutes until golden and crisp.
Done
Season the fries with flaky salt, pile them on a platter beside the ribs, and scatter the chives over the glaze.
Done

Hands turning pieces of meat on a grill through drifting smoke — Turning meat slowly through a haze of smoke

Charcoal chimney starter with flames rising over the coals — Charcoal chimney roaring before the cook starts

05 Hanging next to it

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