Ribs and Baked Potatoes: A Family Favorite Night

There’s something about the smell of ribs baking in the oven that just screams home. This has always been one of my kiddos’ absolute favorite meals, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites too. The combination of tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs with a rich, homemade BBQ sauce paired with a perfectly baked potato… it’s comfort food at its finest.

I love making this meal because it’s simple enough for a weeknight, but it still feels like a little celebration. The kids love helping me brush on the BBQ sauce, and there’s nothing quite like watching them dig into a potato that’s soft, fluffy, and loaded with their favorite toppings.

Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs with Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

For the Ribs:

• 2–3 lbs pork baby back ribs

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

• ½ tsp onion powder

For the Homemade BBQ Sauce:

• 1 cup ketchup

• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• Pinch of salt & pepper
  (Optional: a pinch of cayenne for a little kick)

For Baked Potatoes:

• 4 large russet potatoes

• Olive oil

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Prep the Ribs:
Preheat your oven to 300°F. Remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs, then rub them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder. Wrap them tightly in foil and place on a baking sheet.

2. Bake ‘Em Low and Slow:
Bake ribs for 2.5–3 hours, until they’re tender and you can almost pull them apart with a fork.

3. Make the BBQ Sauce:
While the ribs are baking, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer on medium-low for 10–15 minutes until thick and rich.

4. Glaze and Broil:
Once ribs are tender, remove foil, brush generously with BBQ sauce, and broil for 3–5 minutes until caramelized and sticky.

5. Bake the Potatoes:
Wash, dry, and poke each potato with a fork a few times. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 400°F for 45–60 minutes until soft and fluffy inside.

Serving the Magic:

Slice the ribs between the bones, serve with a fluffy baked potato, and don’t forget extra BBQ sauce on top. The kids love adding butter, sour cream, or even a little cheese to their potato—it’s simple, classic, and just plain delicious.

This meal has become a little tradition in our house. The smells, the sticky fingers, the smiles around the table—it’s everything I love about cooking with kids and making memories on our country roads.