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If you’ve ever wondered how to make the perfect grilled BBQ ribs without spending all day standing over the grill, this recipe is for you! These ribs start in the oven, where they cook low and slow until tender, and then finish on the grill with plenty of your favorite BBQ sauce.

The result is tender, juicy ribs with a sticky, caramelized BBQ coating and just the right amount of char from the grill.

This has become one of my favorite ways to make ribs because it gives you the best of both worlds. You get the tenderness of oven-baked ribs along with that unmistakable grilled BBQ flavor.

And the best part? You only need ribs, dry rub, and BBQ sauce!

Why Cook Ribs in the Oven Before Grilling?

Cooking ribs completely on the grill can be delicious, but it also requires more attention to temperature and cooking time.

My method makes things much easier.

I start the ribs in a 300-degree oven for 1 ½ hours. Wrapping them tightly in aluminum foil helps hold in moisture while the ribs cook and become tender.

Once they're ready, I move them to a hot grill and start brushing on the BBQ sauce.

This is where the magic happens!

As you flip and baste the ribs, the BBQ sauce begins to caramelize. You get those delicious slightly charred edges without having to cook the ribs on the grill for several hours.

How to Create the Perfect Grilled BBQ Ribs

Ingredients for Grilled BBQ Ribs

You only need three simple ingredients:

• 2 racks of ribs
• Your favorite dry rub
• 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

That's it!

You can use baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs for this recipe. Just keep in mind that larger, meatier racks may need a little additional cooking time.

For the seasoning, use your favorite BBQ dry rub. I like a rub that has a combination of brown sugar, paprika, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and a little spice.

Then choose a BBQ sauce you love. Sweet, smoky, spicy, or tangy sauces will all work.

I wrap in foil and put them in the oven.

Once they come off, my husband fires up the grill and unwraps them and places them on the hot coals. As they are on the grill, we baste them with bbq sauce and as it cooks, the sauce caramelizes and creates this amazing delicious, crunchy crust.

You can cut them up to make them cook faster, or you can leave them in a long slab. We do it both ways. Some people in our home like to have a huge slab for themselves, and then some, like my daughter like to have them in smaller portions.

Once they come off the grill, allow them to rest for a few minutes. This will help the juices redistribute and ensure you have the most succulent ribs you have ever placed in your mouth.

I serve these ribs with a side of my homemade mac and cheese and coleslaw.

Looking for other grilling recipes? Check these out

• Grilled Cajun Shrimp
• Grilled Hawaiian Pork Ribs
• Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak